Association for Education and Rehabilitationof the Blind and Visually ImpairedPsychosocial Services Division "An Umbrella of Opportunities"

Spring, 2010 Newsletter

The Robert M. Lambert, Ph.D. Memorial Award WinnerKaren E. Wolffe, Ph.D.

The Psychosocial Services Division announces that the winner of the Robert M. Lambert, Ph.D. Memorial Award for 2010 is Karen E. Wolffe, Ph.D., of Austin, Texas. Karen will be presented the award at the AER International Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday, July 23. The award ceremony will be held at the Peabody Hotel as part of the Psychosocial Services Division Day activities. Everyone is invited to come and help us honor Karen!

At the suggestion of his widow, Irene Lambert, the Lambert Award was established by our division in 1994 as a tribute to the late Robert M. Lambert, Ph.D., of Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was a pioneer leader in our profession and it is appropriate that the award

be named after him. It is designed to honor an individual for outstanding achievement in service to people who are blind and visually impaired.

Karen has made outstanding contributions to the lives of the professionals working with persons who are blind and visually impaired, and the adults and children who receive their services. Currently, she manages a private practice as a career counselor and consultant in Austin, Texas. For ten years (until 2010), she worked with the American Foundation for the Blind as Director of Professional Development and CareerConnect®, providing guidance in employment, education, and literacy programs.

Prior to establishing her own practice she was a faculty member in the Department of Special Education at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin. While teaching at UT, Karen also directed the Job Readiness Clinic, an applied learning lab for people with disabilities looking for work and university students studying to become rehabilitation counselors or special education teachers. From 1992 to 2002, she taught correspondence courses for the Hadley School for the Blind related to transition and employment issues and taught a distance education course for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Placement in the 21st Century for People with Visual Disabilities). Karen earned her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina and both her M.Ed. (special education) and Ph.D. (rehabilitation counseling) at the University of Texas. She is the author of Career Counseling for People with Disabilities: A Practical Guide to Finding Employment and Navigating the Rapids of Life: The Transition Tote System. She was the editor of Skills for Success: A Career Education Handbook for Children and Youth with Visual Impairments. Karen co-authored Transition Issues for Students with Visual Disabilities, Focused on… Social Skills, and Teaching Social Skills to Students with Visual Impairments. She has published numerous chapters and articles in JVIB, RE:view, Insight, and other significant journals based on her work with blind and low vision individuals both in rehabilitation and education settings. In addition, she has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally. Her research and writing interests include the importance of career education, social skills development, transition issues, employment opportunities for people with disabilities, and literacy in the workplace.

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We are honored to have Karen in our division and feel that she continues the legacy that was started by Dr. Lambert and continued by previous winners of the award, including Joan Chase, Emerson Foulke, Dean Tuttle, Eileen Scott, Martha Simmons, John Morse, Wendy David, and Billy Brookshire.

Notes from the Chair, Carol Evans, Ph.D.

Attendees at the AER International Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas will be provided a variety of opportunities, including those offered by several divisions on Friday, July 23.

The Aging and Psychosocial Services divisions are combining forces to bring you an exciting consumer panel. The panelists are both working-age and older people, who will address “Major Challenges of Vision Loss.” The challenges they will discuss include the following: impact of not being able to drive or having to give up driving; family members’ reactions to their visual impairment or blindness and possible role changes; experiences interacting in social situations among sighted peers; and some of the best resources they received or techniques they developed to enable them to adjust to their disability. The consumer panel will be followed by a discussion among professionals in the audience about what we learned from the panelists. Audience members will be encouraged to share challenges and successful strategies they have used to assist individuals through major life crises related to vision loss.

After the morning session, there will be a break for the AER Awards Lunch, to which all conference attendees are invited. This luncheon will honor the winners of the major AER Awards, including the Mary Kay Bauman Award; the Ambrose M. Shotwell Award; the Alfred Allen Award; the C. Warren Bledsoe Award; the John H. McAulay Award; the Douglas C. MacFarland Award; and the AER Outstanding Chapter Award. Tickets for the Awards Luncheon may be purchased through the AER office for $33.

