The RT News
Newsletter of Division 11
June 2006
AER Rehabilitation Teaching Division
ELECTION RESULTS
That was the GOOD NEWS, but the BAD NEWS is that Kelli has recently resigned her office-to-be because she is now a mother-to-be and also learned that she will not have any financial support from her agency towards holding a national office. She wrote in part, “I was excited about being part of VRT on a National Level. I have never resigned before...and am somewhat embarrassed and disappointed to have to do so. I hope to re-run as Chair someday...and hope you understand.” We do and ask for each of you to consider serving the division. At the back of this newsletter is a place to nominate yourself or another person, whose permission you have to recommend, for the office of Chair-Elect of the RT Division. We need YOU.
Your Executive Team
Nancy Paskin, Chair: nansam@peoplepc.com
Mary Beth Harrison, Chair-Elect: marybeth.harrison@med.va.gov
Susan M. Dalton, Secretary/Treasurer: smdtvp@joltmail.net
2006 AER-LIFT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
We participated in a number of general sessions as well as break-out meetings for Division leaders. The guest speaker at the first general session was Fred Wheeler, a vice president at Forrest E. Jones Insurance (the liability provider for AER members). He discussed the differences between Professional Liability and General Liability coverage. General liability is far more comprehensive but costs considerably more ($750-1000) than professional liability. There are different policies for W-2 employees vs. contract employees, with significant differences in cost and benefits. The company is in the process of adding an improved general liability policy for off-premises work.
Many AER Board issues and topics were discussed. Financial concerns are being addressed in a number of ways including looking for smaller office space, reducing mailing costs by having more on-line offerings (such as AER Report), and looking for ways to increase revenue without increasing dues. Julie Hapeman, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, announced that proposed resolutions for the July conference will only be accepted in electronic format. There is a new e-mail address dedicated to resolutions which may be used for submission prior to the conference: resolutions@aerbvi.org. Pat Leader reported for the By-laws Committee. Unfortunately the By-laws vote that was part of this year’s AER election mailing will be rescinded because it did not meet the required timeline. A new ballot will be sent out in the AER Report and there will be an information session at the conference. Ike Presley presented for the Access Committee. There have been a number of improvements put in place for this year’s conference, and the accessibility guidelines were given to all presenters. The guidelines are also available on the AER website.
Frances Mary D’Andrea gave an interesting presentation for the Continuing Education Committee about on-line education. Guidelines for on-line courses have been approved, and the Access Committee can assist in making content accessible. A proposal was received from Emerald Events to manage on-line courses for AER. Frances Mary demonstrated developing a sample course on the website. Discussion ensued regarding the value for the cost - approximately $5000 per year. The board will be considering options. The Low Vision and O&M Divisions already have Continuing Education courses available for credit in different formats. This year’s MacFarland Session will be recorded in MP3 format and put on the website as a Continuing Education offering if a grant proposal comes through to cover the cost.
Division meetings focused on Council of Division Chairs (CDC) elections, Division Day activities, other conference-related items, and improving communications between Divisions and the Board. Tony Candela was selected to represent the Adult Services Divisions on the Board and he will also be the CDC Chair.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
By-laws votes require a mail ballot, so you may see a By-laws vote in late summer or early fall.
submitted by Mary Beth Harrison, Chair-elect
If you want to share your ideas for or against a name change for the Division, please send them to MaryBeth Harrision, current Chair-Elect, via email: marybeth.harrison@med.va.gov
AD from APH for Money Talks.
THE SUGAR BLUES: BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORS WITH SPEECH CAPACITY
Debra A. Sokol-McKay, MS, CVRT, CDE, CLVT, OTR/LAnd
Kathleen Buskirk, MA, CVRT, CDE, CVLT
Kathleen Buskirk, MA, CVRT, CLVT, CDE Kathleen has been involved in the blindness field for 28 years. A 1990 graduate of Western Michigan University (MA, Blind Rehabilitation), Kathleen has been a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist at Keystone Blind Association for 16 years. She currently holds certifications in vision rehabilitation therapy, low vision therapy and diabetes education. Fell free to contact her with questions at Keystone blind Association, 1230 Sambaugh Ave, Sharon, PA 16146, phone: (724) 347-5501, email: kbuskirk@keystoneblind.org.
