“Focus” on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference
15th Annual

Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability & Vision Loss

March 11, 2020
8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Four Points by Sheraton, Norwood, MA

Welcome: 		Jane F. Ryder
				Commissioner
				Department of Developmental Services

	Keynote: 		Felipe A. Jain, MD 				
					Director of Health Aging Studies, 								Depression Clinical and Research Program 
					Massachusetts General Hospital
					Assistant Professor of Psychiatry,
					Harvard Medical School					

“New Ways Caregivers Can Benefit from 
Guided Imagery: a Focus on Mentalizing, 
Mindfulness and Connectedness” 
	
Awards at Lunch: 

		Mark Holt “Gift of Lunch” 
		Paul McDade “Focus” Award for Distinguished Service
		Paul McDade “Focus” Award for Distinguished Leadership

“Focus” on Talent!!!    Closing Performance by MAI Band

A Very Special Thank You…

Lead Sponsor: 	       
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
	
Sponsors:  
New England College of Optometry
Perkins School for the Blind
DDS Southeast Region Training Council

Friends:  
Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Shriver Clinical Services

To Our Exhibitors Including:

Caregiver Homes
Crystal Springs School
Disabled Persons Protection Commission
Easterseals MA
HumanWare
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind
Massachusetts Equipment Distribution Program
Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs
Perkins eLearning
Perkins School for the Blind
PRC
The Carroll Center for the Blind
VisionCam

Literature Table:
Eye Care America	
Hadley School for the Blind
Independent Living Aids, and more…

	Poster Displays:
                
	Accessing Independence 
	Ashley Bell, Program Director
	Jolene Dendon, Day Support Professional
	BAMSI- Adult Day Services

	Become a Support Group Leader 
	Patty Duffy-Krauspe 
	Mom and Support Group Leader
	 
	Crisis Intervention Considerations for Individuals with Vision Loss
	Stephen E. Hylan, LICSW 
	The Guild for Human Services

	Engineering Day Program Environments using Principles of UDL
	Amy Downing 
	New England Village
								
	Circle of Life
	Yashira Correa 
	People, Incorporated, Fall River MA

	Hearing Color 
	Paul Greely
	BAMSI

	Using Music In Our Daily Lives: as leisure, enjoyment & enrichment
	Lisa A. El-Lakis, MT-BC, Board Certified Music Therapist
	DDS/Hogan Regional Center

	“How Eye See”
	Diana Julian, S.R.S.

	Education Important to My Success
	Tabitha Mahan
	Horace Mann Educational Associates

	Pathways to Friendship: Community Inclusion & Belonging
	Meg Gaydos, Pathways to Friendship Facilitator
	ARC of Massachusetts

Introducing our Keynote:

Felipe A. Jain, MD 

Dr. Felipe Jain is a Psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and  
Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School, as well as the Director of Healthy Aging Studies at the Depression Clinical and Research Program. Dr. Jain graduated from Brown University, magna cum laude, with a Sc.B. in neuroscience in 2000, and from Harvard Medical School and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences in Technology cum laude in 2008 with a thesis on neurophysiology. His research focuses on guided imagery and mindfulness practices for the treatment of depression and anxiety with a special emphasis on family caregivers, and biomarkers that may be used to personalize treatment.  He has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health (National Institute on Aging) and private foundations to develop a new guided imagery and mindfulness treatment approach, Mentalizing Imagery Therapy, that seeks to encourage perspective taking and other relationship skills, in addition to promoting well-being and reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety.  Along with studying the therapeutic benefit of this approach, Dr. Jain studies how it impacts functional brain activation and brain structure using magnetic resonance imaging.  More broadly, Dr. Jain studies how brain imaging markers, neurohormones, and the autonomic nervous system may be used to understand depression and its response to treatment.  Dr. Jain sees patients in clinical practice at the Depression Clinical and Research Program and supervises psychiatry residents in their training in the #1 ranked Massachusetts General Hospital – McLean Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Jain will also be offering a concurrent session as a follow-up to his keynote.

