The National Agenda: Challenges and Opportunities for 2000 Kathleen M. Huebner, Ph.D. Pennsylvania...

The National Agenda: Challenges The National Agenda: Challenges and Opportunities for 2000and Opportunities for 2000

Kathleen M. Huebner, Ph.D.

Pennsylvania College of Optometry

KMH/PCO National Agenda 2000 2

What is the National Agenda ?What is the National Agenda ?

A set of common goals designed to improve the QUALITY QUALITY and QUANTITY QUANTITY of educational opportunities for children who are blind or visually impaired including those with multiple disabilities.


Why a National Agenda ?Why a National Agenda ? A realization that our children were

not all receiving the QUALITYQUALITY and QUANTITYQUANTITY of education services specific to their needs -- and that

Parents, Professionals and Persons with visual impairments TOGETHER TOGETHER have the power to create positive change


A Quick Review of the 8 GoalsA Quick Review of the 8 Goals REFERRALREFERRAL of appropriate program --30 days Full PARENTAL PARTICIPATIONPARENTAL PARTICIPATION and partnership Universities prepare sufficient specialized

PERSONNELPERSONNEL SERVICE DELIVERYSERVICE DELIVERY-caseloads based on needs of

students-on-going professional development Full array of service PLACEMENT OPTIONSPLACEMENT OPTIONS ASSESSMENTASSESSMENT- - with appropriate expertise INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALSINSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS available in

appropriate media and at the same time as sighted peers

EXPANDED CORE CURRICULAEXPANDED CORE CURRICULA


Relevant PublicationsRelevant Publications1 The National Agenda for the Education of

Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, Including Those with Multiple Disabilities. Corn, Hatlen, Huebner, Ryan, & Siller, 1995, AFB Press.

2 The Report to the Nation, Corn & Huebner, (1998), AFB Press.

3 A Call to Action: Practical Suggestions for the Achievement of the National Agenda Goals, Stryker, Huebner, Hatlen, 1999. TSBVI


The National AgendaThe National Agenda“little blue book”

Brief History of Development The National Goal Statements Importance of Statements Strategies for Achievement National Committees and

Endorsements


The Report to the NationThe Report to the Nation“bigger blue book”

National baseline data on each goal Reports of 28 state-level activities Vehicle for communicating about the

status as of 1997 Appendices on caseload policies Resource information OSERS Policy Statement


A Call to ActionA Call to Action A Dynamic Document

For each goal the following is presented:– Major issues– How to determine current status– How to develop a plan of action for your

state– Locate it on the “WWW. TSBVI.EDU”“WWW. TSBVI.EDU”


National AgendaNational Agenda Replications Replications

NA in Australia, New Zealand, and England

National Agenda on Vision and Aging


Significant National Off-Shoot Significant National Off-Shoot ActivitiesActivities

NTPT - National Plan for Training Personnel to Serve Children with Blindness and Low Vision, 2000,Council for Exceptional Children.

NASDE Guidelines - Blind and Visually Impaired Students Educational Service Guidelines, Pugh, & Erin, 1999. Perkins School for the Blind.

Textbook and Instructional Materials Forum WWW.AFB.org/solutionsforum.testsolutions or WWW.TSBVI.edu or WWW.nfb.org/copy99


National Plan for Training Personnel to National Plan for Training Personnel to Serve Children with Blindness and Low Serve Children with Blindness and Low

Vision--Vision--NTPTNTPT

3 Goals– Personnel Preparation and Development– Leadership Development– Recruitment and Retention

Cross-Goal– National Personnel Preparation

Coordinating Council


Personnel Preparation/DevelopmentPersonnel Preparation/Development Establish a Personnel Preparation Technical

Assistance Network (PPTAN)

– to facilitate and support collaboration– facilitate the application of national

program standards – provide technical assistance to new and

existing programs Extend OSEP program support

– 5 years– increase the award size


Leadership DevelopmentLeadership Development

Establish a Leadership Development Institute– Doctorates

Establish a Research to Practice Institute– design, collect, analyze, and disseminate data

affecting personnel needs in blindness and visual impairment

– validate practices– conduct outcome studies– collect accurate counts of children and

service providers


Recruitment and RetentionRecruitment and Retention

Establish a Recruitment and Retention Project

We all need to recruitWe all need to recruit


Cross-GoalCross-GoalNational Personnel Preparation National Personnel Preparation

Coordinating CouncilCoordinating Council Comprised of representatives of

each of other components and other stakeholders

Mission is to guide and provide formative evaluation to facilitate implementation and outcomes of the National Plan


NTPT and NA GoalsNTPT and NA Goals

Addresses Goals» 2 Parent Participation

» 3 Personnel Preparation

» 4 Caseloads-Recommends 8 :1 Student:Teacher Ratio

» 5 Full-Array of Service Options

» 6 Assessment

» 8 Expanded Core Curriculum


NASDE Guidelines Over 70 stakeholders including parents

involved 13 Participating organizations, including

professionals, parents and consumers Intention: Present best practices without

value judgements of existing programs or personnel


NASDE Guidelines Content 5 Chapters

- Foundations

- Supportive Structure and Administration

- Assessment

- Program Requirements and Placement Options

- Personnel


NASDE Guidelines-Chapter StructureNASDE Guidelines-Chapter Structure– Foundations

