Maximizing Regional Resources to Meet Low Incidence Needs

The Northeast Regional Response to the National Plan for Training Personnel in Visual Impairments

Robert McCulley, M.Ed., DirectorNortheast Regional Center For Vision Ed.

Laura Bozeman, Ph.D. Director Vision Studies Programs

UMass Boston Institute For Community Inclusion

Framework for the Presentation

Structure and Function of the Northeast Regional Center

Resource and Operational Strategies and Outcomes

Regional Distance Education Academic Program Outcomes

Sustainability Plan

Discussion

Six State Regional Collaborative: MA, ME, NH, RI VT & CT

Focused on a critical need for Personnel and Addressing that Need Collectively Across State Borders

Beyond Pre service, NERCVE has a Vision of a Regional Research, Training and Technical Assistance Center

Massachusetts University Center of Excellence Disability UCEDD Institute for Community Inclusion UMass Boston and Children’s

Hospital

ICI Disability Expertise Exceeding 120 FTE

ICI Mission

The Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston has a general mission to support the rights ofChildren and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of the community. Together we

advocateFor personal choice, self-determination, and social and economic justice.

NERCVE MissionThe Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education has its own mission to support regionally accessible educational opportunities and fostering an environment for shared resources and collaborations across the six New England States relating to Low Incidence VI issues

Crossing State Barriers to Establish a Critical Mass of Resources to impact low incidence needs.

Economic and Social Justice of Low Incidence Disabilities Visual Impairments

Initial Focus on Low Incidence Pre Service Personnel

Realization of a Shared Problem Across State Lines “Together we can do More” NCLID

Embraced NPTP In Visual Impairments – Regional Low Incidence Collaboration, – Essential Role of Distance Education – Diversified Funding

Initially Funded by collective SIG and /or CSPD State Resources 2001 Recipients of Three Consecutive Federal Low Incidence Awards TVI Federally Funded 2002-2007 O&M Federally Funded 2003-2008 TVI Federally Funded 2007 -2011

Continued Growth and Development

Having been so fortunate to have received so muchfederal support we never lost sight of the need to endover reliance on one funding source.

Expanded Administrative Team to Regional Needs

Diversified Regional Services

Increased Fundraising and Revenue Generation

Strategic Independent Administration

NERCVE / ICI Robert McCulley

Resource Generation Regional Needs

Assessment Community Support Partnerships Strategic Planning Sustainability

College of Education

Laura Bozeman

Academic Programs Curriculum Development Faculty Resources and Supports Student Supports and Advising University Interests Research Publications Academic Service

With Federal State and UCEDD Resources still in place we Expanded Staff and Regional Services

NERCVE Director

Vision Studies Program Director TVI Coordinator

O/M Coordinator

Field Coordinator

Professional DevelopmentCoordinator

Curriculum Design and Support

Web Design and Programming

Access Technology and Disability

Support

Marketing and Development

O&M/TVI Direct Service Staff

Total Revenue Generated 06-07

Fiscal Year 06-07 Resources

Federal Related Service Grant $250,000Federal Low Incidence Grant $300,000State Departments of Education $135,000Boston Public School Contract $180,000Private Fundraising $105,000UMB Disability Support Contract $35,000

Total Operational Budget 1,005,000

Partnerships and Collaborations

– UCEDD– State Departments of Education– Private Schools and Agencies– NERRC– Federal Office Of Special Education– NCLID– Professional Community

Resource Strategy: Partner with a UCED

Institute For Community InclusionUCEDD UMass Boston

What we get:

Established Track Record Grant Writing and Contracts

Established Relationship with the University

Mentored Staff Grant Writing

Cross Disability Resources

What we offer back:

Specialized Expertise for Cross Disability Initiatives

Expanded Opportunities

Employment Placement Transition Inclusion

Resource Strategy: Partner with

State Departments Of Education

Learned about State Improvement Grants CSPD Resources and Interests Our Purpose is to be a Valuable Technical

Resource

Resource Strategy

Partner with the Private Schools and Agencies

Fundraising Expertise Field Resources and Equipment Regional Access to Off Campus Space

Resource StrategyAssisting the Federal Office of Special Education in its Mission

• Federal Priorities

• Federal Reporting Requirements Congress

• Expand the Geographic Impact

• Reduce Costs and not impact

Resource Strategy

Know all the Regional Resource Supports in your Geography

Organized Low Incidence Regional Planning Meetings

State Directors of Special Education/UCEDD Directors

Examination of Problems and Successes of Low Incidence Regional Pre service Program in VI

Resolving obstacles Applying Regional Collaboration to other Areas

of Low Incidence

Partnered with those who knew more than we did

Ask For Help Dr Kay Ferrell Consultation NERCVE Faculty Staff Provided Initial Adjunct Faculty Provided Online Instructional Support Mentoring of Faculty Resource Material Sharing Grant Application Review