Notes from the Chair-elect, Julia Kleinschmidt, Ph.D.

After the Awards Lunch (1:45 pm) our day will continue with our division’s afternoon educational session, The Use of Humor in Our Work . We’ll explore humor, not just the joke at the water fountain, but the different aspects of humor as we provide services and education for our population.

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Can we use humor as a diagnostic measure? Does it have a place in our teaching/rehab endeavors? Can humor be considered an intervention? And, for us, how can we use humor as a means of enhancing our ability to handle the pressures of our work? Bring your thoughts on this intriguing topic, and, if you like, bring a few examples of the humor that you’ve experienced in your practice. We’ll learn from, encourage, and inspire each other…and enjoy a bit of laughter while we’re at it. We’ll plan on finishing by 3:15 so that we can proceed on to the General Session which starts at 3:30.

After the General Session and the Host Reception (6:45 pm), our division will again meet together. We’ll start off with a brief annual business meeting (and yes, we can make it lively and entertaining!). The meeting will be followed by our awarding of the Lambert Award to our 2010 Honoree, Dr. Karen Wolffe, a grand occasion as we honor one of our own.

Then keep your evening free for a casual dinner to fete our Lambert Award Honoree, Karen. There are a number of restaurants within a few blocks of the Peabody Hotel, and we’ll finish our Division Day with a celebration social, a bite to eat, and fun! Our division may be tiny, but, by golly, we swing! We’ll give you specific details when we meet in Little Rock, so put the date on your calendar.

Please join us on Friday, July 23, for a great Psychosocial Division Day!

Notes from the Past Chair, Karen E. Wolffe, Ph.D.

I am pleased to report on my activities with this year’s AER International Conference Program Planning Committee. I have been serving on the Committee as the Related Services Representative, which includes the Psychosocial Division.

We have put together what I hope you will find an interesting and entertaining program. The AER staff will soon send out a detailed description of the entire conference, but what I’d like to do is focus on an effort I have spearheaded to bring together individuals from other countries and some of our colleagues who are working with programs in foreign lands. I believe that the panel that has evolved will help us better understand how our colleagues in countries outside of the United States

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and Canada provide services to individuals with visual impairments and provide an opportunity for us to learn from one another.

The International Panel will make up a significant portion of the Saturday General Session of the conference, from 9:15 am to 11:15 am. The Panel includes the following panelists: Philippa Simpkiss (UK), June De Leon (Guam) with Donna McNear (US), Rajesh Singh (India) with Nora Griffin-Shirley (US), and Carolyn Palmer (Australia); and I have the honor of facilitating it. In this presentation, the panelists will focus on the work being accomplished with youngsters and adults who are blind or have low vision in the UK, the Pacific Islands, India, and Australia. The panelists will discuss what programs are in place and what services are available; as well as, who is providing those services. They will highlight the elements of programming they believe constitute best practices and inform the audience of what they believe needs to change to make services better and to improve the quality of life for people with visual impairments. Panelists from the US will focus on what led them to become engaged with international services, what they’ve learned through their involvement, and what they would recommend to others interested in joining such efforts.

If you have questions that you’d like to see the panelists address, please don’t hesitate to send those to me in advance (karenwolffe@gmail.com) and I’ll share them with our presenters. Otherwise, just come and enjoy the learning experience! I look forward to seeing you there.

Psychosocial Services Members Plan AER Conference Presentations

Many members of AER answered the Call for Papers almost a year ago and submitted the required materials in hopes of being chosen to do a presentation at the conference. Those chosen to present their papers in the area of psychosocial services - though not necessarily members of our division - and the topics and times of their presentations are as follows:

1) Life/Career Counseling: Guiding Youth Karen Wolffe, Ph.D.Thursday, July 22 8:00 am to 9:30 am Psychosocial Services

Abstract: In this session, participants will be introduced to cognitive-behavioral techniques that have proven effective in career counseling with youth and adults with visual impairments. A lifelong career education model will be described and age-related competencies counselors can help

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youth and adults achieve will be identified. For counselors working with youth and adults who are visually impaired in education and rehabilitation settings, the cognitive-behavioral approach can be effectively applied to move individuals through these phases of the career education model - awareness, exploration, preparation, placement, maintenance, and mentoring.