In the last 2 issues of "RT News," this column focused on blood glucose monitors intended for sighted use, their low vision aspects and potential adaptations. In this column the emphasis will be on monitors with speech capability for clients who do not consistently have sufficient functional vision or who are totally blind. Some 'low vision' aspects such beep feature, code key calibration, and touchable strip, discussed in the previous article may also apply to monitors with speech capability.
Monitors with speech capability should be considered when an individual with vision loss is unable to accurately, and consistently use their remaining vision to complete all necessary steps of the blood glucose monitoring process despite incorporation of environmental adaptations such as lighting, contrast, and magnification. Another consideration is the flexibility desired in blood glucose monitoring. A blood glucose monitor with speech can be used in any environment and therefore is a better option for an individual who is very mobile and needs to test blood glucose under varying conditions. Finally for insurance reimbursement is the client must be legally blind to obtain a blood glucose monitor with speech. In addition an insurance plan may define the specific monitor that is covered in their plan. Due to the high cost of continuing supplies (particularly strips and lancets), it is important for clients and practitioners to consider insurance reimbursement issues.
Four blood glucose monitors with speech capability are currently available on the U.S. market: the Accu-Chek Voicemate, the One Touch Basic, the One Touch Surestep, and the Prodigy. The Sensocard blood glucose monitor is available in Europe and is currently seeking FDA approval. Although these blood glucose monitors "talk", they vary in what steps and functions of the monitoring process are verbalized. The Voicemate, the Basic, the Surestep, and the Sensocard all will announce information on the monitor display including but not limited to: code number, when to apply blood, the blood glucose or control solution result, results from memory with date and time, low battery warnings, error messages and also directions for setting time. The Prodigy announces only preliminary information including code number, when to apply blood and the blood glucose or control solution result; however no voice output is available for accessing results from memory, low battery warnings, error messages or directions for setting time. This information is only available on the visual display of the monitor.
The monitors also differ in the type of speech (natural sounding versus robotic), type of voice and resulting pitch (male voice lower pitch than female voice) and other speech idiosyncrasies such as accent. A chart highlighting these 5 monitors is included with this column. It provides specific information with respect to the above voice features as well as other characteristics beneficial to persons with vision loss. The information on the chart is obtained through direct experience, review of instruction manuals or package inserts, from other publications/literature and, in some cases, through direct contact with monitor company representatives. The following is a brief introduction and general description of each blood glucose monitor with speech capability and information that is helpful to understanding the chart insert.
The Accu-Chek Voicemate is a 2 piece unit designed to fit together; the visual display blood glucose monitor inserts into and is sold with the voice unit. The Voicemate can act as a talking clock/calendar; it announces the date and time once it is turned on. Coding can be performed non-visually by insertion of a code key. This monitor also has an insulin vial bar code reader which will identify different types of Lilly insulin. The accompanying Comfort Curve test strip has a small curved cutout on the right side of the strip where the blood sample is applied. When the test strip is inserted in the monitor, the test site remains outside of the unit; therefore cleaning the unit is not required. The Voicemate requires batteries in both the voice unit and monitor and also comes with a transformer for electrical back up. The Voicemate can be purchased in an English or a Spanish model.
The One Touch Basic is a visual display monitor that can be paired with a separate voice attachment via a data cable. The One Touch Basic monitor can be purchased separately from its respective voice attachment or as a “package” through some low vision catalogues. This monitor requires visual calibration; the code number needs to be read from the test strip bottle and manually programmed into the monitor. The test site on the Basic test strip should not be touched during blood drop application. “Not enough blood retest,” may appear on the display and be verbalized when the blood drop is too small or is smeared. The test strip rests on the top of the monitor once it is inserted into the test strip holder. Cleaning is required as blood can come in contact with the monitor during use. The One Touch Basic, when used as a visual display monitor has 17 language options; however, the voice attachment will not function with languages other than English. Accessible format instructions are available in cassette for use of the voice attachment only; the monitor itself comes with standard print.
The One Touch Surestep is also a visual display monitor paired with a voice attachment via a data cable and can be purchased separately or as a “package.” It requires visual calibration. Blood can be dabbed on the test site of the test strip. Cleaning is required since the strip test site is actually inserted into the body of the monitor itself. The monitor and attachment both require batteries and the voice attachment comes with a transformer for electrical backup. The One Touch Surestep is available in English only. Accessible format instructions are available in cassette for use of the voice attachment only; the monitor itself comes with standard print.
