Greetings SIG/SPDG Directors and Evaluators:
In September, Jennifer Doolittle, OSEP Project Officer for the Kansas SPDG, facilitated the first Low Incidence Affinity Group Teleconference. During this debut call, states had a lively discussion about their current LI initiatives, the challenges encountered when implementing their activities and strategies used to overcome obstacles. Based on the interest of the participants future calls are now scheduled for this group. Please SAVE THE DATES for December 8, February 9, and April 13. A description for each teleconference along with dial-in information is provided below. For the December 8 Call, Dr. Kathleen Huebner, will provide an overview of work of the Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment. Those interested in attending are encouraged to take a look at the NCLVI website, and come prepared with some questions prior to session to make their participation more meaningful. To view the website go to: http://www.pco.edu/nclvi.htm. A Brief Summary - National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment & NCLVI Fellowships The National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment (NCLVI) is a Collaborative Agreement funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. NCLVI was created in order to increase the number of leaders in the field of blindness and visual impairment, particularly in the areas of public policy/advocacy, curriculum development, research, personnel preparation, and administration at national, state and/or local levels. NCLVI consists of: * A consortium of 14 universities that offer doctoral degrees with an emphasis in blindness and visual impairment * A Public Advisory Council (PAC) * A staff based at Pennsylvania College of Optometry. (2FTE) NCLVI will award doctoral-level fellowships to full-time students who are committed to the education of children who are blind or visually impaired. NCLVI Fellowships include: * Full tuition for up to 4 years of full-time doctoral study at an NCLVI Consortium University. * Minimum $20,000 annual living stipend for up to 4 years * Required added-value enrichment program emphasizing leadership development in the field of blindness and visual impairment and involving face-to-face seminars, fieldwork, internships, cohort listservs, and on-line discussion boards * Travel to select national conferences and meetings (2 or 3 annually with enrichment activities preceding or following the conference) * Participation in a community of practice for leadership in blindness and visual impairment. NCLVI Fellowship Applicants must be: * US citizens * Accepted into a doctoral program at a Consortium University for the 2005 or 2006 academic years * Full-time students Scheduled SPDG Low Incidence Affinity Group Teleconferences (Occurring the 2nd Monday of Every Other Month) Date: December 8 Time: 3:00-4:00pm, Eastern/ 2:00-3:00pm Central/ 1:00-2:00pm Mountain / 12:00-1:00pm Pacific Presenter: Dr. Kathleen Huebner, National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment (NCLVI) [http://www.pco.edu/nclvi.htm] Facilitator: Glinda Hill, OSEP Description: Kathy Huebner will describe the work of the National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment (NCLVI), an OSEP-funded project that brings together multiple IHEs to prepare LI doctoral students. She will talk about the history of this program and what led up to NCLVI and their accomplishments. Dial-in Info: 1-888-387-8686, Rm: 3460322# Date: February 9 Time: 3:00-4:00pm, Eastern/ 2:00-3:00pm Central/ 1:00-2:00pm Mountain / 12:00-1:00pm Pacific Presenters: Robert McCulley, M.Ed., Director Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education Institute for Community Inclusion University of Massachusetts Boston, and Laura Bozeman, Ph.D., Director of Regional Teacher Education Programs in Visual Impairments Community Inclusion University of Massachusetts Boston Facilitator: TBD Description: Drs. Bob McCauley and Laura Bozeman will describe the innovative approaches UMASS has employed in working with the state in regards to funding, recruiting, and preparing LI practitioners. Dial-in Info: 1-888-387-8686, Rm: 3460322# Date: April 13 Time: 3:00-4:00pm, Eastern/ 2:00-3:00pm Central/ 1:00-2:00pm Mountain / 12:00-1:00pm Pacific Presenter: Elizabeth Beale, Ed.D, Southeast Regional Resource Center Facilitator: TBD Description: Betty Beale will outline the low incidence consortium that was established for several years with the southeast states. This was a collaboration of State Special Education Departments (usually the CSPD coordinator), state certification departments, and IHEs to provide distance based course work leading to certification and M.Ed. in deaf education. Dial-in Info: 1-888-387-8686, Rm: 3460322# Audrey Desjarlais SIGnetwork Technical Assistance and Consulting Services 1268 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.0373 direct 541.346.0322 fax 541.954.8870 mobile http://www.signetwork.org/
