Overview
This presentation will include an overview of various low- and high-tech solutions used in a summer residential program for youths who are legally blind.
The session will include a historical review of SOAR as well as the Mission, Vision, schedule and instructional matrix for the ECC across 9 instructional domains and implementation in the residential setting. The purpose of the presentation is to provide an inventory of resources and instructional strategies to consider for the development of other instructional and/or residential programs for individuals with a visual impairment.
Learning Objectives
- Define the mission and vision of the summer residential program increasing knowledge in nine domains of instruction including Cooking; Careers; Self-Care; Home Maintenance; Money Management; Etiquette; Clothing Management; and Orientation & Mobility.
- Discuss one or more low- and high-tech devices and resources increasing adapted, independent living skills among 12 residential program participants who are legally blind.
- Identify and evaluate one or more additional low- and high-tech devices and resources for adapted living successfully used by session participants in other habilitative or rehabilitative settings.
Primary & Secondary Strand
Vision & Hearing Technologies
Target Audience
- Consultants/Trainers
- Educators
- Occupational Therapists
- Rehab Therapists
- Special Education Educators
- Teachers of the Visually Impaired
- Visual Impairment Specialists
Experience Level
Introductory
Primary Life Cycle Addressed
Elementary - Secondary (K-12); Adult/Senior
Session Delivery Format
In-person presentation with live-stream
Course Schedule
This course was given at the ATIA 2022 Conference on Thursday, Jan 27: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (EST)
Continuing Education Credits
For Satisfactory Completion and Continuing Education information, please visit: ATIA Learning Center CEUs
This course is offered for the following CE Provider Credits:
ACVREP; AOTA; IACET
For: 0.10 CEU Units or 1.0 CEU Hours.
This course was approved by CRCC for CRC CEUs and was included in the ATIA CRC Transition & Workplace Accessibility Series (2023-2024). This series offering was available from March 20, 2023, through March 19, 2024.
Speaker/s:
Laura Gierer, M.A.
Instructor S.O.A.R.– Lighthouse for the Blind St. Louis, Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Biography
Laura Gierer is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired in the Francis Howell School District. She has served youth with special needs for the past 16 years. Laura is a Cooking Instructor in the Summer O&M and Adapted Living Resource Program (S.O.A.R.) sponsored by the Lighthouse for the Blind – St. Louis. Laura has no financial disclosure related to her role as an assistive technology speaker.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
Employed by the Francis Howell School District as a full- time Teacher of the Visually Impaired - receive salary. Contract employee with Lighthouse for the Blind for the S.O.A.R. program for 3 weeks per year - receive compensation.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No
Molly Pasley, Ed.D
Northern Illinois University, Assistant Professor in the Visual Disabilities Program
Biography
Dr. Molly Pasley is an Assistant Professor in the Visual Disabilities Program at Northern Illinois University. She has worked as a TVI/COMS in Illinois for 13 years. Molly has also taught O&M and technology skills to older adults through the Department of Rehabilitation Services and the Veterans Administration system. Molly has the pleasure of serving as one of the COMS supervisors at the SOAR program in St. Louis.
Relevant Financial Relationship: Yes
I receive payment/salary from St. Louis Lighthouse for the blind for the summer SOAR Program.
Relevant Non-Financial Relationship: No