Conference Agenda “At-a-Glance”

8:00 – 8:25		Registration / Vendors Open / Refreshments

8:25 – 8:30		Opening Remarks

8:30 – 8:45		Welcome Remarks 

8:45 – 9:45		Keynote

9:45 – 10:00	Break / Exhibits Open

10:00 – 11:00 	Concurrent Sessions 1

11:00 – 11:15	Break / Exhibits Open

11:15 – 12:15   	Concurrent Sessions 2

12:15 – 12:30 	Exhibits Open

12:30 – 1:30		Lunch & Award Presentations:
					● Mark Holt Gift of Lunch 
					● Paul McDade “Focus” Awards for Distinguished
		   Service and Leadership

1:30 – 2:00		Dedicated Time for Exhibits Session

2:00 – 3:00		Concurrent Sessions 3

3:00 – 3:15		Break / Refreshments / Exhibits Open

3:15 – 3:45		“Focus” On Talent!!! (Performance) / Raffle 

Four Points by Sheraton Norwood
1125 Boston-Providence Turnpike
Route 1 (18 miles south of Boston)
Norwood, MA 02062
Phone: 781-769-7900
www.fourpointsnorwood.com
Please see page 17 for a full listing of directions.

We look forward to seeing you on March 11th!!!

 “Focus” on Vision Impairment & Blindness

8:00 – 8:25	Registration / Exhibits Open / Refreshments

8:30 – 8:45	Welcome Remarks:
			Jane F. Ryder
			Commissioner, Department of Developmental Services

	8:45 – 9:45	Keynote:  Felipe A. Jain, MD
				Director of Health Aging Studies, Depression Clinical and 						Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
				Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School 

    “New Ways Caregivers Can Benefit from Guided Imagery: A Focus on Mentalizing, Mindfulness and Connectedness”

Providing care to a person with a chronic or debilitating illness, whether as a family member or professional, can be challenging and stressful.  Caregivers often struggle with a balance between empathizing with their care recipient’s pain or distress and maintaining their own personal sense of wellness, between providing appropriate care for the realities of illness versus holding normal “expectations” for what their care recipient can do, and between attending to their care recipient’s needs and engaging in healthy and fulfilling activities for themselves.  The stresses of caregiving challenge the caregivers’ ability to understand the care recipient, the dynamic and changing social situation, and themselves.  One approach that can help caregivers thrive is that of using mindful guided imagery techniques to facilitate greater self and other understanding, or balanced mentalizing, while recognizing concepts of connectedness emerging from a modern physical understanding of the structure of the universe to provide solace and inspiration.  Dr. Jain will outline this approach, the evidence for its use in caregivers based on research at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Harvard Medical School, and measurable changes in brain connectivity that result from practicing these techniques.
   	
9:45 – 10:00	Break / Exhibits Open

	

10:00 – 11:00 	Concurrent Sessions 1

	1A.	Vision Impairment as it relates to the Cornea and Ocular Surface 
		Presenter:  Rohini Rao, MD
				Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology
				Boston University 

Description: There are several conditions that affect the eye, specifically the cornea and ocular surface, which can impair vision to varying degrees in persons of all age groups. The goal of this presentation is to review these conditions, detailing their causes and management approaches, and interventions we can follow to help these individuals achieve a higher quality of life. 

1B.	New Ways Caregivers Can Benefit from Guided Imagery: a Focus on Mentalizing, Mindfulness and Connectedness 
Presenter:  Felipe A. Jain, MD
				Director of Health Aging Studies, Depression Clinical and 						Research Program, Massachusetts General Hospital
				Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School 
 
Description: Following on Dr. Jain’s keynote address on new guided imagery strategies for caregivers, this breakout session will provide the opportunity for more in depth questions and answers as well as a experiential practice of a guided imagery technique for caregivers.  
 
1C.   Exercise in the Home and Community: Promoting Life-Long Healthy Habits 
		Presenters:	  
		Maebh Barry, M.Sc, B.Ed., Adapted Physical Education Teacher
		Matt LaCortiglia, M.Ed, CSCS, CIFT, Adapted Physical Education Teacher
		Deafblind Program, Perkins School for the Blind
		
Description: During this one hour lecture and interactive session we will provide resources and discuss considerations for assessing, selecting, and identifying potential recreational physical activities and exercises for individuals with multiple disabilities and Deafblindness in residential and community settings. Specific topics will include identifying individual activity relevance, assessing facility and activity accessibility, and strategies for successful participation. 

  
	10:00 – 11:00 	Concurrent Sessions 1 (continued)

1D. 	New Products and Services
Different companies/agencies will discuss the services and products they provide, including assistive technology, that are helpful to individuals with visual impairment or blindness and those who support them, including:
•	Caregiver Homes
•	Perkins eLearning
•	HumanWare
•	PRC
•	VisionCam
PLEASE NOTE: CEU’s are not offered for this session. 