While these phases are developmental, they are not age-specific and counselors can take clients through the phases at any time in their lives, when they evidence interest in achieving self-sufficiency through employment. The cognitive-behavioral approach aims to facilitate individuals’ problem-solving skills by helping them analyze their concerns (what is bothering them) so that they can identify the steps they need to take to achieve their goals (the resolution of problems). It is a client-centered and time-limited approach that can be effective in both individual and group counseling.

2) Research Results: Are We a Compassionate Profession?Jennipher Wiebold and Penny WilmeringThursday, July 22 1:45 pm to 3:15 pm Psychosocial Services

Abstract: Do we, as a profession, find satisfaction in our work? The purpose of this presentation is to share the findings of a national research study that assessed Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Compassion Satisfaction among Blindness and Low Vision Service Providers. Although similar studies have been conducted with general health workers, family/ child workers, and school personnel, this was the first study conducted with blindness and low vision service providers. Low Vision Therapists and Orientation & Mobility Specialists were recruited through the international Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and at a state AER conference. The survey consisted of an anonymous survey consent form, demographics, the 30 item Likert Scale ProQOL (Stamm, 1997-2005), and two qualitative questions regarding job satisfaction. Both qualitative and quantitative design methodologies were implemented. Results of the study will be presented in conjunction with recommendations/strategies to address Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Compassion Satisfaction in the field.

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3) Empowering Consumers to Achieve Greater Independence and Vocational Outcomes Through the Utilization of a Holistic Approach: Implications for Vocational Rehabilitation ProfessionalsKenyotta Cross and Larry CoffeySunday, July 25 8:00 am to 9:00 am Psychosocial Services

Abstract: Traditionally, individuals with multiple handicaps, including a visual handicap, have received special visual training in isolated contexts (Downing & Bailey, 1989). While fundamental skills that are tailored to improving consumers’ independence are critical, some attention should be given to educate and/or teach skills that address any mental, develop-mental, cognitive, or emotional deficits that may be present. Persons with multiple disabilities may be faced with barriers that can significantly impact every aspect of their lives. One important role of the Vocational Rehabilitation Professional is to provide a level of service that teaches consumers to achieve their maximum functional ability through education and learned practical skills from a client-centered perspective. This degree of service provision may be achieved by implementing a holistic approach to meeting the diverse needs of consumers. Gysbers et al (1998) provides a framework for holistic career counseling that suggests that practitioners address the consumer’s “life-career development.” Within this model the practitioner focuses on the psychological processes while fostering an intense relationship between the consumer and the practitioner. The practitioner considers the whole person, working to understand all aspects of a client’s life in terms of their “human career” (Lee & Johnson, 2001). A holistic approach to service delivery will empower consumers to achieve greater independence, increase vocational outcomes and enhance consumers’ quality of life.

The above were the only abstracts entered as “Psychosocial Services” presentations. Other members of our division entered proposals under Rehabilitation Counseling, BEP and Employment Service, and Education Curriculum. Those presentations are listed as follows, although abstracts are not available to us at this time:

1) They’re Already Adults – Why Consider An Autistic Disorder Now? – Does It Make a Difference, Does It Really Help?Teresa Pawletko Saturday, July 24 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm Rehabilitation Counseling, BEP and Employment Service

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2) Using Web-Based Networking Sites to Support Transition and Employment ServicesJennipher Wiebold, Ian Shadrick, Jacalyn PauldingSaturday, July 24 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm Rehabilitation Counseling, BEP and Employment Service

3) Developing Skills to Expand Career Paths and Choices for EmploymentKathleen Gallagher, Karen Wolffe, Brian Hurley, Matthew Wieseler,

Daniel Novielli Sunday, July 25 8:00 am to 9:00 amRehabilitation Counseling, BEP and Employment Service:

4) Just the Facts: ECC ResearchKaren Wolffe, Karen Blankenship, Phil HatlenSunday, July 25 9:15 am to 10:45 am Education Curriculum

We hope that we have included the presentations of all members in the psychosocial services division and those who submitted their papers under this discipline. In previous e-mails we requested that our members let us know if they had submitted proposals for this conference and this is the only information we have received.

