Perkins Training Center Schedule
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Perkins Training Center
2010 Professional Development
The Perkins Training Center (PTC) is a provider of in-service professional development opportunities to vision educators and families of students with visual impairment. These training events are conducted by instructors from the national arena as well as Perkins School for the Blind teachers and clinicians. PTC conducts seminars, workshops and institutes (university approved continuing education training) on the campus of Perkins School and onsite in local agencies and organizations.
Download the 2010 Perkins Training Center catalog.
The goal of the Perkins Training Center is to improve the educational programs of students by efforts to:
- Conduct training, workshops, conferences and seminars on topics of effective practice.
- Collaborate with key agencies and programs providing services to facilitate access to In-service training.
- Assist states in the development of training for key audiences.
Table of Contents
- Regional Training and Conferences
- Assistive Device Center
- Institutes
- Adaptive Technology, A Division of Perkins Products
- State and Program Specific Training
For additional information or to register, contact:
PerkinsTrainingCenter@Perkins.org
Perkins Training Center
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 972-7712
(617) 972-7213
Regional Training and Conferences
Northeast Regional Seminar: CHARGE Syndrome
September 24-25, 2010
Marriot Boston – Quincy, MA
Download flyer and registration
This two day Seminar will focus on students with CHARGE Syndrome and is designed for parents and professionals. This seminar is being conducted by three leading authorities on this topic: Meg Hefner, Genetic Counselor, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Saint Louis University School of Medicine will present, "CHARGE 101: the basics of the diagnostic criteria, medical features, early development, and genetics of CHARGE"; Dr. Tim Hartshorne, Professor of Psychology, Central Michigan University will present, "The "B" in CHARGE: Making Sense of the Behavioral Issues", Dr. Nancy Hartshorne, School Psychologist, Program Consultant, Professor at Central Michigan University, will present "Thoughtful Assessment and Planning for Education."
Numerical Literacy: Concepts and Strategies
POSTPONED: Date TBD
Watertown, MA
Stan Dick, Ph.D, Assistant Professor in the Curriculum and Instruction Department of the Graduate College of Education, UMASS Boston will conduct this workshop and address numerical literacy – what it is, and why it is so widespread. Concepts of numerical literacy, arithmetic operations on the counting numbers, integers (signed numbers), fractions, and real numbers (numbers expressed in decimal form) will be discussed, with particular emphasis on the major stumbling blocks or more difficult concepts in these areas. The workshop will also include ways to adapt the most enlightening manipulative and understanding numeracy for the student with visual impairment. Participants will be encouraged to share strategies which they have found useful in enhancing the understanding of numerical literacy (numeracy) for the student with visual impairment.
Instructional Strategies in Teaching Numeracy
POSTPONED: Date TBD
Watertown, MA
In this workshop, conducted by Sharon Stelzer, Teacher, Perkins School for the Blind Deafblind Program and Tammy Reisman, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Newton Public Schools; participants will gain knowledge in the practical application of numeracy in the classroom. There will be a variety of examples of instructional strategies in the area of numeracy for students with visual impairments and multiple disabilities.
New York Trainings
Current Practice in Transition Planning and Programs for Students with Visual Impairment
April 2, 2010
Geneva, NY
Download flyer and registration.
This one day workshop is presented by Perkins Training Center and the New York State School for the Blind Resource Center and is designed to address the key elements required to effectively plan, develop and provide transition programs that result in successful post secondary placements for students with visual impairment. The workshop will include information on state and federal guidelines, and elements of transition planning that support the success of students.
Enhancing the School Experience for the Child who is Blind or Visually Impaired, Including those with Multiple Disabilities
April 12, 2010
Fairport, NY
Download flyer and registration.
This one day workshop will be conducted by Dr. Rona Shaw, Joanne Russotti and Judy Strauss-Schwartz to address key topics of value to paraeducators to providing services and supports to students with visual impairment. Topics will be presented as lectures and hands-on, experiential learning opportunities in areas of the expanded core curriculum. This workshop will examine the roles and responsibilities of the paraeducator working with students with visual impairment, including those with multiple disabilities. Sessions will provide an overview of visual impairment, and discuss ways to support students in academic and non academic activities. Although this workshop is designed for paraeducators, others are welcome to attend.
