About Us : Newsletters : VITPVITP eVisionaire Summer 2006

Please Note: As this is an archive of a previous newsletter, information may no longer be applicable. At time of original publication, however, all information was verified as accurate. The format of this publication may differ from what was originally published, and may include ommissions such as no longer-relavent contact information.

Summer 2006

In This Issue

• A Warm Welcome
• Achievements
• Update on VI Licensure Standards
• Fall Courses
• VITP Sends Two Perkins Braillewriters to Kenya
• Wish List
• Mark Your Calendars

A Warm Welcome
The faculty and staff of North Carolina Central University's Visual Impairment Training Program (VITP) are excited to announce that Diane P. Wormsley has joined NCCU's faculty in the Brenda Brodie Endowed Chair position.

Dr. Wormsley will be working to develop a consortium with southeastern states to increase the number of professionals working with individuals with visual impairments. She will also be working to re-establish the VITP's partnership agreement with North Carolina's agencies serving people with visual impairments and consumer groups interested in blindness. Additionally, she will be providing her expertise to teachers of learners with visual impairments in North Carolina through teaching one course each semester and continuing her research involving the use of the functional approach to teach learners who are at risk, to learn braille through alternative methods. It is anticipated that Dr. Wormsley will continue her involvement in national and international initiatives related to the field of visual impairments.

We are excited to have Dr. Wormsley join our faculty and bring her many years of experience to North Carolina and are thrilled to have a School of Education Endowed Chair position that was offered to an educator in the field of visual impairments.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Wormsley to North Carolina.

Achievements
The faculty and staff of the Visual Impairment Training Program would like to offer its congratulations to Dion Ousley, Jan Elder, and Tim Holmes for recently obtaining their Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist Credential (COMS) from ACVREP.

Also, the VITP is proud to announce that Pam Snyder graduated cum laude in May with her M.Ed in Visual Impairments.

Update on VI Licensure Standards
The revised standards for VI teachers were adopted and became effective in November, 2005. These standards identify the knowledge and skills required to be licensed by NCDPI as a Teacher of Learners with Visual Impairments. The NCDPI VI standards document can be downloaded from the VITP website.

Q: What does the adoption of these standards mean?
A: In order to be licensed in VI by NCDPI, licensure candidates will need to complete a preparation program that meets all of these standards?
Q: Can I meet the new standards and earn an add-on VI license by taking nine hours of VI coursework?
A: No, the standards cannot be met in only nine hours. In order for NCDPI to approve an add-on a VI license, you will need to complete approximately 20 hours of coursework. (The actual number of hours depends on whether or not you will need to take the Professional Practicum).
Q: Do I still have to take the Praxis II Exam for VI licensure?
A: Yes.
Q: I attended a workshop on a topic included in the standards. Does it count?
A: You can use workshop credit (CEU's) for re-certification in VI. If you are seeking VI licensure for the first time, workshop credits do not count. You will need to complete the college level courses and have your grade show on a college transcript.

Fall Courses
Registration for VITP's fall courses is currently underway. Information and registration materials can be found at http://www.nccu.edu/univcoll/dised/decover.htm.

Requests for teleclassroom sites for Spring 2007 need to be made no later than September 29th. We will do our best to accommodate your request, however not all areas of the state have sites that are available.

VITP Sends Two Perkins Braillewriters to Kenya
This summer, several faculty and teaching fellows from NCCU's School of Education traveled to Kenya. During this trip, School of Education faculty delivered two braillewriters from the VITP to the Kangundo DEB Primary School. This school has approximately 20 students with visual impairments enrolled and mainstreamed.

One need expressed by the school's headmaster was that the blind students needed access to braillewriters in order to continue in their studies. The headmaster and students were very appreciative of the braillewriters, however, they could still benefit from the donation of additional Braillewriters. If you are interested in providing Braillewriters or monetary donations, please contact the VITP.

Wish List
Macintosh Computer monitor
Hollywood videos and mainstream books depicting blindness
Volunteers
Cash Donations to the VITP Foundation
Low Vision Devices or Adaptive Equipment for demonstrations (new or used)