» 10 unique needs, policy/legislation, philosophies, array of options, diversity, multiple disabilities

– Supportive Structure and Administration» 8 roles of personnel and supportive LEA/SEA administration

– Assessment» 6 comprehensive, formal, informal, clinical, expanded core

– Program Requirements and Placement Options» 11 families, options, mentors, extracurricular, equal access,

technology, multiple disabilities

– Personnel» 12 specialized training, parent-professional relationships,

diversity, O&M, expanded core curricula, certifications


NASDE Guidelines and NA Goals

Addresses All Goals» 1 Referral» 2 Parent Participation» 3 Personnel Preparation» 4 Caseloads» 5 Full-Array of Service Options» 6 Assessment» 7 Instructional Media» 8 Expanded Core Curriculum


Textbook and Instructional Materials Textbook and Instructional Materials ForumForum

Addressing:Addressing:– Lack of standardization of electronic file formats Lack of standardization of electronic file formats

provided by textbook publishersprovided by textbook publishers– Inaccessibility of multimedia textbooksInaccessibility of multimedia textbooks– Variation in sate textbook regulationsVariation in sate textbook regulations– Inconsistent interpretation of copyright law Inconsistent interpretation of copyright law – High expense of producing specialized materials and High expense of producing specialized materials and

lack of fiscal incentives to develop new technologieslack of fiscal incentives to develop new technologies

– Shortage of qualified braille transcribersShortage of qualified braille transcribers and production and production resourcesresources

– Communication and collaboration barriersCommunication and collaboration barriers


Textbook and Instructional Materials Textbook and Instructional Materials Forum 5 WorkgroupsForum 5 Workgroups

Electronic FilesElectronic Files LegislationLegislation ProductionProduction Training and Other NeedsTraining and Other Needs Communication and CollaborationCommunication and Collaboration WWW.AFB.Org or nfb.org or WWW.AFB.Org or nfb.org or

TSBVI.EDU/textbooks/afbTSBVI.EDU/textbooks/afb


Solutions Forum and NA GoalsSolutions Forum and NA Goals

Addresses GoalsAddresses Goals– 2 Parent Participation2 Parent Participation– 3 Personnel Preparation3 Personnel Preparation– 7 Instructional Media7 Instructional Media– 8 Expanded Core Curriculum8 Expanded Core Curriculum


NA Reported ChallengesNA Reported Challenges Full InclusionFull Inclusion prevailing philosophy Special schools/services threatenedSpecial schools/services threatened Too few qualified staffqualified staff/emergency

credentialling Loss of staffLoss of staff at all levels, state level

leadership to direct service Lack of time time Lack of outcome researchoutcome research


NA REPORTEDNA REPORTEDDeterrentsDeterrents FacilitatorsFacilitators

Loss of Personnel Lack of mutual goals Lack of information Lack of funding Lack of state adopted texts Lack of leadership Lack of planning NA not on state conference

agendas LEA Control

Additional Personnel Mutual goal setting Widespread understanding Financial support Statewide textbook adoption Strong leadership Strong action planning NA on conference agenda or

special conferences LEA Control


NA Reported Effective StrategiesNA Reported Effective Strategies Partnerships

– Parents, Teachers, Administrators, Legislators

Infusion into many activities Development of best practice guidelines Grass roots infusion of philosophies and actions Increase and/varied tools for communication Adoption of new policies Everyone thinking “expanded core curricula” National backing opens doors/gives backbone to

efforts


NA Predominant Positive Responses

Feeling of working on common goals--across the country, within the state, within an LEA, within a special school

Feeling of HOPE for the future Not alone So many working on so many different

aspects toward a common good Family involvement growing Encourages holistic view of our

students/services


NA NEXT NATIONAL STEPS NA NEXT NATIONAL STEPS Recognize need for more effective

advocacy and tools– Spanish NA booklet (TSBVI)– Mentoring program between NGLs and

State Coordinators– Parent document about NA by parents– Teacher document about NA by CEC-

DVI– Data for State and local administrators-

handy and persuasive


What Else CanWhat Else Can YOUYOU Do?Do? Commit yourself professionally to the philosophy and

let it show in all of your efforts Stay on top of what your state, your colleagues in state

and in the nation are doing Familiarize yourself and USE the NA and related

materials such as Solutions Forum, NASDE guidelines Be an active advocate and support your colleagues Teach your students and help their parents become

strong self-advocates Believe in quality services and let that belief drive your

actions Take pride in what you and your students do Recruit others into the field


……And Most of AllAnd Most of All

Believe and have high Believe and have high expectations for your expectations for your students, their families and students, their families and yourself!yourself!

The National Agenda: Challenges and Opportunities for 2000 Kathleen M. Huebner, Ph.D. Pennsylvania...

Documents

Transcript of The National Agenda: Challenges and Opportunities for 2000 Kathleen M. Huebner, Ph.D. Pennsylvania...