Increasing Literacy Levels through Assessment: FVLMA & NIMAS/NIMAC
May 20-21, 2010
North Syracuse, NY
Download flyer and registration as a PDF or Word Document.
North Syracuse Central School District, American Printing House for the Blind and Perkins Training Center present a two day literacy institute on assessment for students with visual impairment in the educational environment. This workshop will present an in depth review of the Functional Vision Learning Media Assessment for children who are pre-academic or academic and visually impaired in grades K-12 by Dr. LaRhea Sanford and a presentation and discussion on NIMAS/NIMAC by Judi Piscatello.
Assistive Device Center
Perkins Assistive Device Center is a workshop located in Lower School at the Perkins School for the Blind that creates customized materials for children with disabilities. Commercially available adaptations may not meet the needs of particular children, and the most esoteric may not exist. The Assistive Device Center, coordinated by Occupational Therapist Molly Campbell, designs and constructs such custom devices that help children lead rich and independent lives. Through PTC the following training opportunities conducted by Molly Campbell, offer custom-made items to meet the unique needs of individuals while being affordable, durable and attractive.
Course announcements with more information will be distributed as each date approaches. Workshops will run from 9:00 until 4:00 unless otherwise indicated. PDPs are available when at least 10 hours worth of training has been completed. This can be achieved through attending a workshop and completing a follow-up project or by attending two workshops
For more information contact Molly Campbell by telephone at 617 972-7520 or by e-mail at Molly.Campbell@Perkins.org.
Little Rooms: Using Artist’ Stretcher Frames to Build Foldable Sensory Exploration & Stimulation Activities
April 28, 2010
Download flyer and registration.
Children with visual impairments or multiple disabilities need special encouragement to initiate exploration of their surroundings. The “little room” is a stimulating environment originally developed by Dr. Lilli Nielsen, a well-known Danish psychologist, to promote active learning. Children lie inside these box-like structures with favored toys, familiar household objects, and items that have interesting sensory properties hanging from the ceiling and walls. All items are kept in the same spots inside the play space so that the child’s understanding of spatial relations develops along with curiosity, reaching and active play.
Custom-Made & Adapted Games
May 26, 2010
Download flyer and registration.
See modifications of common games like Uno, Memory, brain teasers, and miniature sports games in the Games Exchange Project area of the Assistive Device Center. Participants will have the opportunity to use TriWall® corrugated material, wood, plastic, textured fabrics, Velcro, bump-ons and other materials to begin their own creations. Adapt a commercially available game to enable students with visual, cognitive, or visual impairments to play, or design a unique game to promote spatial, matching, social, and/or motor skills.
Customized Training Opportunities
The Assistive Device Center staff, Occupational Therapist, Molly Campbell and Mechanical Engineer, Tim Moore offer program specific training to schools and organizations upon request. Workshops will be customized to focus on the individuals with disabilities served by the audience with additional consideration of the host site’s capacity for construction. For information regarding this training initiative, contact Betsy Bixler, Manager, Perkins Training Center at 617-972-7213.
Summer Institute
Advanced Instructional Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual and Multiple Impairments
June 28-July 3, 2010 Online Topics
July 10-12, 2010 Face to Face Sessions at Perkins School for the Blind
July 19-30, 2010 Online Topics
Download flyer and registration.
This year’s Perkins Summer Institute is offered in collaboration with UMass Boston and will be conducted with on-line and on-site face to face sessions for graduate course credit. The on-site face to face sessions will be offered for Professional Development Points. This Institute is designed for Teachers of the Visually Impaired and other vision educators working with students with visual and multiple impairments. Participants will examine and explore the unique educational needs of children with visual and multiple disabilities as well as the skills related to teaching these children in a full array of educational settings; Pre-K through grade 12. Topics will include teaching strategies in the core and expanded core curriculum areas as well as in depth sessions on Cortical Visual Impairment.
