National Center for Leadership in Vision Impairment: An Investment for the Future

1. National Center for Leadership in Vision Impairment: An Investment for the Future Kathleen Mary Huebner, Ph.D. Diane P. Wormsley, Ph.D. Program Directors And Audrey J. Smith, Ph, D. Pennsylvania College of Optometry

2. Project Goals • Establish a collaborative Community of Practice, the NCLVI to: • Enroll and sustain 40 doctoral candidates (NCLVI fellows) during 2nd through 5th years of project • Establish and implement series of enrichment activities for NCLVI fellows • Develop a model for the future

3. Project Objective 1 #1. Develop a collaborative model for producing leadership personnel in special education with an emphasis on VI through the establishment of a national consortium of Carnegie doctoral/research-intensive and doctoral research-extensive institutions. OSEP Washington, DC

4. Project Objective 2 #2 Facilitate the preparation of leadership personnel in education of students with visual impairments to increase the numbers of doctoral graduates available for positions in one or more areas of emphasis, such as higher education teaching and research, public policy, administration at national state and/or local levels, curriculum development and supervision and/or general research. In particular prepare sufficient leadership personnel to meet the needs of university personnel preparation programs.

5. Project Objective 3 #3 Enhance the training of leadership personnel by the creation of enrichment activities such as special topic seminars, special meetings, specialized lectures, or listserv discussions developed for the cohort of doctoral students.

6. Project Objective 4 #4 Increase the capacity of HECSE members and other Universities that have existing doctoral programs, by helping them to establish new minors and emphases in visual impairment.

7. Project Objective 5 #5 Conduct an evaluation of the collaboration -- both outcomes and process-- that will provide formative and summative data to assist in improving the project, and detailed information about the development of the collaborative model for replication purposes.

8. Project Objective 6 #6 Disseminate information about the model, including evaluative findings, for possible replication in other areas of leadership training.

9. Project Objective 7 #7 Administer the project to achieve objectives • Management Plan • Timelines • Roles & Objectives • Formative and Summative Evaluation • External and Internal Reviews • Consortium Collaboration

10. University of Arizona at Tucson San Francisco State University California State University Florida State University * University of Louisville* University of Northern Colorado Northern Illinois University Ohio State University University of Pittsburgh * University of Utah * Teachers College Columbia University Texas Tech University at Lubbock Western Michigan University * Additions since proposal submitted 13 Consortium Members

11. Geographic Distribution of NCLVI Consortium 2004

12. National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) National Federation of the Blind (NFB) American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Council of Schools for the Blind (COSB) American Printing House for the Blind (APH) National Council of Private Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NCPAB) Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) Higher Education Consortium in Special Education (HECSE) Gallaudet University National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) 11Committed Public Advisors

13. Direct Service Providers 5,000 TVIs needed & 10,000 O&Ms needed (National Plan to Train Personnel in Blindness and Low Vision -2000) < 400 professionals serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired are graduating in education and rehabilitation combined (AER 2003) Doctorates 4 doctorates with emphasis in blindness & VI have graduated on-average each year from 1995 –2003 10 active doctoral programs in VI 1996-2001 (Corn & Spungin 2002, 2003) NTPT goal of 13 doctoral graduates annually is not being met NEED

14. STATE OF THE ART SUMMARY POINTS • Number of IHEs preparing doctoral students with emphasis in blindness and VI is dwindling (Since 1989 6 programs closed, only 1 opened) • Production of new doctorates remains stagnant at average of 4 graduates annually—alarmingly low (Sindelar, Smith & Wald 1998) • Absence of critical mass of doctoral students at most universities creates concerns about field’s ability to develop a community of practice • Universities are already unable to fill faculty positions with qualified personnel • One-fourth of all VI faculty intend to retire by 2005 (Corn & Silberman, 1999)

15. Project to Address CapacityAnnual average doctoral graduates in last decade is 4 • Candidates will be attracted by: • Tuition and stipend financial assistance • Financial assistance will enable some students to relocate to university with faculty and research program • Consortium developed and presented enrichment program • Access to faculty and externships nationwide • Relocation may be more feasible because of financial assistance • Model will encourage collaborative efforts among faculty for research and curriculum development

16. Project to Address Critical Mass 3 universities consistently enrolled 5+ doctoral candidates annually • Project establishes and maintains national cohort of doctoral candidates through a planned series of enrichment activities that include online community of practice, seminars, conference attendance and listserv • All NCLVI Consortium faculty available to all students for mentorship, instruction, apprenticeships, and externships • Provide means for NCLVI Consortium faculty to serve on doctoral committees at other institutions

17. Project toAddress Community of Practice Small critical mass at most universities • Development of community of practice for doctoral candidates and faculty while creating a mechanism for innovation and research • Bring faculty and doctoral students together (implicitly & explicitly, synchronously & asynchronously) to think, ponder, discuss, and plan around research, issues, strategies, and policy. • Enrichment activities through formal and informal exchanges online, and face-to-face.