1E.	Alexa, Can You Hear Me? 
	Presenter:  Wendy L. Buckley 
			Assistive Technology Specialist
			Perkins School for the Blind Deafblind Program 

Description: “Alexa, play some music.”  “Alexa, turn on the light.” Alexa is an intelligent personal assistant service accessed through smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo or Dot.  Let's look at how individuals with visual impairments and multiple disabilities can harness the power of these smart devices through augmentative communication applications and devices to make choices, control the environment, and just have fun! 

1F.	Friends Matter!/One Friend Can Change Your Whole Life 
	Presenters:  
	Zach Rossetti, Associate Professor, Boston University 
	 Wheelock College of Education & Human Development
	Maureen O’Rourke King, Parent/Regional Trainer, 
	 Department of Developmental Services, Southeast Region
	Diana Julian, Individual with Vision Loss, Training Presenter
	Luke Hutter Ross, Community Member, Trainer 

Description: Friendships are personally valuable and developmentally important relationships for all people, yet friendships between individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) or vision loss remain infrequent. This panel presentation will share personal stories of social successes and challenges, as well as research-based strategies to promote authentic friendship between individuals with and without IDD or vision loss. 

	11:00 – 11:15	Break / Exhibits Open

11:15 – 12:15   Concurrent Sessions 2

2A.   “Implicit Bias” Toward Persons with Disabilities and Its Impact on Vision Care  
	Presenter:   Greg R. Waldorf, OD, MPH, FAAO
			 Associate Dean for Clinical Programs
			 MCPHS School of Optometry 

	Description:  Implicit bias is part of the human condition that impacts how we interact with others. This lecture will discuss implicit bias and how it can impact our perceptions of individuals with disabilities and vision loss. Understanding implicit bias will help the attendee investigate their own biases and develop strategies to counteract them when it comes to working with individuals with disabilities and visual impairment. 

2B.  	Applications of Virtual Reality and Neuroimaging to Investigate Visual Search Performance in CVI 
	Presenter:    Christopher Bennett, Post-Doctoral Fellow, 
			  Massachusetts Eye and Ear / Harvard Medical School 

Description:  Visual assessments for individuals with cortical/cerebral visual impairment (CVI), performed in traditional clinical environments, may not properly reflect the perceptual difficulties observed in highly dynamic and visually complex real-world scenarios. This mismatch suggests that traditional clinical measures of visual abilities may not capture the broad range of perceptual impairments seen in this population. Recent technological advancements such as virtual reality (VR) allow for new opportunities to improve upon traditional vision assessments, by providing novel objective and ecologically valid measurements of performance, and the investigation of their neural basis. This talk will highlight the development of two VR simulations designed for those with CVI that incorporate eye tracking technology. Results from behavioral testing will be discussed from a perspective of real-world implications and focus on comparisons between those without visual impairment, with ocular-based visual impairment, and with brain-based visual impairment. Combining these same VR simulations with neuroimaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) can also help elucidate the neural basis of these visual perceptual impairments. Design choices and preliminary results will be discussed with a focus on real-world takeaways.

	11:15 – 12:15  Concurrent Sessions 2 (continued)

	2C.   Beyond the Mat Training Program                		
		Presenter:  Lisa Irvine MS, OTR/L, RYT200
				Brave Yoga for All Co-Owner 
				Director of Programming, & Lead Instructor 
	
	Description: Our Beyond the Mat training program is best suited for parents, educators and staff who work with clients who experience sensory processing disorders, neurological development disorders, autism spectrum disorders, and ADHD.   Attendees will become leaders in techniques to improve their client’s strength, self-awareness, focus and regulation while nurturing their well-being.   

2D.	Top Ten Technology Treasures 
        Presenter:	Steven Famiglietti 
			Blind Services Vocational Manager 
			NEAT Center at Oak Hill 

Description: There are many pieces of technology available to help people with low vision or blindness as they go through different phases of their lives.  Each day, we are presented with many challenges ranging from equal access during school to staying healthy and fit.  Join me as we explore and discover exciting, new developments, apps, and tech supports addressing the needs of individuals with visual impairments in today’s fast paced world. 

