RSA Sponsored Training and Technical Assistance for Older Blind Programs

BJ LeJeune, The National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (NRTC)

at Mississippi State University (MSU)

Priscilla Rogers, American Foundation for the Bind (AFB)

Doug Bedsaul, NRTC-MSU

RSA Grant #H177Z150003

The Collaborative Partners

American Foundation for the Blind Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind

Youths and Adults VisionServe Alliance Stakeholder’s Advisory Council

Service Providers Consumers

Consultants

Primary Objective of the Grant

Implement an effective program: Support DSAs and OIB-funded service providers as they strengthen… fiscal and management practices, comply with program standards, provide and expand independent living

services, increase program efficiency, conduct evaluations, and improve outcomes for older individuals who

are blind.

Identified Areas of Need

Community Outreach Best Practices in the Provision of Services Program Performance including data

reporting and analysis Financial Practices including grant

administration requirements (CFR 34)

Project 1: Intensive Training for 3 DSAs per year Advisory Council will work with staff to set up

criteria for selection of DSAs to receive intensive training and technical assistance each year.

A TA Team made up of consultants and NRTC staff will develop and implement a intensive training and TA Program including the development of a plan to improve areas of functioning

Project 2: Electronic Training

Online courses, webinars and teleconferences developed by AFB, HKNC and the NRTC

Topics include NRTC – Training on administrative practices

including the development of 5 courses in 2015-2017 and update existing Basics of Blindness

AFB – Best Practices in the Older Blind Program and the Basic of Blindness – over 50 courses

HKNC – Best practice in working with older adults with vision and hearing loss

Project 3: OIB Collaborative of OIB and related agencies Annual Conference to be held in conjunction

with the American Foundation Leadership Conference 2016 – March 3-5 in Arlington, VA 2017 – March 2-4 in Arlington, VA 2018-2020 – to be announced Special track on Aging and Vision Loss with

special sessions specifically for OIB Program Directors

Chapter-2 Listserv from the NRTC

Project 4: Community of Practice To be developed this year as a collaborative

of the NRTC, AFB, HKNC and VisionServe Alliance

Website that you can join that will include: Tools and instruments including

Assessments Curriculum Models of Service Delivery Best Practice Papers Successful program initiatives and projects

Opportunities for Mentors, expert assistance and on-going interactions

Project 5: Communication and Dissemination Network To develop alliances with related

organizations to promote their training and technical assistance among OIB Program and to promote our training and TA among their programs

Promote ways to outreach underserved groups including those representing minorities, rural settings and seniors at risk

Project 6: Evaluation

Activities to promote quality training and TA throughout the project and to ensure outcome goals are met.

Use of Knowledge Acquisition Activities, Goal Attainment, Logic Models and short, intermediate and long range outcomes.

OIB NEEDS ASSESSMENT

A Clicker Adventure…

Clicker Test Question: What is your Gender?1. Male

2. Female

What is your position?

1. OIB Program Director (main responsibility)

2. OIB Program Director (one of many other responsibilities)

3. Administrator

4. Direct Service Provider

5. Other

How long have you been in your current position?

1. Less than 2 Years

2. 3-6 Years

3. 7-10 years

4. More than 10 years

Which best describes your program goal?

1. To assist older blind individuals to become as independent as possible.

2. To provide a multifaceted program of support and encouragement.

3. To provide targeted instruction to empower older blind persons to become their own advocates.

4. To provide the necessary services to help older blind individuals stay in their own homes or apartments.

5. Other

How do you evaluate your program success?

1. Comprehensive External Program Evaluation

2. Internal evaluation conducted by grants and contracts officer (monitoring)

3. Conduct an annual consumer satisfaction survey

4. Use measurable objectives to determine if we reach outcome goals

5. Stakeholder Advisory Council Provides feedback

6. We do not conduct a program evaluation.

How do you use your evaluation results?

1. Management Team analyzes and acts on them.

2. Stakeholder Advisory Board reviews and recommends changes

3. Used for administrative justification and budget allocation

4. Used to report on the 7-OB

5. Other

What do you think is your primary training/TA need?

1. Training in how to manage and administrate the program effectively

2. Assistance in finding qualified personnel

3. Training current personnel in best practices of service delivery

4. A more effective community outreach program

5. Understanding various models of service delivery, and how to best structure our program

6. Help in working with Subcontractors

7. Other

What would be your next most pressing need?

1. Training in how to manage and administrate the program effectively

2. Assistance in finding qualified personnel

3. Training current personnel in best practices of service delivery

4. A more effective community outreach program

5. Understanding various models of service delivery

6. Help in working with Subcontractors

7. More financial and personnel resources

8. Other

What best describes your primary case service workers?

1. Vision Rehabilitation Therapists

2. Orientation & Mobility Specialists

3. Social Workers

4. Case managers with a blindness background

5. Case mangers with no blindness background

6. Occupational Therapists

7. None of the above

8. A mix of the above

Where do you provide instructional services?

1. Consumer’s home

2. In small short-term community based groups

3. At rehabilitation center

4. Through support groups

5. Combinations depending on need

If you feel you need assistance….

Please contact us and check out our websites: http://ntac.blind.msstate.edu www.visionaware.org www.hknc.org www.visionservealliance.org

Coming soon: http://aging.blind.msstate.edu

Contact Us - NRTC

BJ LeJeune, Project Director

Kendra Farrow, Research/Training Associate

RSA Older Blind Project

National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

Mississippi State University

bjlejeune@colled.msstate.edu

662-325-2694

www.blind.msstate.edu

www.ntac.blind.msstate.edu

Coming soon: www.aging.blind.msstate.edu

Contact Us - AFB

Priscilla Rogers

VisionAware Program Manager

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

11030 Ables Lane

Dallas, TX 75229

Phone: (214) 438-5314

E-mail: progers@afb.net

www.afb.org

www.visionaware.org

Contact us - HKNC

Paige Berry, National Coordinator

Senior Adult Services

Helen Keller National Center

C/O: Virginia Commonwealth University

Department of Rehabilitation Counseling

PO Box 980330

Richmond, VA 23298

Voice: 804-827-0920 Video Phone: 804-325-1701

paige.berry@hknc.org

www.hknc.org

Contact us – VisionServe Alliance

Roxann Mayros, Executive Director

VisionServe Alliance

8760 Manchester Road

St. Louis, MO 63144

314-961-8235

www.visionservealliance.org

rmayros@visionservealliance.org

RSA Project Officer

Mary Williams, Project Officer

U.S. Department of Education

Rehabilitation Services Administration

550 12th Street, SW, PCP, Room 5144

Washington, DC 20202-2800

202-245-7586

Mary.Williams@ed.gov