Coming Soon: Workshop for Psychologists Assessing Blind Students

The following message was submitted to our newsletter by Joan B. Chase, Ed.D., one of the founding members of our division and a past Lambert Award winner. The message provides information concerning an upcoming workshop for psychologists asked to assess the intelligence of blind students. We hope those who are eligible will consider attending this helpful workshop. Here is Joan’s message.

At last!

Hello, friends in Division 4 (Psychosocial Services),

Some of you know that I have been slowly accruing norms for tactile performance scale measures that I have developed over the years. I call one of these assessment tools the Tactile Assessment of Performance (the TAP). It is intended to supplement the verbal only cognitive scales often administered to those who are totally blind. In fact, the TAP is designed for students who have light perception or no vision. Even the smallest amount

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of vision makes a difference in how a student processes information, including the tasks presented in testing.

We have frequently been confronted by psychological assessments that “miss” some of the tactile, auditory and practical difficulties that students who are blind may manifest. The new battery, which includes an assortment of methods including the TAP, can be helpful to those wanting to evaluate all aspects of learning. Because so many of the students have unique and unusual profiles, it has taken many years to develop norms. Further, the activities can take more time than “standard” assessment tools.

In March, 2011, a workshop will be held in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. Psychologists, particularly those who are asked to assess Ss who are blind, will be trained to use the specialized instruments, including the TAP, over the course of four sessions. Plans are not quite complete, but we believe the workshop will begin on Thursday, March 10 at 2 PM, continue all day Friday 3/11 and conclude at about noon on Saturday 3/12/11. Specific details will be forthcoming.

Please note that the workshop is open to those who are licensed, certified, or approved to administer those psychological tests that are considered privileged. Participants will be able to obtain 12 CE credits (APA) for attendance. Those who come from out of state will also have an opportunity to add days at the low conference rate so that they can have a bit of Florida vacation. Each participant will then have their own “kit” to use with Ss over the years. As only a limited number of kits are being processed, it is suggested that conference registration occur during the Fall, 2010.

I would deeply appreciate it if you would pass the word along to colleagues who have the appropriate credentials. The workshop will be hands-on and should be fun! Anyone interested can reach me as follows:

Dr. Joan B. Chase Telephone: 727-733-7771

e-mail: jbchase@gte.net2598 Gary Circle, #504Dunedin, FL 34698

Thanks to all for their patience and assistance. I look forward to seeing some of my Division 4 friends at the workshop. Sorry I must miss the AER Conference this year.

All best wishes for a great conference and a wonderful summer!

Regards, Joan

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AER Elections

At this time members of AER are making decisions as to who will be responsible for conducting the business of our organization. Two of our members have been nominated for district representatives on the AER Board of Directors. They are Carol Evans of Utah from District 1 and Janie Blome of Kentucky from District 5. We wish both of them good luck in this election. It would be nice to continue having our division members on the AER board. Janie is presently serving as representative of Instructional Services (0-12), which includes divisions 3, 8, 10, and 16.

In other major AER elections, Jim Adams and Kathy Yale are running for President-Elect; Susan Langendork and Susan Spungin for Secretary; Grace Ambrose-Zaken and Majorie Kaiser for Treasurer; and Elaine Bradley and Susan Howe for Canadian Representative. We wish them all the best. The current President-elect, Pat Leader of California, takes over as President at the end of the AER Conference in Little Rock in July.

Meet-A-Member

Each time we send out a newsletter we include information about one or two of our psychosocial division members. This Meet-A-Member column was designed to help us all learn who our members are, what type of work they do, why they joined our profession, and what changes they would like to make in it. You are invited to send in information about yourself or another member to be included in future columns.

The newest additions to our Meet-A-Member column are Deborah Willis of Kentucky and Janet Winsett of Arkansas. We appreciate their sending in this information about themselves. Debbie and Janet have also agreed to run for office in our division.