The Prodigy has the speech component integrated into the monitor itself. This unit announces the room temperature when it is turned on. The Prodigy requires visual coding. The monitor automatically turns on with strip insertion. The end of the strip where blood is applied is slightly rounded. When the test strip is inserted in the monitor, the test site remains outside of the unit and therefore this unit does not require cleaning. The Prodigy only requires battery replacement in a single unit. The Prodigy can be switched from English to Spanish within the same unit. The manufacturer of the Prodigy reports it will seek to modify its monitor to give it greater speech capability.
The SensoCard has the speech component integrated into the monitor itself. The blood glucose monitor can be coded non-visually by a code strip. The monitor automatically turns on with strip insertion. Blood is applied to the pointed end of the strip. When the test strip is inserted in the monitor, the test site remains outside of the unit and therefore this unit does not require cleaning. The Sensocard only requires battery replacement in a single unit. The Sensocard can be switched from English to German within the same unit.
Each of the above blood glucose monitors with speech capability has positive features and limitations.
When reviewing the above data, as well as the attached chart, client preferences need to be given paramount consideration. In addition, as some clients may have difficulty obtaining sufficient blood samples, blood sample size and whether or not the strip uses capillary action may be significant from time to time. Current monitor requirements range from 0.3 microliters (ml) to 10 microliters (ml) of blood. The ability to touch and explore the test strip is also an important feature when orienting the test strip and applying the blood sample.
As many clients test frequently (up to several times daily) and lead active lives, compact size and extent of integration of the monitor and voice capability may be a salient feature. A natural sounding voice and volume control may be necessary for some users who have hearing loss or difficulty understanding robotic voices. The talking blood glucose monitors examined in this column can assist clients who cannot otherwise perform blood glucose monitoring due to vision loss and/or blindness. However, the task is, itself, complex and detailed. Training by vision rehabilitation therapists is often essential in facilitating accurate performance of this task which is necessary to a client’s better self-managing their diabetes.
CHART ON FOLLOWNG PAGE
Correction for Sugar Blues article, March 2006, titled How to Choose a LV Blood Glucose Monitor.
Following the paragraph, at the bottom of page 8 on the One Touch Ultra, a new paragraph was partially omitted. The omitted words are:
Precision Xtra (chosen by 4 diabetic educators) - large font on display with back light, moderately sized touchable strip with capillary action, 2nd blood sample application, non visual coding…
The paragraph continues correctly at the top of page 9 in March newsletter.
REMEMBER AT THE INTERNATIONAL AER CONFERENCE THE MACFARLAND SEMINAR WILL BE A FULL DAY OF LEARNING AND SPECIAL DAY DEDICATED TO THE CURRENT TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS IN DIABETES, INCLUDING HANDS ON WORKSHOPS.
SEE YOU THERE! IT’S A MUST FOR ALL VRTS.
BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER WITH THESE COOL RESOURCES!
By
Sara Bennett, CVRT
On March 6, 2006, National Braille Press released the newest biography in its series, "Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius." It includes 31 never-before-translated letters about his life. To help launch the new biography, NBP has created print/braille bookmarks that can be distributed to students, clients, or friends. To order biographies or bookmark bundles, contact NBP at 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302; call 1-800-548-7323; or e-mail orders@nbp.org.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Helen Keller's autobiography, The Story of My Life, the American Foundation for the Blind has made the original text available online at no cost. The online book is accompanied by photographs from AFB's Helen Keller archives. To read the book online, visit: http://www.afb.org/mylife
Dr. Euclid Herie, past president of both the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the World Blind Union (WBU) has written "Journey to Independence: Blindness--The Canadian Story", which chronicles the history of blindness in Canada from before Confederation to present. To purchase a copy, please contact the CNIB at (416) 486-2500 ext. 7058 or at: techaids.sales@cnib.ca
A publication on low vision outlines major causes of eye disease, strategies and products for independent living, resources and organizations of interest. It can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.telesensory.com or a printed version ($5.00) is available by writing to: Low Vision Resource Guide, Telesensory, 520 Elmener Avenue, Sunvale CA 94085.
"Living With Vision Loss: A Guide for Caregivers" includes chapters on eye conditions, low vision aids, resources, facing change and adjusting to vision loss. Visit http://www.cnib.ca for more information.