18. Project to AddressFinancial Assistance In last 15 years only 2 Universities received federal leadership funds for VI.Others who received low-incidence funds generally support less than 2 candidates. • Rather than distribute funds to individual universities, the NCLVI will serve as a conduit for funds from OSEP to students. • Reduction in overhead • Provides stipends and tuition funds to students specifically studying in blindess and low vision • Increases timely completion of studies • Supports student choice • Assures quality training through consortium and enrichment program

19. NCLVI enrichment activities in research design, quantitative & qualitative, appropriate to low-incidence Promote research related discussion within the community of practice, such as methods, strategies, and collaboration NCLVI faculty to identify research competencies in year 1 Research competencies required of all NCLVI fellows Provide financial assistance to promote collaboration Provide financial assistance during dissertation research Research incorporates rigorous design Support dissemination of research produced by NCLVI Fellows at conferences Connect candidates & faculty who share specific interests Project to AddressScientifically-Based Research Too few doctoral level professionals in blindness to conduct research

20. Project to Address Cultural Diversity Research indicates over 90% of VI Leadership is Caucasian and Female • Project will target recruitment activities to persons with disabilities and those from minority groups • Project will target Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Consumer Groups such as NFB and NAPVI • Provide cross-cultural mentoring partnerships among faculty and students and the greater community, particularly during field study and externships

21. Project to AddressCultural CompetenceDisproportion of school age minority VI children and their teachers • Project will design, develop, and deliver enrichment activities that will address cultural competence • Project will support a community of practice where concerns are expressed

22. Project to Address Doctoral Student-Faculty-Program CharacteristicsLittle is known about doctoral programs with an emphasis in blindness and vi • NCLVI data collection and analysis is a priority of the project • Data will inform the recruitment process, monitor progress and foster innovation

23. Project to Address Recruitment Graduation rates are stagnant and may even be decreasing • Design, development and implementation of recruitment plan a major activity within project • NCLVI Consortium will disseminate information on all doctoral programs in blindness and low vision; highlight benefits of consortium approach; suggest programs based on location, faculty expertise, and other factors • NCLVI will offer student financial assistance to attract students and support completion of degree in timely manner

24. Project to Address Collaboration • Increase university collaboration • Consortium faculty participate as consultants designing enrichment activities, teaching seminars, classes, etc. • Collaborative enrichment program for NCLVI Fellows • Collaborative field study and externships • Collaborative seminars, on-line modules, and possible on-line courses • Participating universities benefit from tuition, student credit hour production, and faculty professional development

25. Design and Implementation Tasks and Timelines OSEP Washington, DC

26. Objective 7. Administer the Project to Achieve Objectives • Establish NCLVI • Inform of award • National Search Project Coordinator • Search Technology Manager • Search Administrative Assistant • Review Design/Timelines • Hire Staff/Consultants • Develop and maintain data • Design and maintain website/listserv • Facilitate all activities.

27. Convene Public Advisors Generate report Convene NCLVI Consortium Share IHE Policies Guiding Principles Potential Barriers Establish conflict guidelines Structure and Governing Body 9. Decision making protocol 10. Policies and guidelines 11. NCLVI Consortium Roles/ Responsibilities 13. Committees 14. Joint Agreements/ Commitments 15. Communication Plan 16. Recruit additional members. Objective 1. Develop Collaborative Model/Consortium

28. Objective 2. Preparation of Leadership Personnel • National recruitment plan • Application Referral Process • Applicant review process • Stipend/scholarship formulas • Review application • Award notification • Contracts • Distribute funds • Create a database • Track numbers

29. Establish enrichment committee Secure Public Advisor's input Identify competencies Identify research competencies Content and specialists (Collaborative/ Consortium members as consultants) 6. Identify resources 7. Mode of delivery 8. Schedule enrichment activities 9. Facilitate NCLVI Fellow's participation 10. Contract with faculty 11. Notifications 12. Extern/Internships resources 13. Evaluate Objective 3. Enrichment Activities

30. Objective 4. Expand Capacity • Identify IHE's with capacity • Provide technical assistance • Include new IHE's in consortium • NCLVI mentor/support all IHE’s in consortium

31. Objective 5. Evaluation • Identify and Contract with Evaluator • Hone evaluation processes • Refine/implement evaluation plan • Administer Wilder • Document activities • Develop additional instruments • Develop/maintain databases • Collect baseline data • Apply results • Create post degree tracking

32. Objective 6. Dissemination • Communicate Regularly • Maintain information on website • Establish Hyperlinks • Prepare press releases • Submit required reports • Publish monograph • Publish peer-reviewed articles • Present at conferences • Consortium members publish

33. QUESTIONS ????ANSWERS !!!!! OSEP Washington, DC