Literacy For All: The Gate Key to Learning
Participating in literacy activities is important for all individuals.
Literacy is at the heart of all the core subjects (math, science, and
social studies, as well as English). This workshop will help educators
and parents understand the degree to which literacy is at the center of
all learning. Students need to gain entry into subjects by knowing the
literacy of that domain—the literacy of science, mathematics, history,
or literature. For those who have severe multiple disabilities that
include visual, cognitive and motor impairments, accessing and
understanding written symbols of language can be difficult
Fall Vision Workshop
October 3, 4 & 5, 2010
Sponsored by:
Statewide System for Vision Services / Iowa Braille School
Iowa Department for the Blind
State Department of Education
Hilton Garden Inn
Des Moines / Urbandale
8600 Northpark Dr
Johnston, IA 50131
515-270-8890
 Make your reservations at the Hilton Garden Inn by calling 515-270-8890 and ask for
group rate for Iowa Braille School Fall Vision Workshop, October 3, 4 & 5, 2010
 Group rate of $89.00 for room reservations made by September 17
 Parent Stipend within 50 miles of hotel - $50.00 per day
 Parent Stipend further than 50 miles of hotel - $100.00 per day
 Registration Forms due by Friday, September 24
Literacy For All: The Gate Key to Learning
Fall Vision Workshop
October 3, 4 & 5, 2010
Presents
Frances Mary D’Andrea
Frances Mary D’Andres, Ph.D., is an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh, a reading specialist,
and an independent contractor specializing in issues related to students with visual impairments, particularly in
the area of literacy.
Ms. D’Andrea started her career as a teacher of students with visual impairments and was formerly the
director of the AFB National Literacy Center in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a coauthor of several books:
• Assistive Technology for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment;
• Looking to Learn: Promoting literacy for Students with Low Vision;
• The Braille Trail: An Activity Book and The Braille Trail Parent / Teacher Guide; and
• Instructional Strategies for Braille Literacy, which won the 200 C. Warren Bledsoe Award from AER as well
as the 1998 Best New Publishers, Professional / Scholarly Publishing division of the Association of American
Publishers. She was also consulting editor on Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach, by Diane Wormsley,
and Seeing Eye to Eye by Sandy Lewis and Carol Allman. Ms. D’Andrea was the editor of the DOTS for Braille
Literacy newsletter and has written articles and given numerous presentations on literacy for people who are
blind or visually impaired.
She serves as AFB’s representative to the Braille Authority of North American (BANA); is a former
chair of AER Division 16, Itinerant Teaching; is an active member of many other professional organizations;
and is the recipient of the 2005 Holbrook-Humphries Literacy Award presented at the Getting in Touch with
Literacy Conference.
Doug Baldwin
Doug Baldwin describes himself as the guy “behind the scenes”, the “connector” whose goal is to link
people and groups for the common good. Having a Doctorate of Optometry from Illinois College of Optometry
in Chicago, Masters of Blind Rehabilitation from Western Michigan University specializing in Orientation and
Mobility, Doug has spent his professional career establishing institutions to meet this goal.
 In 2004 Doug began collaboration with World Access for the Blind and worked on wearable computer
solutions for the blind.
 Doug created a community based education program for Saginaw Intermediate School District that
would serve students with disabilities including blind / visually impaired / deafblind.
 In 1997 Doug founded and is director of The Institute for Innovative Blind Navigation.
 In 1982 Doug founded the Special Needs Vision Clinic; a non-profit clinic for children and seniors.
 Other institutions Doug has established include “The John Moore Community of Tomorrow School” for
an inner city elementary school, Community organizations, and the Old Town Saginaw Music
Association of grass roots musicians.
Doug has special interests in several areas including: the neuropsychology of vision, child development,
international blindness, human navigation and orientation, technology and education.
Literacy For All: The Gate Key to Learning
Fall Vision Workshop
Sunday, October 3rd
Hilton Garden Inn
Des Moines / Urbandale
8600 Northpark Dr
Johnston, IA 50131
Sunday Agenda:
11:00a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Registration in Ballroom Foyer
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Luncheon in Ballroom 2, Must have name tag for meal
1:00 p.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks in Ballroom 1
Patrick Clancy, Administrator of Statewide Vision Services /
Superintendent
1:10 p.m.
Introduction of Speaker, Kay Jahnel
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
"Keys to Wisdom's Treasure": The Power of Books and
Reading
Frances Mary D’Andrea
2:15 p.m.
Break
2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Awareness and Information
Concept Books – Frances Mary D’Andrea
Assistive Tech & Braille Note Takers – Rosa Mauer
Nemeth Code – Sara Larkin
Toys & Games – Ann Hegstrom & Martha Benda
Calendar Boxes – Cindy White-Botello
Literature Books – Margie Ortgiesen
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wrap Up Session
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Braille Sense Training in the Boardroom
Rosa Mauer
Conference Participants - Dinner on your own!
Literacy For All: The Gate Key to Learning
Fall Vision Workshop
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday Agenda:
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
Ballroom Foyer
8:30 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks in Ballrooms 1 & 2
Patrick Clancy, Administrator of Statewide Vision Services /
Superintendent
8:40 a.m.