2E.   	Accessing Outdoor Recreation in Massachusetts 
Presenter:  Laila Soleimani
		Outreach Specialist
		DCR’s Universal Access Program

Description:  The DCR’s Universal Access Program is in its 24th year of offering accessible recreation opportunities to individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts state parks. The Program is a leader in providing accessible recreation experiences and serves as a national model for other state parks providing access to recreation. This presentation will look at the development of the Universal Access Program and how we provide access to our parks–from making physical improvements to the parks to how we make recreation accessible in order to provide our visitors with access to public parks in Massachusetts. 

	12:15 – 12:30	Exhibits Open	

	12:30 – 1:30	Lunch & Award Presentations:
		
		●  Mark Holt “Gift of Lunch”
		●  Paul McDade “Focus” Award for Distinguished Service
		●  Paul McDade “Focus” Award for Distinguished Leadership
               
               1:30 – 2:00		Dedicated Vendor & Poster Session!!!     

We listened to you!!!
We have again scheduled more time after lunch for meeting
our Exhibitors, viewing the Posters, and networking.

Enjoy!!!

	

	2:00 – 3:00  	Concurrent Sessions 3

3A.   The Role of Binocular Vision on Learning, Development, and 	Activities of Daily Living 
		Presenter:   Sarah Williams, OD
				 Assistant Professor of Optometry
				 New England College of Optometry 

Description: Impairment of the visual system can not only affect development, but also influence the way individuals interact with their surroundings and everyday tasks. A common misconception is that normal “vision” simply means having 20/20 visual acuity and healthy ocular structures. In addition to good optics and healthy ocular structures, a normal visual system requires functional binocular vision and solid informational processing skills. Individuals with disabilities are not only at a higher risk for visual impairment, but also disorders that impact the binocular vision system such as high refractive error, strabismus, amblyopia, and oculomotor dysfunction. This presentation will focus on different binocular vision disorders, how they impact learning and development, and what interventions should be considered for individuals with disabilities. 

2:00 – 3:00  	Concurrent Sessions 3 (continued)

3B. 	Communication and Conversations:  Give Me A Reason!
	Presenters:   
	Sharon Stelzer, M.Ed., Lead Teacher
	Mary Zatta, Ph.D., Director of Professional Development  					  	Perkins School for the Blind 

Description: This presentation will demonstrate ways that all individuals can participate in meaningful conversations. Through the use of videos, discussion, and simulation, participants will gain an understanding how individuals with limited language can and do communicate.  

3C.	What in the World is O&M? 
        		Presenters:   
		M. Bernadette Dawson, M.Ed., COMS  
		Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities, Rhode Island College
		Emily Taul
		Student, Transition Program, Warwick, RI Public School District
		Graduate of Pilgrim High School, Warwick RI 	

	Description:  Bernadette Dawson and her student Emily Taul have been a team for over twelve years, and Emily is delighted to share how orientation and mobility training has contributed to her successes. Her message is so important to her that she spent her senior year of high school writing her book “What in the World is O&M?” 

	The book explains the skills and benefits of O&M, and how everyone can appropriately offer help to people with visual impairment in the community.  We welcome you to join us and learn how Emily uses O&M skills to deal with visual and intellectual disabilities.

3D.	New Products and Services 
Different companies/agencies will discuss the services and products they provide, including assistive technology, that are helpful to individuals with visual impairment or blindness and those who support them, including:
•	The Carroll Center for the Blind
•	Talking Information Center
•	Perkins Library
•	Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs
•	Perkins School for the Blind

PLEASE NOTE: CEU’s are not offered for this session. 

						
	2:00 – 3:00  Concurrent Sessions 3 (continued)

3E.	The Use of Props and Adaptive Materials in Music Therapy 
        		Presenter:   Mollie Caravello, MT-BC  
 Music Therapist, Board Certified
 American Association for Music Therapy (AAMT)
 Massachusetts Music Therapy Association (MMTA)
 Drums Alive
 Music Together

	Description:  During music therapy sessions, this therapist attempts to meet the needs of all the individuals in her groups.  Paired with most songs and activities, there are props included: adapted lights, textured objects, smells, items with braille, speakers, to name a few. These items will be presented for exploration during the presentation.  

3:00 – 3:15	Break / Refreshments / Exhibits Open

3:15 – 3:30		"Focus" On Talent!!! 

A special musical performance by
 
			MAI Band  
				       
						…will put the finishing touch on the day!

3:30 - 3:45    	Closing Remarks
	RAFFLE Wonderful PRIZES!!! Must be present to WIN! 

			Thank you for your support!

