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Improving Education for Individuals with Visual Impairments.
Home > News: April 19th, 2009

Professional Development Opportunities Newsletter - On-line Courses Summer 2009

April 19th, 2009

The Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education is pleased to offer three open enrollment courses on-line for Summer 2009. All courses are approved for graduate degree 3 credits through the Vision Studies Programs at the University of Massachusetts Boston. These courses are being offered open enrollment to Vision Professionals for post graduate continuing education or to current pre-service students within graduate vision programs with the assurance from your academic advisor that you are prepared with the appropriate pre-requisite knowledge base. The total cost of the online course is $800. Third party billing accepted by commitment letter of payment by school agency or outside University sponsoring through grant resources. Each course will begin May 26th and end August 20th.

  1. SPE-G 615: Braille Communications I
  2. SPE-G 671: Technology for Children with Visual Impairment and Multiple Disabilities
  3. SPE-G 697: Advanced Instructional Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

SPE-G 615: Braille Communications I

Class #: 1781
Location: Online
Instructors: Wendy Buckley, Sandy Smith
Credits: 3

Course Description: This course will train individuals to teach reading and writing of contracted braille. Participants will learn to write literary Braille using both Perkins brailler and slate and stylus, and reading methods will be studied Reading problems and remediation will be discussed. Techniques used in education and rehabilitation will be included. The use of technology to produce braille will be reviewed.

Course Syllabus.

A list of text for this course can be found here:
Book Information: http://www.faculty.umb.edu/wendy_buckley/brl1texts.html [www.faculty.umb.edu]

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SPE-G 671: Technology for Children with Visual Impairment and Multiple Disabilities

Instructor: Wendy Buckley
Credits: 3
Prerequisite: An undergraduate degree or permission of the instructor(s).

Course Description: This course will assist students in understanding how technology can provide access to communication and to the curriculum for children who are visually impaired with additional disabilities including deafblindness. Students will explore a spectrum of assistive technology from simple technology to high tech and develop a framework to identify features to meet the educational needs of this population. Methods of using assistive technology to support curriculum will be explored and demonstrated through the creation of customized computer activities using current multimedia authoring programs. Strategies for integrating assistive technology into the classroom in both self-contained and inclusive settings will be discussed. There will be one, face to face weekend for interaction and hands-on practice.

Additional software and materials.

Microsoft Word & PowerPoint.

Access to a USB IntelliKeys keyboard. Students are not expected to purchase this device but should try to locate one to use during the session on software for alternative keyboards.

Students will download and install trial versions of additional software titles during the semester.

Additional required readings as noted in the syllabus will be posted in each online session.

Required Texts

  1. Family Information Guide to Assistive Technology. © 2005
  2. Assistive Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing the School Experiences of Students with Disabilities 1st Ed. © 2008
  3. Clicker 5 Software

All texts can be purchased directly from the publisher using the links above.

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SPE-G 697: Advanced Instructional Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

Instructor: Tammy Reisman, M.Ed., C.A.E.S.

Course Description: This course is designed to support educational practitioners currently holding state licensure as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment to further examine and explore the unique educational needs of children with visual impairments and the skills related to teaching these children in a full array of educational settings from Pre-K through grade 12. Topics include advanced teaching strategies in the core and expanded core curriculums, material modifications, as well as instruction for students with multiple impairments for the learner with visual impairments.

Instructor's email: tammy.reisman@umb.edu

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