Vision Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Expo

VRATE 2011

Friday, December 2nd, 9 am to 4 pm

List of Speakers for VRATE 2011

9:30- 10:30 AM

Fiesta Room: “Update on Retinal Treatments/Research”  Sachin Mehta M.D.,  Retinal Consultants of Arizona  CEU credit units pending
Room A: “Android vs. Iphone” Sharonda Greenlaw, AZ DES Rehabilitation Services Administration, and Terri Hedgpeth, A.S.U. Disability Resource Center
Room B: “Incorporating Wireless, Refreshable Braille into your Adaptive Technology Tool Kit”
Larry Lewis, Flying Blind, LLC
Room C: “Low Cost AT Solutions” Adam Cruz, ACBVI
Room D: “Hot Technology Topics” Governor’s Council

10:30-11:30 AM

Fiesta Room: “Update on Retinal Treatments/Research (continued)”  Sachin Mehta M.D. Retinal Consultants of Arizona  CEU credit units pending
Room A: “Diagnosis and Vision Rehabilitation of people with Traumatic Brain Injury”  Vladimir Yevseyenkov O.D., Ph.D., Midwestern University Low Vision Clinic CEU credit units pending
Room B: “Guiding Eyes for the Blind” Michael Meteyer, Guiding Eyes for the Blind
Room C: “Mobility Eyeglasses” Mike Perry, Low Vision Plus
Room D: “Hot Technology Topics” Governor’s Council

11:30-12:30 PM- Break for Lunch and Exhibit Hall

12:30-1:30 PM

Fiesta Room: “Implantable Telescopes” Henry Hudson M.D., Retina Centers P.C. CEU credit units pending
Room A: No presentation scheduled
Room B: “Deaf Blind Project”  Vicki Thompson, AZ Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Room C: “Textbook Accessibility- Post Secondary Education” Teresa Haven, A.S.U. Disability Resource Center

1:30-2:30 PM

Room A: “10 Tips to Help Maintain Independence Despite Visual Impairment”  Lynne Noon OD FAAO Diplomate in Low Vision, Viewfinder Low Vision Resource Center CEU credit units pending
Room B: “Podcasting and Apps: Reading Services in a Web 2.0 World” Heidi Capriotti, Sun Sounds Radio
Room C: “Braille on Demand” Amy Hyman, Foundation for Blind Children

2:30-3:30 PM

Room A: “New improvements in Low Vision Rehabilitation Testing and Treatment Options Available” Kevin Huff OD , Viewfinder Low Vision Resource Center CEU credit units pending
Room B: “Braille and Talking Book Library” Christine Tuttle, Braille and Talking Book Library
Room C: “New Features in Jaws Version 13” Briggs Cunningham, Next Level Assistive Technology

(NOTE: The above list is as of November 2011.)

VRATE CONFERENCE CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS (now closed for 2011)

Submissions for one hour session presentations are being solicited to present at the 15th Annual Vision Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Expo. VRATE will be held at the Shriners Auditorium, 552 North 40th St., Phoenix, Arizona 85008 on Friday, December 2, 2011 from 9 am to 4 pm.

VRATE is a unique free event that features day-long exhibits and informative speakers that provide expert services and products for people of all ages with visual impairments, and the professionals who work with this population. This event is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the newest technologies, medical research, and helpful resources available to those with visual impairments.

We are seeking education sessions that will be of interest to consumers as well as the professional. Such sessions would include information that the Blindness/Low Vision/Deaf-Blind practitioner and educator needs to succeed professionally, and encourages discussion of current practice trends and techniques. Sessions of interest to the consumer would include information to enhance the consumers’ knowledge of the low vision/blindness topics and resources and treatments available.

Presentations are divided into two categories:

Presentations seeking CE approval (ACVREP, AOTA and CRCC). Deadline for submission is: Friday, July 29, 2011. See below for submission details. – CE submissions are now closed.

or

General information and technology demonstrations. Deadline for submissions is 1 November, 2011, and are approved based on relevancy and room availability. Please use Contact Us to request to present your General Information and/or Technology Demonstration (non-CE) at VRATE, and include:

Your name, title and contact information

Exhibitor affiliation if any

Presentation title

A brief outline of the topic being presented

Submitting Session and Speaker Information for CE Approval

In order to receive approval from ACVREP, AOTA and CRCC for sessions presented at the VRATE 2011 program, the VRATE Speaker Committee must provide to each accrediting body a completed application. This application provides the necessary information to the bodies to prove validity and relevant topics to the professions in order to provide credit to certified/licensed professionals for the purpose of recertification.

Please note that only the presenters/sessions that complete and submit the required information listed on the following page can be considered for Continuing Education Credit.

Continuing education topics for recertification credit must focus on increasing the knowledge and/or skills in the practice of vision rehabilitation and education, in one or more of the following areas:

1. The Visual System and Vision Loss.
2. The Auditory System And Hearing Loss.
3. Psychosocial Aspects Of Visual Impairment.
4. Professionalism In Vision Education And Rehabilitation.
5. Professional Information.
6. Individuals Who Are Visually Impaired With Additional Disabilities.
7. Aging And Vision Loss.
8. Sensory Motor Functioning.
9. Human Growth And Development Over The Lifespan.
10. Assessment Of Persons With Visual Impairment And Their Environments.
11. Instructional Methods.
12. Development, Administration, And Supervision Of Programs Serving Persons With Visual Impairment.
13. Communication, Team-Building, Consumerism, Cultural Diversity, And Working With Families.

Submissions are reviewed for meeting continuing education accrediting criteria for AOTA, ACVREP and CRCC. To be eligible for CE credits each lecture/speaker must have the following information for submission to the Review Committee: a) Title of lecture, b) Speaker name and credentials including a copy of their CV, c) Learning objectives, and d) Number of clock hours.

The speakers/instructors must have education and/or experience appropriate to the subject matter. Also, a speaker or presenter who has a financial interest in any of the items or services presented in the course must disclose this at the time of application and at the beginning of each program.

Sample Lecture and Objective Information

View a sample of lecture and objective information to submit in Microsoft Word format.

Submit your application to: jamenke1@hotmail.com or jmenke@pmi.edu

Important Dates to remember:

Friday, July 29, 2011 - Deadline for presentation proposal submission.

Friday August 12, 2011 - Selection Notification

Friday, December 2, 2011 – VRATE at Shriners Auditorium, 552 North 40th St., Phoenix, Arizona 85008

For further information, please contact VRATE Speaker Co-chair, Janet Menke OTR/L,CLVT at: jamenke1@hotmail.com or jmenke@pmi.edu

Prior VRATE Presentations

Did you miss a session or were unable to attend? Please use this prior VRATE presentations link to hear recordings of last year's presentations.