At a neurodevelopmental appointment with my son I am reminded of the amazing people in our lives.
When retelling anything, my tendency is toward too much detail, context, too much information. Along with facts of his birth and a medical history too long for such a young child, it was hard not to mention certain people to our most recent new provider, neurodevelopmental. Listening to our story, she reassured, she was empathetic, compassionate. You had a hard time at the beginning, she began, words that bring tears to my eyes when said out loud. But you have these magical people who have fallen into your life to help. We do not have family here, instead we have Magical People.
Following the recent webinar by Dr. Lotfi Merabet, “Understanding the Brain and CVI,” the Michigan Department of Education is hosting a CVI Monthly Conversations webinar series (unfortunately Dr. Merabet is not part of the series). You can register for the series here.
The monthly schedule is below.
Monthly CVI Conversations
Come and converse! Join once, or every month as school personnel and parents lead discussions aimed at improving the understanding of and access to materials for students with CVI.
In the first of 7 sessions, participants will learn about setting up the environment for optimal access to learning. In addition, basic information will be reviewed about CVI and who is impacted by this brain-based visual impairment.
What does a student with CVI need and where can you find it? During this session, educational materials available to school personnel will be shared that promote access to the curriculum.
January 11, 2023: CVI Conversations: Meaningful Materials for Everyday Experiences
Access to materials is imperative for all students. Our conversation this month will leave you with ideas for creating materials for preferred student activities, daily routines, emergency drills, and student reports for the IEP.
Technology unlocks the world of communication for many of our students. Be ready this month to discuss how we can use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to enhance the lives of our students with CVI.
March 1, 2023: CVI Conversations: Making Sense out of Print
What do you see? How do we know if a student is interpreting or just looking? This month we dive into discussions about literacy, 2D materials, and making sense of print.
April 12, 2023: CVI Conversations: Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
Your time is valuable. During this CVI Conversation, the latest resources will be shared so you don’t have to spend your time creating or searching.
Is it spring or IEP season? Documenting progress for students with CVI is crucial. This month’s conversation will focus on what assessment tools, progress checklists, and screeners are available for school personnel and families to use.
It’s always the right time for stroke awareness. Right now you can watch the documentary, “My Beautiful Broken Brain” on Netflix. The documentary tells the story of a young woman and filmmaker, Lotje Sodderland, who experiences a stroke aged 34. We meet Lotje in the first days after stroke, and follow her through that first year.
We all know there is a critical need for academic training in cortical/cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Salus University will offer a second micro credential course in CVI, “Neurological Visual Impairment in Children.” The course begins in early February 2023 and is open to professionals in the field of visual impairment.
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