Deborah H. Willis

“I started working at the American Printing House for the Blind in 1974 as a Research Assistant in the Research Department. After working on a wide variety of Research & Development projects, I was promoted to Research Associate. As an associate, I took on responsibility for some projects while continuing to assist the Research Scientists and Director of Research. After a few years, I was promoted to Research Scientist. During that period

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of time, I worked on computer applications for students with visual impairments and later became the Test and Assessment Project Leader.

“Around 1996, an impending retirement was announced and the position of Director of Research was opened. After applying and interviewing for this position, I was then selected to serve as Director of Research for almost five years. During that time period, the number of new products being developed, produced, and made available went from about six new products per year to about 60 new products per year. Priorities included developing more child-friendly products, visually pleasing and readable products of a professional quality, accepting product ideas from the field, and developing APH products in accessible media such as Braille with tactile graphics, large print with enlarged graphics, as well as audio formats.

“Sometime in 2000, the Director of APH called in a team of APH staff to ‘brainstorm future projects and ideas.’ Based on numerous discussions with others, I suggested that APH and the field needed a ‘Test Central’. The ‘Test Central’ initiative received some start-up funding in Fiscal Year 2001. In 2002, the ‘Test Central’ initiative became the newest department at APH, the Accessible Test Department. I have been and am currently serving as Director of APH’s Accessible Tests Department, which is used by many of the members of the psychosocial services division.”

Janet Winsett

“There are so many details and so little time. I have several people in my family who are visually impaired, including myself. I now work at Lions World Services for the Blind (in Little Rock). I received my education in Murray, Kentucky. I waited until my children were grown to go to Murray State. My undergraduate work was in Social Work and I minored in Psychology. I am originally from Little Rock so I attended UALR to obtain my Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Teaching. I lacked a few credits and an internship and I would have also had a Rehabilitation Counseling Degree. I received an offer to work at the SBRC in the Birmingham VA. I worked there for eight years and found the career everything I had imagined it to be. However, both my mother and father are in bad health, so I returned to Little Rock to be close to them. It is my intention to transition back into Rehabilitation Counseling. Someone once pointed out to me that the word retire was not in the Bible. It also is not in my plans for

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the future. I know the difference that good rehabilitation can make in the lives of individuals. I want to work and give back to the profession that has given so much to me. Now I must finish my weekly reports and will continue to work and grow in my chosen profession.”

Division Membership

According to the most recent membership list from AER, our division has welcomed eight New Members since January, 2010. Our newest members are Angel Bryant of Georgia, Mary Beth Caruso of Massachusetts, Wendy Lundstrum of Kentucky, Margo Siegel of Michigan, Sarah Starnes of Missouri, Lynn Wade of North Carolina, Harold Williams of Arkansas, and Janet Winsett of Arkansas. We look forward to meeting all of them and hope they become very active members of our division in the future.

Our newest members are being welcomed by these Returning Members: Manuel Aregullin, Dorothy Arensman, Sara Bennett, Jeanne Binner, Janie Blome, Billy Brookshire, Joan B. Chase, Stephanie Cleary, Denise Colton, Gloria Coulston, Janice DeHart, Brigid Doherty, Joseph D’Ottavio, Nancy Druke, Melinda Duggan, Carol Evans, Hannah Fairbairn, Nina Glasner, Paul Hemmes, Cammy Holway-Moraros, Julia Kleinschmidt, Joan Kruse, Mary Ann Lang, Coby Livingstone, Marnee Loftin, Katja Lundgren, Harry Lynch, John McMahon, Emile Meadows, Maria Moore, Teresa Pawletko, Mary Helen Pearsall, Lee Pion, Bette Anne Preston, Kathy Roberts, Lisa Rosene, Martha Simmons, Brendan Tedrick, Mary Terlau, Sharon Thummel, Naomi Tuttle, Frank Vance, Annie Vanderwal, James Warnke, Deborah Willis, Karen Wolffe, Gina Woods, and Christy Youssef.

