Robert McCulley, M.Ed., Director Northeast Regional Center For Vision Ed.

1. Maximizing Regional Resources to Meet Low Incidence NeedsThe Northeast Regional Response to the National Plan for Training Personnel in Visual Impairments Robert McCulley, M.Ed., Director Northeast Regional Center For Vision Ed. Laura Bozeman, Ph.D. Director Vision Studies Programs UMass Boston Institute For Community Inclusion

2. Framework for the Presentation Structure and Function of the Northeast Regional Center Resource and Operational Strategies and Outcomes Regional Distance Education Academic Program Outcomes Sustainability Plan Discussion

3. Six State Regional Collaborative: MA, ME, NH, RI VT & CT • Focused on a critical need for Personnel and Addressing that Need Collectively Across State Borders • Beyond Pre service, NERCVE has a Vision of a Regional Research, Training and Technical Assistance Center • Massachusetts University Center of Excellence Disability UCEDD Institute for Community Inclusion UMass Boston and Children’s Hospital • ICI Disability Expertise Exceeding 120 FTE

4. ICI Mission The Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston has a general mission to support the rights of Children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of the community. Together we advocate For personal choice, self-determination, and social and economic justice. • NERCVE Mission The Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education has its own mission to support regionally accessible educational opportunities and fostering an environment for shared resources and collaborations across the six New England States relating to Low Incidence VI issues • Crossing State Barriers to Establish a Critical Mass of Resources to impact low incidence needs. • Economic and Social Justice of Low Incidence Disabilities Visual Impairments

5. Initial Focus on Low Incidence Pre Service Personnel • Realization of a Shared Problem Across State Lines “Together we can do More” NCLID • Embraced NPTP In Visual Impairments • Regional Low Incidence Collaboration, • Essential Role of Distance Education • Diversified Funding • Initially Funded by collective SIG and /or CSPD State Resources 2001 • Recipients of Three Consecutive Federal Low Incidence Awards • TVI Federally Funded 2002-2007 • O&M Federally Funded 2003-2008 • TVI Federally Funded 2007 -2011

6. Continued Growth and Development Having been so fortunate to have received so much federal support we never lost sight of the need to end over reliance on one funding source. • Expanded Administrative Team to Regional Needs • Diversified Regional Services • Increased Fundraising and Revenue Generation

7. Strategic Independent Administration College of Education Laura Bozeman • Academic Programs • Curriculum Development • Faculty Resources and Supports • Student Supports and Advising • University Interests • Research Publications • Academic Service NERCVE / ICI Robert McCulley • Resource Generation • Regional Needs Assessment • Community Support • Partnerships • Strategic Planning • Sustainability

8. NERCVE Director Vision Studies Program Director TVI Coordinator O/M Coordinator Field Coordinator Professional Development Coordinator Curriculum Design and Support Web Design and Programming Access Technology and Disability Support Marketing and Development O&M/TVI Direct Service Staff With Federal State and UCEDD Resources still in place we Expanded Staff and Regional Services

9. Total Revenue Generated 06-07 Fiscal Year 06-07 Resources Federal Related Service Grant $250,000 Federal Low Incidence Grant $300,000 State Departments of Education $135,000 Boston Public School Contract $180,000 Private Fundraising $105,000 UMB Disability Support Contract $35,000 Total Operational Budget 1,005,000

10. Partnerships and Collaborations • UCEDD • State Departments of Education • Private Schools and Agencies • NERRC • Federal Office Of Special Education • NCLID • Professional Community

11. What we get: Established Track Record Grant Writing and Contracts Established Relationship with the University Mentored Staff Grant Writing Cross Disability Resources What we offer back: Specialized Expertise for Cross Disability Initiatives Expanded Opportunities Employment Placement Transition Inclusion Resource Strategy: Partner with a UCED Institute For Community InclusionUCEDD UMass Boston

12. Resource Strategy: Partner with State Departments Of Education • Learned about State Improvement Grants • CSPD Resources and Interests • Our Purpose is to be a Valuable Technical Resource

13. Resource StrategyPartner with the Private Schools and Agencies • Fundraising Expertise • Field Resources and Equipment • Regional Access to Off Campus Space

14. Resource StrategyAssisting the Federal Office of Special Education in its Mission • Federal Priorities • Federal Reporting Requirements Congress • Expand the Geographic Impact • Reduce Costs and not impact

15. Resource StrategyKnow all the Regional Resource Supports in your Geography • Organized Low Incidence Regional Planning Meetings • State Directors of Special Education/UCEDD Directors • Examination of Problems and Successes of Low Incidence Regional Pre service Program in VI • Resolving obstacles • Applying Regional Collaboration to other Areas of Low Incidence

