Book traversal links for WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2024 - Dreams, Creativity, & Skills: The Recipe for Success
NATIONAL ORGANIZATION of PARENTS of BLIND CHILDREN
presents
Dreams, Creativity, & Skills:
The Recipe for Success
2024 National Seminar for Parents & Teachers
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
Salon 12
7:30 – 8:45 AM SEMINAR & YOUTH TRACK REGISTRATIONS
Outside Salon 12
8:45 AM – 12:00 PM NOPBC YOUTH TRACK ACTIVITIES (ages 11 – 18)
Salon 17 Intros, Games, and Prizes Intro to Your Convention & Youth Track
See separate Youth Track agenda for activity details.
9:00 AM WELCOME TO THE SEMINAR!
Salon 12
Cassandra McKinney, President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
9:05 AM SPECIAL WELCOME FROM THE NFB PRESIDENT
Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind
Any children present are invited to join Pres. Riccobono at the front of the room.
9:20 AM NOPBC PRESIDENTIAL REPORT: DREAMS, CREATIVITY, & SKILLS
Cassandra McKinney, President, NOPBC
9:35 AM KEYNOTE: LOOK WHO’S IN THE KITCHEN
Regina Mitchell, Classically Trained Chef, Culinary Educator & Coach
9:50 AM WHERE FLAVOR MEETS THE FEDERATION
Nick Oliver, 12th Grader
10:00 AM BRAILLE BOOKS FOR ALL
Barbara Loos, President, American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
10:10 AM NOPBC AWARDS
Carol Castellano, Moderator; Secretary, NOPBC; Chair, Awards Committee
10:25 AM ANNOUNCEMENTS & ADJOURNMENT
Children preregistered and checked in with NFB Child Care will be escorted to the child care rooms. Parents attend workshops listed next page.
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM NOPBC CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS SESSION I
Parents & teachers are invited to attend.
Empowering Parents of Kids with Additional Disabilities
Salon 12
We often say the parents are a child’s first teachers. But does this apply if the child has additional disabilities? Our answer—a resounding YES! Come get some tips on untangling the strands of different diagnoses, accessing services, handling the IEP, finding community, and more.
Instructor: Cassandra McKinney, President, NOPBC
Independent Movement & Travel: From Crossing the Street to Going Abroad
Salon 13
How can your child learn to travel safely and independently through the environment? What kind of training should your child be receiving? Would your child benefit from a cane?
Instructor: Roland Allen, NOMC, Cane Travel Instructor
Grounding the Helicopter
Salon 14
Is there always an adult hovering over your child? Is it you? A teacher? A para? Sometimes our best-intentioned actions end up impeding the child’s development and independence. Learn how to provide appropriate instruction and assistance while also supporting your child’s growth toward independence.
Instructors: Treva Olivero, Paraprofessional, Lincoln Parish Schools; Casey Robertson, E.DS; TVI; Faculty, Prof. Development & Research Institute on Blindness; NCUEB
Access Leads to Success
Salon 15
How can our children gain access to the print and graphics that are all around them? Come learn about the alternative tools and techniques available.
Instructors: Chancey Fleet, Assistive Technology Coordinator, New York Public Library; Rick Fox, Instructor and Co-Owner, B&F Teaching & Technology, LLC
12:00 – 1:30 PM Lunch on your own.
Please pick up children & meet up with teens promptly.
1:30 – 4:30 PM NOPBC YOUTH TRACK ACTIVITIES (ages 11 – 18)
Salon 17
How Am I Supposed to Do THAT? Unconventional Convention Scavenger Hunt! See separate Youth Track agenda for activity details.
1:45 – 3:00 PM NOPBC CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS SESSION II
Parents & teachers are invited to attend.
Blaming It on Blindness
Salon 12
Many of our kids experience delays in development. What is causing them? It’s easy to blame blindness, but is that always the case? Come get some tips on how to sort it all out so that your child gets the needed interventions while also moving along in development and independence.
Instructor: Carlton Walker, JD, TBS; Educational Advocate and Consultant, Blindness Education and Advocacy Resources (BEAR)
Age- and Stage-Appropriate Cooking
Salon 13
Let’s get our kids into the kitchen! Come learn about tools and techniques for fun, safe, tasty cooking with your child.
Instructors: Regina Mitchell, Classically Trained Chef, Culinary Educator & Coach; Cassandra McKinney, President, NOPBC
Moving to the Beat of Your Own Drum
Salon 14
Music is universal and blind children can be involved in it in so many ways. Come hear from blind students and explore the many options available.
Instructors: Katelyn MacIntyre, M.M.; Music Teacher; President, NFB Performing Arts Division; Julie Orozco, Julia LaGrand, Nick Oliver, Members, NFB Performing Arts Division.
Having Fun with Braille
Salon 15
Would your child benefit from learning Braille? What are the basics? Is Braille really so hard to learn? Can learning Braille actually be fun?
Instructor: Karen Anderson, Coordinator, Education Programs, National Federation of the Blind
3:15 - 4:30 PM NOPBC CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS SESSION III
Parents & teachers are invited to attend.
Integrating Print & Braille: A Recipe for Literacy
Salon 12
Is your child or student a “dual reader,” that is, someone who would benefit from using both print and Braille in school and at home? How can the two modes be integrated in the classroom? When would it make sense to use which? How can a child learn how to decide?
Instructor: Emily Gibbs, Teacher of Blind Students
Raising a Problem-Solver
Salon 13
Sometimes parents worry about the future—will my child ever be able to handle the challenges that are bound to be ahead? Come to this session to learn how you can raise a problem-solver, someone ready to meet the demands of life ahead.
Instructor: Carol Castellano, Author; Secretary, NOPBC
Aaagghh…My Baby Is Blind/Low Vision! Where Do I Begin?
Salon 14
Where do I begin? Am I up to this job? This session will offer tips, techniques, and resources for raising your B/LV child with calm and confidence.
Instructor: Melissa Riccobono, Board Member, NFB of MD; former school counselor
Monarch—The Future of Braille Textbooks and Tactile Graphics
Salon 15
Monarch displays Braille and tactile graphics, brings e-book features and function to Braille readers, and can directly receive digital textbook files.
This session will feature how Monarch can be used for science and mathematics.
Instructors: Greg Stilson, Head of Global Innovation, APH; Jason Martin, AT Specialist
By 5:30 PM Please pick up your children from Child Care PROMPTLY!
7:00 - 8:30 PM NOPBC FAMILY GAME NIGHT
Salon 1
Relax, chat, meet new families and teachers, and connect with old friends. Veteran attendees will be on hand to welcome you and provide information. We’ll have accessible games available to play.