Resource Strategy

Resource Strategy

Involve & Support the Professional Community

Recruitment Reputation Expanded Field Support Pre Practicum Practicum Induction Adjunct Faculty Assessment

Center Outcomes: Using Our Technology Resources to Network with Professionals

Professional Directory Limited to Region Focused on Low Incidence VI Automated and Dynamic Searchable by State Searchable by Profession

Employment Board

Limited to Vision Professions

Searchable by State Searchable by

Profession Automated to Archive

after 90 Days with Notification

Private Fundraisng

Equipment Fund $65,000

$25,000 Alden Foundation Challenge Lions Club $200 Challenge $2,000 Individual Donations $8,000 ($10 - $500) Perkins School $30,000

Braille Note takers, Loaner Laptops, Speech Software,Magnification Software, Braille Transcription Software

*Student Emergency or Access Training Computers

E-Mentorship Grant Rhode Island Foundation

$42,000

Expanding the Use of University Distance Education Tools

Coordinate Mentorship within and across state lines in Low Incidence areas

Resource to State DOE Supports to Teachers

Expanded ContractsBoston Public Schools Direct Service Contract

UMass Urban Mission Boston Public Schools Direct Service

Contract $180,000 Graduate Leadership Positions (3) Provides Direct Service to BPS School Year Expanding Inclusion Supports Students VI New Field Supervisors Funded by BPS

Contract

Contracts Within the University

Disability Support Services

UMass ONLINE Web Accessibility

Information Technology

Adaptive Computer Lab

Academic Outcomes

Web based Regional Distance Education Program TVI

Web based Regional Distance Education Program O/M

Federally Funded Academic Program Outcomes

Total Students 197

TVI 119

O&M 78

inactive 19

197

119

78

1910 9

020406080

100120140160180200

Enrollment Inactive

Total

TVI

O&M

State Wide Enrollments

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

MA

RI

CT

VT

NH

ME

OR

121

23

20

11

10

03

09

Graduation Outcomes

Graduates 74

Continuing 104

TVI Graduates 46

TVI Continuing 63

O&M Graduates 28

O&M Continuing 41

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Graduate Continuing

Total

TVI

O&M

Massachusetts

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Admit Cont Grads

TVI O&M

Strong DOE Investment NERCVE $50,000

High Enrollments 121 High Graduation 46 Continuing

65 Full Employment 41 Relocated 5

Connecticut

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Admit Cont Grads

TVI O&M

Strong DOE Investment NERCVE $30,000 Annually

50% workforce Plan to Retire within 10 years

High Admissions 20 Graduation 8 Continuing 9 Full Employment within

State 8

Rhode Island

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Admit Cont Grads

TVI O&M Strong NERCVE Support $15,000

Direct Funds and at least $15,000 in-kind

Admissions 23 Graduates 7 Continuing 13 Full Employment State

Maine

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

Admit Cont Grads

TVI O&M

Strong State Support Development

Unable to Justify Cost Program

No outcomes 3 Admissions 0 Graduates 2 Withdrawals 1 Continues

Job Market Questionable

Vermont

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Admit Cont Grads

TVI O&M Strong Support NERCVE $10,000 Annually Plus In-kind

Admissions 11 Graduation 7 Continuing 2 Full Employment within

State 7

New Hampshire

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Admit Cont Grads

TVI O&M

Strong State NERCVE Support $30,000

Admissions 10 Graduates 5 Continuing 4 Employed within state 5

Academic Observations

Students are Proceeding More Slowly

Attracting Experienced Adult Learners

Excellent Technology Skills

Distance Education is Effective

More Evidence Based Outcomes

Sustainability Plan

Overall Strategy Increasethe number of Partnerships andMember States

Increase University Responsibility

Decrease Costs to All Collaborators

Revenue Set aside 60%

Tenured and Tenure Track Positions

Increased Support from UCEDD Institute for Community Inclusion

Sustaining State Involvement

Decrease Cost of Pre-Service

Increase Support to Other State VI needs

Active Need Cost Membership Maintenance

DOE Related Contracts Professional Development Mentorship Research and Data Policy

Expanding Private Fundraising Efforts

University Support

Asking for Help

Institutional Advancement Legislative Matching Funds

Endowment Committee Finding the High Rollers Chair: Nancy Kerrigan Family

Sustainability Plan Federal

Federal Reduce Reliance on One Federal Source

NIH NIDR Transportation Increase Capacity for

Federal Research Expand Cross Disability

Support to increase funding pool

Maximizing Regional Resources to Meet Low Incidence Needs

The Northeast Regional Response to the National Plan for Training Personnel in Visual Impairments

Discussion