We also have the Missing Member list, which is not intended to embarrass anyone, but to let our members know that Michael Brown, Susan Engel, Rosemary Ford-Campbell, Melba Kert, Alice Ritchhart, Theresa Schaffer, Jinger Valenzuela, Katrina Wendel, and Glenda Wilson are not on the Psychosocial Services Division list we received from AER this week, though they were listed as members in January. If your name, or a colleague’s, is listed and you feel that it is there by mistake, please contact the AER office. Maybe you forgot to renew, which happens, or you changed jobs and are no longer working in the psychosocial services area. If you left our division for reasons about which we could do something, please let us know. We want you back! Beth Bates told us she left because her new job doesn’t involve psychosocial services issues.

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Josh Engle, Bistro Manager

This story was submitted by Beth Bates, former Employment Services Specialist with Bosma Enterprises in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was one of the first of our division to answer the call for articles for the newsletter. Beth told us that she is working in a different area now and is no longer in psychosocial services.

Josh Engle, manager of the new High Five Bosma Bistro at Bosma Enterprises, is what we consider a Bosma Success Story. Though the 1999 Zionsville High School graduate was expected to go blind by the second grade from cataracts and Retinitis Pigmentosa, Josh’s vision maintained until his early twenties. “At age 25,” says Engle, “It began to rapidly deteriorate. I was in a state of depression and couldn’t get disability.”

Three years later, Josh came to Bosma Rehabilitation Center. “I broke my ankle, was running into things and wanted a guide dog,” he says. Leader Dog told him he’d need some Orientation & Mobility Training in order to qualify for one, and his Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor suggested he tour Bosma. “I resisted at first, but I finally decided to give it a try. I needed O & M, I wanted a guide dog, and I wanted a job.”

Ninety-five hours of O&M later, equipped with computer skills from months in the Adaptive Technology Lab, Engle became a volunteer at Bosma. “I gave tours to potential rehab clients to give a client’s perspective on things,” he says. “I was down in the dumps before I came to Bosma Rehab, but then Shawn (Dobbs, Bosma Rehab Adjustment Counselor) gave me a tour. He’s totally blind and has two degrees; James (Michaels, Bosma Rehab Director) and Katrina (Anderson, Communications Instructor), who have less vision than me that can do their jobs, it made me feel hope,” he says.

Between the ages of 16 and 25, Engle climbed the restaurant management ladder, from burger flipper to chef manager at Hardee’s; assistant manager at Friendly Tavern in Zionsville, Indiana; and manager of Carolina Grill in neighboring town, Whitestown. Aware of Engle’s extensive food service and restaurant management background, James Michaels kept Engle updated on the development of the Bistro.

His experience and love of cooking made him a viable candidate for working in the Bistro. “I always like the atmosphere of restaurants because

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you get to deal with lots of different people, talk to people,” says Engle, and he has been watching cooking shows from childhood. A fan of Emeril, Rachel Ray and Paula Deen, Engle grew up watching the Frugal Gourmet. “Now I only watch two channels: the Food Network and news,” he says.

Engle is thrilled to have been hired to head up the Bistro. “I didn’t think I’d get another job,” he says. “Bosma is a great place. It’s amazing.” As Bistro Manager, he will oversee two full time employees and cross-train at least one or two current employees who will be able to work part time. As Emeril might say, “Bam!”

AER International Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas

As mentioned previously, the 2010 AER International Conference, Featuring the Orientation and Mobility Division Conference Within a Conference, will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas from Wednesday, July 21 through Sunday, July 25. The Pre-conference event on Wednesday will be the MacFarland Seminar on Brain Injury and Vision Loss. The Post-Conference Event on Sunday will be a workshop on Obstacle Avoidance.

The conference provides over 200 hours of educational programming, the opportunity for important networking with colleagues, and general and breakout sessions on aging, deaf-blindness, education, low vision, multiple disabilities, orientation and mobility, psychosocial services, technology, therapy, vision rehabilitation, and vocational rehabilitation. In addition to the breakout sessions, there are division-specific programs, and an AER Exhibit Hall showcasing the latest products and services.

Sessions will be noted as Fundamental, Intermediate, or Advanced, which will enable attendees to learn about an unfamiliar topic, gain knowledge or more advanced strategies or concepts about vision professional issues, or take an in-depth look at complex subject matter. Continuing Education credit from ACVREP and CRCC is being applied for by AER.