Pocket Reference Journals recently published “My Pocket Doctor,” a reference guide and journal. It’s written by an endocrinologist, as certified diabetes educator, and a registered dietitian, and its designed to answer any questions that a newly diagnosed diabetic would ask. It is currently available in contracted braille and will soon be available on CD. For more information, contact Pocket Reference Journals directly at www.pocketreferencejournals.com, or call (714) 965-4570.
MSFocus, the magazine of the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, is now available on CD for individuals with impaired vision and other disabilities caused by MS. To obtain an audio subscription, call 1-888-673-6287 or visit www.msfocus.org.
An online guide designed for support group leaders consists of several "sessions" and provides information on such subjects as discussion topics, conversation starters and aspects of vision loss. Visit: www.lighthouse.org/supportgroup/
discussion_guide/t_index.htm
"Helping Children Who Are blind", by Sandy Neimann and Namita Jacob, launches the Early Assistance Series for parents, caregivers, teachers, health and rehabilitation workers. It is designed for those living or working with children in the first five years of life. Visit the Hesperian Foundation at http://www.hesperian.org for more information.
FIT FOR ALL, a new publication by the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), offers practical strategies for coaches and teachers on how to teach children or adolescents who are visually impaired to develop basic physical skills--such as throwing, catching and running--so they may participate in sports activities. Case studies provide insights into the experiences of youths and detail the support that is required to encourage visually impaired youths to participate in sports activities at both school and in their communities. The book explores the implications of visual impairment and sports and discusses safety strategies. The 56-page book is available in print or on disk for a cost of £9.95 (approximately U.S. $17.92). For more information, contact Customer Service, RNIB, 105 Judd Street, London, WC1H 9NE, United Kingdom; Phone: 0845-7023-153; E-mail: cservices@rnib.org.uk; Web site: http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk.
The Out of Sight Health & Fitness Program was designed by Bob Koppenjan, a certified personal trainer for more than 20 years who happens to be blind. The exercise and nutrition program is designed specifically for people who are blind. It is available in braille or large print. . Both versions include an audiotape with the exercise portion. The program costs $39.99. For more information, write to DuKo Health International, 175 Irving Place, Rutherford, NJ 07070, or call (201) 507-1510.
A new interactive website from the Active Living Alliance, which includes a questionnaire, helps Ontarians find inclusive activities in their communities. From gardening to yoga to rock climbing and alpine skiing, it directs visitors to available sports, recreation and activity programs that are suited to individual interests, skills and abilities. For more information, visit http://www.ala.on.ca or call toll-free 1-800-311-9565, or TTY (416) 426-7414.
Accessible electronic versions of printed travel guides are provided online by Traveleyes, a holiday company for both vision-impaired and sighted travelers. Users can download accessible Microsoft Word versions that do not include maps or diagrams. Guides are available for several countries. Visit: http://www.traveleyes.co.uk
Very Truly Yours makes extra-large label kits to aid seniors and low-vision individuals in sending mailings independently. The kits include bold-type labels, a binder with zippered pockets for each addressee's labels, an easy-grip pen, and a bag for keeping stamps. Contact Very Truly Yours LLC at (717) 334-0330 or www.verytrulyyourspak.com.
The Library of Congress, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), has issued a new 30 page reference circular entitled, "Reading Materials in Large Print: A Resource Guide." The contents of the guide include: selected sources of large-print materials; selected classic titles; selected Newbery Medal Winner titles; selected bibliography, 2000-2005; and selected internet resources. To request a copy of the reference guide contact the library for the blind serving your area, or call 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323). You can also print a copy from the NLS Web site: go to www.loc.gov/nls and select reference publications, circulars.
"The Easy Jumbo Book" and "The Simple Standard Book" are two new braille instruction books for adults who struggle with learning braille. Each book is 35 pages, single-side only, and double-spaced. They were designed to help a person quickly learn uncontracted braille. Great for teachers Who need easier instruction books or jumbo Braille for their students.
Instructions and print manuals are available, too. For more information or to order books, contact Sandy Price at idigdots@comcast.net.
ETS, Inc. manufactures a variety of talking consumer products. The company offers Johnson & Johnson one-touch blood glucose meters, a talking blood pressure meter, a talking bathroom scale, and an FDA-certified talking microwave. To learn more about these products, contact the company at (505) 888-3923 or visit www.etsnm.com.