16. Resource Strategy Partnered with those who knew more than we did • Ask For Help • Dr Kay Ferrell • Consultation NERCVE Faculty Staff • Provided Initial Adjunct Faculty • Provided Online Instructional Support • Mentoring of Faculty • Resource Material Sharing • Grant Application Review

17. Recruitment Reputation Expanded Field Support Pre Practicum Practicum Induction Adjunct Faculty Assessment Resource StrategyInvolve & Support the Professional Community

18. Professional Directory Limited to Region Focused on Low Incidence VI Automated and Dynamic Searchable by State Searchable by Profession Center Outcomes: Using Our Technology Resources to Network with Professionals

19. Limited to Vision Professions Searchable by State Searchable by Profession Automated to Archive after 90 Days with Notification Employment Board

20. Private Fundraisng Equipment Fund $65,000 • $25,000 Alden Foundation Challenge • Lions Club $200 Challenge $2,000 • Individual Donations $8,000 ($10 - $500) • Perkins School $30,000 Braille Note takers, Loaner Laptops, Speech Software, Magnification Software, Braille Transcription Software *Student Emergency or Access Training Computers

21. $42,000 Expanding the Use of University Distance Education Tools Coordinate Mentorship within and across state lines in Low Incidence areas Resource to State DOE Supports to Teachers E-Mentorship Grant Rhode Island Foundation

22. Expanded ContractsBoston Public Schools Direct Service Contract • UMass Urban Mission • Boston Public Schools Direct Service Contract • $180,000 • Graduate Leadership Positions (3) • Provides Direct Service to BPS School Year • Expanding Inclusion Supports Students VI • New Field Supervisors Funded by BPS Contract

23. Contracts Within the University • Disability Support Services • UMass ONLINE Web Accessibility • Information Technology • Adaptive Computer Lab

24. Academic Outcomes • Web based Regional Distance Education Program TVI • Web based Regional Distance Education Program O/M

25. Federally Funded Academic Program Outcomes Total Students 197 TVI 119 O&M 78 inactive 19

26. State Wide Enrollments 121 23 20 11 10 03 09

27. Graduates 74 Continuing 104 TVI Graduates 46 TVI Continuing 63 O&M Graduates 28 O&M Continuing 41 Graduation Outcomes

28. Massachusetts Strong DOE Investment NERCVE $50,000 High Enrollments 121 High Graduation 46 Continuing 65 Full Employment 41 Relocated 5

29. Connecticut • Strong DOE Investment NERCVE $30,000 Annually • 50% workforce Plan to Retire within 10 years • High Admissions 20 • Graduation 8 • Continuing 9 • Full Employment within State 8

30. Rhode Island • Strong NERCVE Support $15,000 Direct Funds and at least $15,000 in-kind • Admissions 23 • Graduates 7 • Continuing 13 • Full Employment State

31. Maine • Strong State Support Development • Unable to Justify Cost Program • No outcomes • 3 Admissions • 0 Graduates • 2 Withdrawals • 1 Continues • Job Market Questionable

32. Vermont • Strong Support NERCVE $10,000 Annually Plus In-kind • Admissions 11 • Graduation 7 • Continuing 2 • Full Employment within State 7

33. New Hampshire • Strong State NERCVE Support $30,000 • Admissions 10 • Graduates 5 • Continuing 4 • Employed within state 5

34. Academic Observations • Students are Proceeding More Slowly • Attracting Experienced Adult Learners • Excellent Technology Skills • Distance Education is Effective • More Evidence Based Outcomes

35. Overall Strategy Increase the number of Partnerships and Member States Increase University Responsibility Decrease Costs to All Collaborators Revenue Set aside 60% Tenured and Tenure Track Positions Increased Support from UCEDD Institute for Community Inclusion Sustainability Plan

36. Decrease Cost of Pre-Service Increase Support to Other State VI needs Active Need Cost Membership Maintenance DOE Related Contracts Professional Development Mentorship Research and Data Policy Sustaining State Involvement

37. University Support Asking for Help Institutional Advancement Legislative Matching Funds Endowment Committee Finding the High Rollers Chair: Nancy Kerrigan Family Expanding Private Fundraising Efforts

38. Federal Reduce Reliance on One Federal Source NIH NIDR Transportation Increase Capacity for Federal Research Expand Cross Disability Support to increase funding pool Sustainability Plan Federal

39. Maximizing Regional Resources to Meet Low Incidence NeedsThe Northeast Regional Response to the National Plan for Training Personnel in Visual Impairments Discussion