The Conference itself begins Wednesday night with opening ceremonies at 7:00 pm, followed by a reception at 9:00 pm. On Thursday and every day after, Breakfast will be served in the AER Exhibit Hall at 7:00 am. The Exhibit Hall will remain open throughout the day. Conference programming continues from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm, followed by a reception, after which Arkansas Night - with choices of activities away from the hotel will occur.

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On Friday, Conference Programming, including Division Day activities, begins after breakfast and continues throughout the day. At noon the All Awards Lunch will take place, followed by our division business meeting, our Lambert Award ceremony, and the dinner to honor our Lambert Award winner, Karen Wolffe.

More Conference Programming will follow on Saturday until 6:00 pm, after which attendees will experience Arkansas Host Night in the Clinton Library. The Exhibit Hall will close at 11:00 am on Saturday. On Sunday, the last day of the conference, regular Conference Programming will continue until 1:00 pm, in addition to the Post-Conference workshop on Obstacle Avoidance, which ends at 5:00 pm.

We encourage as many members as possible to plan to attend the conference in Little Rock. It will be held at the beautiful Peabody Hotel. Room reservations may be made online at www.peabodylittlerock.com or by telephone at 1-800-PEABODY (1-800-732-2639). AER Conference registration forms can be obtained on line and registration made at www.aerbvi.org/2010conference or by faxing forms to 703-671-6391 or mailing them to: AER Conference Registration, 1703 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 440, Alexandria, VA 22311-1744 USA.

Don’t forget that our division will have its own day to meet, socialize, and conduct the business of the division, which includes having an election, talking about future programs, and honoring our Lambert Award winner and then taking her to dinner. We hope that every one of you in attendance at the conference will arrange your schedules so that you can be with us for these psychosocial services division-specific activities.

For more information feel free to contact one of the division officers:Carol Evans, Chair -- braillepsych@yahoo.comJulie Kleinschmidt, Chair-elect – julia.kleinschmidt@hsc.utah.eduMelinda Duggan, Secretary/Treasurer -- melinda1@nf.sympatico.caKaren E. Wolffe, Past Chair – kwolffe@austin.rr.comMartha Simmons, Newsletter Editor – Grannymms@aol.com

You may obtain information from the AER website at www.aerbvi.org or by calling the AER office at 877- 492-2708 or 703-671-4500. We encourage members to use our division listserv

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visionPSI@lists.aerbvi.org and to submit items for the newsletter to Grannymms@aol.com.

Psychosocial Services Division Upcoming Election

We have saved this section of the newsletter for last, hoping that we would get more volunteers to run for office in our division. Because we will not be voting on the officers until the business meeting in Little Rock in July, you still have time to change your mind and decide to take your turn and become a nominee for a division office. Let Martha Simmons know at Grannymms@aol.com if you have reconsidered and are willing to run.

In the meantime, we are very glad to announce that Deborah Willis of the American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky has answered our call to be a candidate for Chair-elect of our Division. Deborah has been a member of our division for several years and has years of leadership experience in the field of services to persons who are blind and visually impaired. She is especially involved in the area of developing appropriate assessment and testing materials for our clients and students, as many of our division members are. Debbie should be a very capable successor to Chair-elect Julia Kleinschmidt, who will automatically become Chair in July.

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Janet Winsett of Lions World Services for the Blind in Little Rock, Arkansas has agreed to be nominated for the office of Secretary/Treasurer of our division. Even though Janet has not been a member of our division for a long time, she has been involved in services to persons who are blind and visually for many years. She was trained as a social worker and rehabilitation teacher and is currently planning to complete her work on a Rehabilitation Counseling degree. Being visually impaired herself, Janet knows how important proper services are to the adequate rehabilitation of individuals with decreased vision and blindness. She seems to be a very hard worker and should do well in the job of Secretary/Treasurer, replacing Melinda Duggan. Janet will be at the AER conference in Little Rock and we look forward to meeting her there in July.

Fun Section

A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, she turned to her 6-year old daughter and asked, “Would you like to say the blessing?” “I wouldn’t know what to say,” the little girl replied. “Just say what you hear Mommy say” said the mom. The daughter bowed her head and said, “Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?” This cute story was sent in by Deborah Willis.

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