"Top Tech Tidbits on Thursday" (TTTT) is a free, concise weekly summary of what's new in adaptive technology, technology as it relates to the blind, and internet audio. To join TTTT, send a blank message to tttt-join@topdotenterprises.com and then reply to the confirmatory message. Or visit: http://topdotenterprises.com/mailman/
listinfo/tttt_topdotenterprises.com
A discussion list on issues relating to accessible technology for deaf-blind people has been launched by Western Oregon University in the United States. To subscribe, email: DBTECHIES-subscribe-request@TR.WOU.EDU
An online directory of worldwide resources for and about the Deaf-Blind provides information on technologies and communication systems, and directions on where to find information and assistance. Visit www.deafblindinfo.org.
AFB eNews (www.afb.org/enews.asp) provides updates on the latest publications on blindness, conferences on vision loss, accessible technologies, advocacy information, and other issues pertaining to vision loss. Subscription is free.
The first-ever AccessWorld Guide to Assistive Technology Products has hit the street! The 2006 guide, published by AFB Press, is based on information from AFB's popular online products database.
Detailed profiles of over 200 products are provided to help you determine which ones best meet your needs. Each profile includes product name, description and category; manufacturer's name; suggested price; product features; and more. A separate section lists all manufacturers and their contact information, as well as warranty information. The guide also includes a comprehensive list of objective product evaluations previously published in AccessWorld. The guide, published in print and on ASCII disk, is available for $24.95. To order, go to: The American Printing House for the Blind recently released VERBAL VIEW OF WORD and VERBAL VIEW OF WORD ADVANCED tutorials. The tutorials instruct the user on ways to use the keyboard and screen reader to accomplish word processing tasks efficiently. VERBAL VIEW OF WORD ADVANCED provides additional information on editing, collaboration, and publishing tasks. The tutorials are available on CD in a variety of formats, including DAISY Digital Talking Book (full text, full audio), Microsoft Word, HTML, text, and electronic braille. Both VERBAL VIEW OF WORD and VERBAL VIEW OF WORD ADVANCED cost $50. For more information, contact the American Printing House for the Blind at 800-223-1839 or www.aph.org.
Money Talks is a new, accessible bank account management software package developed by the American Printing House for the Blind. It provides flexible bank account management, printing and braille embossing of the check register, and writing checks in a variety of sizes and styles. The CD version, $49, comes with high-quality Enhanced Voicing speech. The electronic download version, $39, does not have the Enhanced Voicing but the program can be used with a screen reader. A demo version can be downloaded from the Web site: www.aph.org
Vision Connection is a one-stop fully accessible and interactive global internet portal for people who are blind or partially sighted, professionals, families and friends and anyone looking for the latest information on vision impairment, its prevention and vision rehabilitation. Visit: http://www.visionconnection.org
Touted as the world's first truly accessible search engine for persons with disabilities, YouSearched.com has earned the highest standard of accessibility offered by the Royal National Institute of the Blind and the World Wide Web Consortium. It was designed to aid those with sensory, fine motor and cognitive disabilities, as well as those whose first language is not English. Visit: http://www.yousearched.com
CONGRATULATIONS
ARE IN ORDER TO ONE AND ALL!
Wanda Hix Bourne
Sheila Davis
Latisha Houston
Megan Dawn Kirby
Rikilynn Layher
Recertified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
Zulma Acevedo
Rebecca Anderson-Falde
Anne Baker
Sara Bennett
Mark Bragg
Kathleen Buck
Jane Casey
Elizabeth Chamberlain
Cindy Crabtree
Taletha Crawley
Sheila D. Dahm
Jeffrey Dietz
Ardis Dobson
Sarah H. Dorsch
Maureen Duffy
Rosalyn Dunlap-Gist
Frances Ehrlich
Joan Ellis
Pat Engel
Angela Esparza
Carol Evans
Teresa Farris
Sharon Ferrari
Mary Finkelstein
Margaret Flanary
Karen Gansl
Dianne Giessinger
Sherryl Glinsky
Judith Gloystein
Diane Grundyson
Linda Haven
Tyra Hawkins
Monica Heap
Angela Humbertson
Dennis Hogan
Kathryn Hollett
Charla Houston
Lynette Honjiyo
Barbara Hunt
Linda Hunt
David Jackson
Jeanine Kane
Shelley Kaufherr
Maryrose Keeley
Roberta Kitlinski
George Kremer
Candiss Leathers
B.J. LeJeune
Lynne Luxton
Melissa Martin
Mary Ann Marchand
Mimi Marsh
Suzanne Mazzola
Janet McInnis
Shirley McCracken
Brenda McKinsey
Ramon Mungaray
Keiko Namekata
Joseph Nichelson
Emestina Notargiacomo
John O’Dillon
Gina Palmer
Susan R. Peters
Rose Reaves
Richard Regan
Margaret Ribeiro
Alvin Roberts
Cecelia Rose
Cathy Rufenacht
Tamina Severtsen
Kathleen Shelton
Mary Sloan
Patricia Smith
Ruth E. Solomon
Mary Stief
Loretta Talbert-Kipasa
Mary Trainor
Thirza Thompson
Susan Thogmartin
Joye R. Tillman
James Unger
Laura A. Vittorioso
Thomas Walsh
Charlene Ware
Vickie Weith
Lynn Wiggins
Emery Whitlow
Pamela Whittaker
Linda Zagula
These names were all listed in the January 20, 2006 newsletter. We know that many others of you have either been certified or recertified in the subsequent months of this year. As additional names are posted, we will honor them in future issues of this publication.
