1. Northeast Regional Center For Vision Education Meeting the Need for Highly-qualified Low Incidence Professionals to support Students with Visual Impairments Robert McCulley Director: Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education Laura Bozeman, Ph.D. Program Director: Vision Studies University Of Massachusetts Boston

2. 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

3. 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

4. Northeast Regional Center For Vision Education National Plan for Training Personnel Visual Impairments (NPTP: Mason, Davidson, & McNerney, 2000) Regionalization Shared Financial Responsibilities Community Engagement

5. Pre- Service Models Traditional On-campus Program Satellite Classrooms: Faculty Off Campus Satellite Transmission of the Classroom Compressed Video Web-Based Learning – our choice

6. 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

7. Attractiveness of Distance Education NE Regionally-accessible program Live, work, learn from their home state Challenge: Designing a “best of all worlds” for the Northeast Balance the positives and negatives-distance education

8. 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...

9. 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

10. Why did we select a regional approach? Defines a community Allows for constancy of relationships Growth of partnerships Increases numbers Maximizes resources

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Placement Services Employment Board Automated Links students and professionals to both regional and national employment

15. Federally Funded Academic Program Outcomes 5 years TVI and O&M Combined Total Students 216 TVI 119 O&M 78 Withdrawals 19

16. State Wide Enrollments 121 23 20 11 10 03 09

17. Graduation Outcomes 2003-2008 Graduates 109 Continuing 88 TVI Graduates 59 TVI Continuing 60 O&M Graduates 50 O&M Continuing 29

18. NERCVE Looking Forward Regional Leadership ▫Research ▫Training ▫Technical Assistance

19. Administration: Community and Academics Community Administration NERCVE Director Robert McCulley Resource Generation Regional Needs Assessment Development Community Support Community Partnerships Strategic Planning Sustainability Academic Administration Academic Director Laura Bozeman Academic Governance Curriculum Development Faculty Resources and Support Student Support and Advising University Interests/Service Research/Publications

20. Sustaining State Involvement Decrease Pre-Service Costs Increase University Commitments Increase Student Contributions Increase Community Contributions

21. Expand Regional Services Professional Development Mentorship Induction Expand Research Capabilities Recruitment and Retention

22. Selected Community Initiatives

23. 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

24. NERCVE Boston 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

25. E- Mentorship Project Utilization of Distance Education Technologies Mentorship Induction

26. 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

27. NERCVE Director: Robert McCulley Vision Studies Program Director Dr Laura Bozeman TVI Coordinator: Marybeth Dean O/M Coordinator: Paula Kosior Professional Development Coordinator Sandy Smith Web Design and Programming: Christopher Nagle Boston Public Schools Staff Tamara Shapiro Robert Takacs Massachusetts State Liaison Janice Barron Connecticut State Liaison Marybeth Dean Vermont State Liaison: Stephanie Bissonette Maine State Liaison Ruth Mlotek New Hampshire State Liaison Carrie Hoeckele Rhode Island State Liaison Clare Irwin WWW.NERCVE.UMB.EDU

28. Discussion