March 1, 2007

SCSDB News                                             

South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind

  A Palmetto Gold School 

 

Vision Education Partnership to Host Seventh Annual Vision Summit

 

COLUMBIA – Pathways to success for South Carolina’s students with visual impairments is the focus of the Seventh Annual South Carolina Vision Summit Conference. 

            The summit takes place Friday, March 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the S.C. Archives and History Center, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia.  Registration, exhibits and poster sessions are from 8 - 9:30 a.m.  For information call (803) 896-9723 or e-mail nwenthworth@scsdb.org.

The summit is hosted by the SC Vision Education Partnership, a collaboration of the University of SC Upstate, SC Department of Education, SC School for the Deaf and the Blind, SC Commission for the Blind, National Federation of the Blind of SC, Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired – SC Chapter, SC State University Orientation & Mobility Program and the Medical University of SC Storm Eye Institute.  

"It is important to know that individuals with low vision do not have to perform every task visually," said Elizabeth McKown, Vision Summit chairperson.  "Conference sessions will provide the participants with information about the diverse resources, concepts and practices that have proven successful for students with visual impairments.”

The two keynote speakers for this year’s conference are Stephen Kuusisto and Diane P. Wormsley, Ph.D.

Kuusisto is the author of “Planet of the Blind: A Memoir,” which was the New York Times 1998 Notable Book of the Year.  A Fulbright Scholar, he teaches in the disability studies program at The Ohio State University where he serves as a Fellow of the Center for Interdisciplinary Law and Policy Studies at the Moritz College of Law.  He speaks widely on diversity, disability, education, and public policy and is an occasional commentator for “All Things Considered” on National Public Radio.  He has appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” “Dateline,” the “Leeza Gibbons Show,” “Voice of America,” the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Arts and Entertainment Network.

Wormsley is the Brenda Brodie Endowed Chair and Professor of Special Education in the area of visual impairment at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C.  She is the author and co-author of numerous books on literacy for individuals who are blind, including “Braille Literacy: A Functional Approach” and “Braille Literacy Curriculum.”  Wormsley is also co-author of several books, including the award-winning “Instructional Strategies for Braille Literacy.” She has an extensive teaching and professional background in the area of blindness.

             The SC School for the Deaf and the Blind is a specialized instructional and resource center. It provides services statewide for individuals who are deaf, blind or sensory multidisabled, their families and the professionals who work with them. SCSDB

offers programs for preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, sensory multidisabled, vocational and postsecondary educational students, as well as a variety of outreach and support services. The main campus is located in Spartanburg, and regional centers are located throughout the state.  SCSDB's Web site address is www.scsdb.org.

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