ACVREP HAS A NEW HOME AND ADDRESS
3333 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 11
Tuscon, AZ 85719
Email will stay the same. There was no word on new phone numbers at the time of publication.
ACVREP exams will be administered in conjunction with the AER International Conference in Snowbird, Utah.
Status of CVRT from United States Patent and Trademark Office
CVRT : Registration Number: 3070620 issued March 21, 2006
Owner: ACVREP
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist:
Registration Number: 3012394
2006 ACVREP BOARD AND VRT COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Martin Yablonski, M.Ed., COMS, TVI —Chairperson (NY)
Judy van Naerssen, OTRL, CLVT —Vice-Chairperson (PA)
David Ekin, ACSW, LCSW — Treasurer (MO)
Marshall Flax, M.S., COMS, CLVT — Secretary (WI)
Gina Palmer, M.A., CVRT — At Large Member (AL)
Other Board Members:
Anita Arakawa, M.A., CVRT, CLVT (CA)
Kathleen M. Huebner, Ph.D. (PA)
James Kracht, J.D. (FL)
Judith Rutberg Kuskin, M.Ed., J.D. (NJ)
Tom Miller, MSW, ACSW (Washington DC)
Gwen K. Sterns, MD (NY)
Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Committee:
Anita Arakawa, M.A., CVRT, CLVT, Chair (CA)
Amy Freeland, CVRT (MD)
Gina Palmer, M.A., CVRT, (AL)
Susan Ponchillia, Ed.D, CVRT (MI)
Diane Weiss, CVRT (NY)
CVRTs on other ACVREP committees:
Don Golembiewski—Continuing Education—(WI)
Cheryl Richesin—Continuing Education—(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
CHANGE IS AFOOT FOR CATEGORY 3 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Category 3 is for people who have college degrees in fields other than vision rehabilitation therapy (formerly rehabilitation teaching) and are essentially agency trained personnel. The new criteria strengthen both the academic and skills training requirements.
- There are now 16 core areas in the Body of Knowledge, 10 of which must be met through formal education coursework or ACVREP approved CE programs.
- The discipline specific, supervised practice (internship) is raised from 350 hours to 1000 hours.
WHAT ELSE IS NEW?
Write in your latest finds. Share the information. Also share your reactions and tests with this or any other new products you find. What about the collapsible measuring cups or colander? Things are popping up new all the time.
CHAIR-ELECT NEEDED
It may seem like a daunting commitment to be a chair-elect, but if you really think about it, it all makes sense. For the first two years, the chair-elect is just that the chair-elect. They participate in division planning and discussions usually via telephone, but more and more via email, attend AER-Lift and work closely with the Chair. At the next International conference, they become the Chair, having had two years of preparation time. This is intended to make for a smooth transition and as Chair they carry on the agreed upon projects of the Division.
Finally, the Chair transitions to the Past-Chair, again a smooth transition. It is the major responsibility of the past-chair to see that the division’s newsletter gets out to members and refresh the website with the webmaster. Everyone brings to the office their own strengths and issues. It also helps to keep us fresh and vibrant. These days there are many on-going issues in our field. We need to be united and have a full compliment of officers.
So won’t you consider a National Office? We really need you and I know the next Chair-elect is out there and waiting. Wait no longer...contact us, any of the current officers (see page 2) and JOIN US.
Nancy Paskin, Chair, email: nansam@peoplepc.com