Registration Information

1.	Due Date: Please register BY February 20, 2020.  Thank you!

2.	NEW Option!! Paying by Credit Card? - PLEASE REGISTER ONLINE/see link in box at top of page 15.  Thank you!!
3.	Paying by Check or Purchase Order? – PLEASE USE THE FORM on PAGE 15 of this Brochure and return with payment to:
	Lisa DiBonaventura / Vision & Vision Loss Services, DDS
	Wrentham Developmental Center, PO Box 144, Wrentham, MA 02093
Please make check payable to:  Shriver Clinical Services Corporation

4.	Questions regarding Registration? please contact:  Lisa.DiBonaventura@state.ma.us or phone 508-384-5539.

5.	Refunds:  We regret that refunds cannot be given after February 14th 2020, unless by notification from us to you that your check (# and amount) will be returned to you.   This refund protocol will also be used if conference capacity is reached at the time we receive your registration and payment.

6.	Continuing Education Information:
	Application for 4 hours of Continuing Education has been submitted to:
•	ACVREP: Acad. for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Pros. 
•	CRC: Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification 
•	CEC: An application has been made for 4 CECs for Social Workers.
•	MA Board of Registration in Nursing: 4 contact hours will be granted. Questions:  Lisa.DiBonaventura@state.ma.us
•	MA CE: NECO/NEEI has applied for 4 hours of MA CE approved credits.
Questions: Barry S. Kran, O.D.:  Kranb@neco.edu
•	PDP: Perkins Training Center will award 5 Professional Development Points Questions:  Teresa.Pagliuca@Perkins.org
    Please indicate your choice of CEUs on the registration form.

7.	Scholarships are available for individuals with intellectual disability and their families (priority given for the Southeast Region).  
Information: Dianne.Rodrigues@massmail.state.ma.us  

8.	Reduced Room Rates of $125.00/$145.00 per night, exclusive of taxes, will be available at the Four Points by Sheraton, Norwood, phone:  781-769-7900. Please mention Shriver Clinical.  Rooms at this rate are held until February 12, 2020 and subject to availability.

9.	This Registration Brochure and Form can be downloaded from the "Training” section of: focusonvisionandvisionloss.org and from perkinselearning.org/events

Please Register Early!!! – Registrations Due by February 20th!!! 

NEW - Paying by Credit Card?  Please register online:  
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2020-focus-on-vision-and-blindness-conference-tickets-78430147683

Paying by Check or Purchase Order?  Please use this form.  Thank you!

Please Register Early if you can!       Registrations Due by February 20th 2020

          “Focus” On Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference

Wednesday March 11, 2020 - Four Points by Sheraton, Norwood, Massachusetts

	Name:____________________________________________________________				
Agency Name:______________________________________________________

Address:__________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________
Email:						Phone:
________________________________________________________________
Can we share your contact information with sponsors?  Yes ___  No___

Lunch Choice: If no choice is indicated, the Vegan lunch will be ordered.

•	___ Chicken:  with green grapes, roasted shallots, & white wine cream sauce. Served with fingerling potatoes & roasted seasonal vegetables.         OR
•	___ Roasted Vegetable Tower*:  with portabella mushroom, red pepper, zucchini, & squash over quinoa with a balsamic glaze (*Vegan & Gluten Free).  

Special Accommodations Needed*:_________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
* For Interpreting Services, please let us know by February 10, 2020

Concurrent Session Selection: Select the letters of the 3 you plan to attend.
1. 10:00 - 11:00	2. 11:15 - 12:15	3. 2:00 - 3:00	
A    B    C    D    E    F	A    B    C    D   E 	A    B    C    D    E	
			
Please select the type(s) of CE you will be requesting:
   ACVREP	       CRC         CEC        Nursing CEU        MA CE	        PDP   
         
Conference Rate with Lunch:  
General Admittance postmarked by 1/31/20:  	General Admittance postmarked after 1/31/20	Physician (MD, DO, OD)	
$55.00	$65.00	$110.00	

Total: $______ Check or Purchase Order Number:__________________
Please make check payable to:  Shriver Clinical Services Corporation and mail along with this form to: Lisa DiBonaventura / Vision & Vision Loss Services / Wrentham Developmental Center / PO Box 144 / Wrentham, MA 02093
Thank you! Registrations due by February 20, 2020! 
We would love to hear from you!