Introduction of Speaker; Kay Jahnel
8:45 a.m. – 12:00 noon
(10:15 – 10:30 break)
"Engines of Change & Windows on the World": Reading is for
Everyone
Frances Mary D’Andrea
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch in Ballroom 3, Must have name tag for meal
Faculty Excellence Award
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Reading is for Everyone, continued, Frances Mary D’Andrea:
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Break
2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Concurrent Workshops
Ballroom 1
JAWS for Windows
Curtis Chong
JAWS for Windows is perhaps the most widely-used speechbased screen access program for Windows-based computers on
the market today. The presentation will discuss the capabilities
of this software, factors that must be considered when one is
considering a purchase of the program, some of the major
milestones that have been achieved during the program's life
cycle, and its current and future impact on nonvisual access for
people who rely on speech output or refreshable Braille to use
Windows-based computers.
The presentation will also discuss the challenges related to
training a person how to use JAWS for Windows in the most
effective and efficient manner and some of the technical support
issues that trainers and support personnel need to give attention
to. It will also discuss how JAWS compares with other similar
technologies on the market.
Ballroom 2
Experience Books and Boxes: Literacy for Students
with Visual Impairments and Additional
Disabilities
Joan Pease and Cindy White-Botello
Participating in literacy activities is important for all
individuals. For those who have severe multiple
disabilities that include visual, cognitive, and motor
impairments, accessing and understanding written
symbols of language can be difficult. Realizing that
objects are symbols that can be “read” broadens the
options for literacy activities for students with
significant disabilities. This session will target the use
of objects in experience books and boxes as an easyto-implement approach to promote literacy.
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
ICAER Meeting in Ballroom
6:00 p.m.
COMS Dinner at PF Chang’s, Jordan Creek Parkway
Information conversation with Doug Baldwin
Conference Participants - Dinner on your own!
Literacy For All: The Gate Key to Learning
Fall Vision Workshop
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tuesday Agenda:
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast in Ballroom Foyer
8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
COMS session with Doug Baldwin all day in Garden Room 2
The Brain, Technology and Community Based Instruction:
Breaking the Mold
(Lunch break from 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. in Ballroom 3)
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Just Because Students Can Read, Doesn’t Mean They Get It!
In Ballrooms 1 & 2
Margie Ortgiesen and Roxanne Hensley
During the first part of this session, participants will review and engage in several
researched-based comprehension strategies that work. Next, they will review and
connect with guidelines & tips to Nemeth and textbook formatting, in order to
improve reading fluency for Braille readers.
9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Break
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Lunch in Ballroom 3, Must have name tag for a meal
Low Vision Clinic – Dr. Ohlson and Jim Judd
12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
“Technology: Access the World” in Ballrooms 1 & 2
Beth Pieters and Chris Short
Our students have so many more opportunities to access materials and access
communication through technology then every before. This session will
demonstrate and describe many tools and how they can be used by students at
school and at home so that their future will include these tools for career
efficiency and learning opportunities. Get ready for some amazing kids.
2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Break
2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Ballroom 2
Concurrent Workshops
Ballroom 1
Book Readers
Rosa Mauer
A demonstration of a variety of
book readers will be given during
this session. Sites where books can
be downloaded will be discussed as
time allows.
Math Literacy / Nemeth Code
Sara Larkin
Discussion will include Literary
and Nemeth numbers, when to
begin teaching the Nemeth code,
where BANA currently stands on
Abraham Nemeth’s proposed
changes to the Nemeth code, how
math literacy and the Nemeth code
are connected, and strategies on
how to help students make those
connections so they can become
more successful in mathematics.
Ballroom 3
Woodcock Johnston III
Achievement Battery
Barbara Roberts
The American Printing House for the
Blind, in collaboration with the
Woodcock-Munoz Foundation, has
developed a Braille/tactile adaptation of
the Woodcock-Johnson® III Tests of
Achievement (WJ III ACH).The WJ III
ACH-Braille may be used to assess
academic and language achievement, to
identify academic strengths and
weaknesses, to plan interventions and
accommodations, and to monitor longterm progress.
Fall Vision Workshop October 3, 4 & 5, 2010
Literacy For All: The Gate Key to Learning
Registration
Name:
Phone:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Email:
I am attending as a
parent/guardian
professional/para-professional
# of parents/guardians attending meals:
SUNDAY, October 3:
I will attend the Sunday Session
yes
no
Please order a Sunday lunch* for me
yes
no
I will attend the Braille Sense Training Sunday evening
yes
no
I will attend the Monday Fall Vision Conference
yes
no
Please order a Monday lunch* for me
yes
no
MONDAY, October 4:
I will attend the following breakout session on Monday afternoon (please choose one)
JAWS for Windows
Experiences Books and Boxes
I will attend the COMS dinner (Orientation & Mobility Instructors Only)
yes
no
I will attend the Tuesday Fall Vision Conference
yes
no
Please order a Tuesday lunch* for me
yes
no
TUESDAY, October 5:
I will attend the following breakout session on Tuesday afternoon (please choose one)
Book Readers
Math Literacy / Nemeth Code
Woodcock Johnston III Achievement Battery
OTHER INFORMATION:
*I have a special dietary need: (please list it) ________________________________
Material Format needed: ____ print ____ electronic
I need an accommodation: (please list it) ___________________________________
Return Registration Form by September 24 to:
Kathy Hintz, Iowa Braille School, 1002 G Ave, Vinton, IA 52349
or fax to: 319-472-5174 or email to: khintz@iowa-braille.k12.ia.us