VI & Autism Spectrum Disorder Summer Institute
July 7-9, 2010
Download flyer and registration.
The New York State School for the Blind and Perkins Training Center will be presenting an Institute on Autism Spectrum Disorder and Visual Impairment July 7-9, 2010 in Albany, New York. This three day institute will be conducted by D. Jay Gense, Ed.S. and Marilyn H. Gense, MA., from Oregon. Jay and Marilyn are leading authorities on ASDVI and are the authors of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Visual Impairment: Meeting Students’ Learning Needs. This workshop will address assessment and program planning for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders & Visual Impairment.
Assistive Technology for Teachers of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: An Opportunity for Hands-On Training
Monday, July 12 -Thursday, July 15, 2010
9:00AM-4:00PM Daily
Download flyer and registration
Adaptive Technology, A Division of Perkins Products
Adaptive Technology, a division of Perkins Products, provides caring and experienced consultants to assist in making choices on devices that can best help you. They offer adaptive solutions for people of all ages who are blind, and visually impaired or learning disabled. Support and training is provided for family members, friends, teachers, support staff and businesses seeking accessibility in their workplace. Explore our adaptive devices at www.perkinsproducts.org.
Below find a listing of upcoming workshops. These events are presented free of charge. Space is limited. To register or learn more about these sessions contact Adaptive Technology at 978-462-3817 or email Gayle Yarnall.
Using Your Computer When You Begin to Experience Vision Loss - There are a lot of built in features in PCs and especially Apple computers that will allow someone who is losing vision to continue using their computer. These features will be demonstrated. Large print access software will also be demonstrated so users can understand that they will never have to give up using a computer because of failing vision.
Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 (from 1:00 – 5:00 pm)
Location: Thorndike Room in the Howe Building at Perkins School for the Blind (Get directions)
To register or to learn more about any of these sessions, call 978-462-3817 or email Gayle Yarnall.
State and Program Specific Training
State and program specific trainings are customized for agency participants only.
Instructional Strategies for Students with Visual Impairment in Science Education
Board of Education and Services for the Blind
May 13-14, 2010
Middletown, CT
This two day workshop will be conducted by Noreen Grice, M.S. Astronomy, Operations Coordinator of the Charles Hayden Planetarium at the Museum of Science, President of the You Can Do Astronomy LLC. & Kate Fraser, TVI & Secondary Science Teacher at Perkins School for the Blind. This workshop will address instructional strategies, modifications and accommodations to enhance access for students with visual impairment to the science curriculum. The content will focus on key concepts from the Connecticut science standards in elementary, middle school and high school.
New York Trainings
Social Skills Assessment and Program Planning for Students with Visual Impairment
Lavelle School for the Blind
Sharon Zell Sacks, Ph.D., California School for the Blind, will facilitate training project on social skills for students with visual impairment at the Lavelle School for the Blind and address the best practice in assessment and program planning to address this area of the expanded core curriculum.
Weekend Assistive Technology Workshops for Personnel who Work with Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Dominican College
A series of 4 weekend workshops, each one addressing a specific program or device for totally blind or visually impaired students, will be hosted by Dominican College in Rockland County, New York. Participants will arrive Friday night and can stay at a Holiday Inn within walking distance of the campus. Class is scheduled for Saturday from 9:00- 3:30, and Sunday from 9:00 - 2:30. Participants will learn how to use the program/device and learn how to teach and incorporate it into a student’s curriculum. A team consisting of a representative from the company who makes the product and a master TVI will work together to provide an intensive immersion experience that enables participants to feel confident about teaching the targeted technology.
Workshops will start Spring, 2010; dates and device/program to be announced. For more information, contact Rona Shaw, Ed.D., Coordinator, Program for Teachers of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired; Dominican College, 470 Western Hwy, Orangeburg, NY, 10962; 845-848-4081; rona.shaw@dc.edu
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