We consider all feedback when planning the "Focus" Conference each year. Please share your ideas and suggestions with us! 
•	If paying by Credit Card online, please email your ideas/suggestions: Lisa.DiBonaventura@state.ma.us
•	If paying by Check or Purchase Order, please share your ideas on this page and mail along with your Registration. 
We appreciate your input and support.   Thank you!!!

Additional Copies of this Registration Brochure
can be found:

•	"Training" section of the “Focus” website
         https://www.focusonvisionandvisionloss.org/conferences--workshops.html

DIRECTIONS

Four Points by Sheraton Norwood
                     1125 Boston-Providence Turnpike
Route 1 (18 miles south of Boston)
                                  Norwood, MA 02062
                                 Phone: 781-769-7900
                          www.fourpointsnorwood.com

From Boston and points North
Take I-93 South which turns into I-95 (Route 128) North.
Take Exit 15B, Route 1 South toward Norwood.
Travel 4.5 miles, the Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel & Conference Center will be on your right after the Staples Plaza.

From the West
Follow Mass. Turnpike (I-90) East
Take Exit 14 onto I-95 (Route 128) South. (Note: From the West, this Exit is number 14, from the East, it is number 15.)
Continue South to Exit 15B. Route 1, Norwood,
And proceed as above.

From Providence, TF Green Airport & points South
Take I-95 North to Exit 11B, Neponset Street, Norwood.
Drive 7/10 of a mile and turn left onto Dean Street.
At traffic light, turn left onto Route 1, heading South.
The Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel & Conference Center is on your right after the Staples Plaza.

From Logan Airport
Exit airport, follow signs through Williams tunnel (toll) to I-90 /I-93 South. Follow signs for I-93 South about 7 miles.
I-93 South turns into I-95 (Route 128) North.
Proceed on I-95(Route 128) North to Exit 15B, Route 1 Norwood.
Travel Route 1 South 4.5 miles to the Four Points by Sheraton Norwood Hotel & Conference Center, located on your right after the Staples Plaza. 

“Let’s Walk Together:
Safe Guiding Techniques for Individuals
with Intellectual Disability and Vision Loss”

Video – Free Copies Available!!!

This 23-minute video describes the human guide technique (also known as sighted guide).  Throughout the video you will see people using the technique or variations of the technique, in everyday situations including:

Doorways, Narrow Spaces, and Crowded Areas
Stairs, Steps and Ramps
Uneven Surfaces
Seating at a Table and a Couch

Video and Printable Resources
AVAILABLE ONLINE!

http://www.focusonvisionandvisionloss.org/lets-walk-together.html

Getting Into and Out of a Car and Van

Free Copies: To request a free DVD of the complete “Let’s Walk Together” video please email Lisa.DiBonaventura@state.ma.us .

Please share these resources!

This video was made possible through the support of the
Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) in collaboration with:
Emerson College, Shriver Clinical Services, and 
The Carroll Center for the Blind

Be sure to check out the "Focus" website: www.focusonvisionandvisionloss.org

The "Focus" website is a resource of the MCB/DDS Partnership Project created to raising awareness of services and information for individuals with intellectual disability and vision impairment, legal blindness or deaf/blindness.

MCB/DDS Services & Resources 
Learn about Certified Orientation & Mobility Services, the American Printing House for the Blind Federal Quota Account, and other initiatives focused on the needs of individuals with intellectual disability and vision loss.

Eye Care, Safety & Finding an Eye Care Provider
Find an eye care provider near you; review the DDS Vision Care Guidelines; discover tips for keeping eyes safe and reducing glare, learn how to best prepare for eye exams and eye surgery; see how vision can be affected by specific eye disorders; focus on nutrition for eye health, vision and aging eyes, and more!

Everyday Life
Discover useful strategies, including orientation & mobility techniques; communication and recreation resources; browse catalogs specific to items for individuals with vision loss; and more!

Students
Explore specialized resources available to students with vision loss and their families to promote education, healthy vision, and a smooth transition to adult life.

Connect
Read inspiring stories of individuals with vision loss; check out the Focus Blog, discover answers to frequently asked questions, and connect with us!  

Training & Events
Learn about conferences and workshops related to vision care and vision loss; access downloadable resource handouts and the Let’s Walk Together Human Guide video; sign up to receive email notification of upcoming events!

Lisa DiBonaventura, MA, COMS
Statewide Director for Vision & Vision Loss Services, DDS
WDC, 131 Emerald Street, PO Box 144
Wrentham, MA  02093