Northeast Regional Center For Vision Education

Meeting the Need for Highly-qualified Low Incidence Professionals to support Students with

Visual Impairments

Robert McCulleyDirector: Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education

Laura Bozeman, Ph.D.Program Director: Vision Studies

University Of Massachusetts Boston

• A consortium of 6 New England States: MA, ME, NH, RI VT & CT

• Partnership of the:▫ Federal Office of Special Education,▫ State Departments of Education ▫ University of Massachusetts Graduate College of Education▫ Institute for Community Inclusion UCEDD▫ UMass Division of Corporate Continuing and Distance Education▫ Professional Community

Northeast Regional Center For Vision Education

Primary Goals and Objectives

• Meet the critical need for highly qualified professionals

• Establish a regionally accessible distance education program

• Build a regional network for community engagement

• Ongoing regional needs assessment of Low Incidence

Northeast Regional Center For Vision Education

National Plan for Training Personnel Visual Impairments (NPTP: Mason, Davidson, & McNerney, 2000)

•Regionalization

•Shared Financial Responsibilities

•Community Engagement

Pre- Service Models

•Traditional On-campus Program•Satellite Classrooms: Faculty Off Campus•Satellite Transmission of the Classroom•Compressed Video•Web-Based Learning – our choice

Web-Based Distance Education Pedagogy•Cannot simply reproduce classroom, online•Change approach to fit the medium

•Facilitate active learning •Sequence content and activities•Standards-based instruction•Portfolio assessment and product outcomes

•Students attend when ready to attend•Produce when ready to produce

Attractiveness of Distance Education NE

•Regionally-accessible program•Live, work, learn from their home state

Challenge: Designing a “best of all worlds” for the

NortheastBalance the positives and negatives-distance

education

Distance Education Concerns

•Isolation… •Computer learners / interpersonal skills…•Academics versus practical experience…•Loss of community of classroom…•Coordination of distance field supports…•Quality control-field supervision...

Northeast Plan

•Begin design of standard-based, on-line curriculum

•Decreased the time required on campus •Incorporate the community in the educational

process: Curriculum, Funding, Licensure•Integrate practical field experiences•Transition from on campus to fully on-line•Engage the students both online and within

the community

Why did we select a regional approach?

•Defines a community•Allows for constancy of relationships •Growth of partnerships•Increases numbers•Maximizes resources

Northeast Regional Center Model

•Central University

•Central Administration

•Six State / University Liaisons▫Coordinate faculty and student engagement

with local professional community▫Local recruitment and support of students

Shared Financial Responsibilities

• SEA Support Development: Full Participation▫$160,000 Dev Funds CSPD / SIG ▫Demonstrated Commitment of States

• Federal OSEP Awards Assured by State Commitment▫ OSEP Low Incidence TVI grant 2002-2007▫ OSEP Low Incidence O&M grant 2003-2008▫ OSEP Low Incidence TVI Award 2007 -2011 ▫ OSEP Low Incidence O&M Award 2008 -2012

• University Support Assured by Federal / State Commitment▫ Faculty position 1.25 FTE▫ Revenue sharing income to support operating costs $150,000

How we are building community?

Communication with Regional Professionals

• Regional Professional Directory • Regional Professional Listserv

Engaging Students Faculty Professionals

• Annual Harbor Cruise • Holiday Party• Full Day Orientation• Required Weekends

Placement Services Employment Board

• Automated• Links students and

professionals to both regional and national employment

Federally Funded Academic Program Outcomes 5 years TVI and O&M Combined

Total Students 216TVI 119O&M 78Withdrawals 19

216

119

78

1910 90

50

100

150

200

250

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 2003-2008

Graduates 109Continuing 88

TVI Graduates 59TVI Continuing 60

O&M Graduates 50O&M Continuing 29

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Graduate Continuing

Total

TVI

O&M

NERCVE Looking Forward

Regional Leadership ▫Research ▫Training ▫Technical Assistance

Administration: Community and Academics

Community AdministrationNERCVE Director Robert McCulley

• Resource Generation• Regional Needs

Assessment• Development• Community Support• Community Partnerships• Strategic Planning • Sustainability

Academic AdministrationAcademic DirectorLaura Bozeman

• Academic Governance• Curriculum Development• Faculty Resources and

Support• Student Support and

Advising• University Interests/Service• Research/Publications

Sustaining State Involvement

Decrease Pre-Service Costs

• Increase University Commitments• Increase Student Contributions• Increase Community Contributions

Expand Regional Services

• Professional Development

• Mentorship Induction

• Expand Research Capabilities

• Recruitment and Retention

Selected Community Initiatives

Expanded Professional Curriculum

• SPE 697 Research in VI

• SPE 697 Early Childhood/VI

• SPE 671 Technology For Students with Visual and Multiple Disabilities

• SPE 670 Advanced Instructional Strategies for TVIs

• SPE 697 Music Braille

NERCVEBoston Public Schools Leadership Project

•Boston Public Schools •Direct Service Contract $180,000 Annually•Two University Professional Staff TVI •Expand Direct Services•Paid Leadership Students Focus Urban

Educational Environments

E- Mentorship Project

•Utilization of Distance Education Technologies

•Mentorship •Induction

Sustaining Braille Proficiency TVI’s• NERCVE Online Drill and Practice Braille

• Six-key braille entry through the computer's keyboard

• Self paced independent study

• Programmed Instruction Literary Braille Code

• http://media.umb.edu/sbp

NERCVE Director: Robert McCulley

Vision Studies Program DirectorDr Laura Bozeman

TVI Coordinator: Marybeth Dean

O/M Coordinator: Paula Kosior

Professional DevelopmentCoordinator Sandy Smith

Web Design and Programming:Christopher Nagle

Boston Public Schools StaffTamara Shapiro Robert Takacs

Massachusetts State LiaisonJanice Barron

Connecticut State LiaisonMarybeth Dean

Vermont State Liaison: Stephanie Bissonette

Maine State LiaisonRuth Mlotek

New Hampshire State LiaisonCarrie Hoeckele

Rhode Island State Liaison Clare Irwin

WWW.NERCVE.UMB.EDU

Discussion