MEMBERSHIP OF TASK FORCE ON BLIND STUDENT ACADEMIC ANDVOCATIONAL PERFORMANCE
Assisted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office of Special Education

Blind Task Force Website: https://dese.mo.gov/special-education/advisory-panels/blind-task-force

Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Minutes taken by Regina Miller, Administrative Assistant, DESE
Meeting called to order at 10:20 a.m. by Chairperson, Carla Keirns Welcome and Introductions: C. Keirns
No new members or visitors present.

Present: NOTE: First in‐person meeting since February 2020 due to COVID‐19. Two members joined the meeting using Zoom – Angie Yorke and Jonita Scarbrough – due to technical issues signed off at 11:05. Also present were Gwen Deimeke, OSE, DESE; Geoffrey Barney, MSB; Samantha Scott, RSB; Rose Ehresman, SSD; Carla Keirns, KU; Jennifer Carmack, NFB; June Lenk, MCB; Sheila Wright,

Absent: Anthony Blade, Robert Woerther, Louise Whitworth, Terra Cocovizzo

Review and Approval of May 9, 2023 Agenda: C. Keirns motioned to accept agenda; J. Lenk approved; R. Ehresman seconded. Motion carried and agenda approved.

Review and Approval of February 7, 2023 Minutes: C. Keirns motioned to accept minutes; R. Ehresman approved; S. Scott seconded. Motion carried and minutes approved as written.

DESE Update: G. Diemeke, Coordinator, DESE, OSE
•	Grant Performance Report
•	Missouri Pathways for Aspiring Leaders (MoPAL) – Seven are currently completing the program
•	SPDG (Originally DCI) – ended 2022 with No Cost Extension in April 2023. Next will be 2022‐2027 DCI/MTSS which will focus to continue DCI with an emphasis in literacy and positive behavior support tailored to district needs. Currently, ten districts have agreed to participate.
•	LETRS Training – K‐5 to improve literacy among elementary age students – enrollment closes July 30th for fall training.
•	Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP) – To meet in May to discuss transition, LRE, and Sped resources
•	Functional Behavior Assessment – Discipline, school district/parent collaboration needed in areas of behavior and discipline.
•	Teacher Recruitment – DESE/OSE providing scholarship for training program to teach MSSD – one year for every year included for Deaf/Hard of Hearing with Missouri State University.
•	Compliance – Currently working on file reviews – goal is to get the best services to meet the needs of the students. Goal is for compliance and improvement consultants to begin tag teaming.
•	Part B APR – Final determination – Missouri, for Part B, meets requirements at highest level in 15 years.
•	Requirements for Blind/Low Vision Missouri Teaching Certificate – SEAP panel asking for everyone’s input. How are teachers benefiting from course work? OSE can make recommendations as to required classwork/courses required. How can we best effect change?

o	G. Diemeke opened the floor requesting member participation and discussion on the matter of current training and how it benefits; where training may be lacking; how training might be improved:
•	What benefits do you feel that teachers are getting from Blind/Low Vision Coursework?
•	Being able to read, write and teach braille
•	Good base knowledge of causes of disabilities
•	Base instructional strategies
•	Better versed in types of disabilities and how best to address them
•	Age appropriate interventions
•	Make training more interesting and engaging
•	Content knowledgeable and digitally savvy
•	Basic knowledge, braille skills and how to do functional visual assessments
•	Instruction on teaching abacus and basic understanding of the anatomy of the eye and the most common eye conditions.
•	Receiving great resources that can be used in the future

•	What do you feel is lacking in the Blind/Low Vision Coursework?
•	How to best adapt coursework. How to instruct students who have additional disabilities that severely impact their learning.
•	How to start an LLC
•	Contract work versus working for the district
•	Instructional strategies for CVI
•	Learning assessment‐based IEP goals
•	TVI’s don’t always know braille
•	Depending more on auditory skills rather than braille
•	Knowledge of the SPED process
•	Experience with students
•	In depth strategies
•	Knowledge on writing behavior plans
•	Secondary level content‐driven and not focused on learning and engaging delivery/behaviors
•	Differential learning and teaching strategies
•	Elementary‐level should be focused on engaging students, yet not content specific and then hit secondary level with content focused learning

•	What do you feel is needed to make Blind/Low Vision Coursework more current and beneficial?
•	Training on how to adapt materials and use Braille Blaster or another program so that students can access their curriculum.
•	There is currently no training on how to teach students to use devices to access their curriculum. This is especially needed since it is included in the BRITE Act.
•	More training in assessments
•	How to teach literacy
•	When and how to teach the ECC
•	Instruction in Braille
•	Transition and AT instruction
•	Determination of literacy
•	ECC

•	Add on TVI certificate/endorsement currently not available
•	LEA’s are not hiring MSU students because they feel they are not prepared (MSU is not AER certified)
•	TVI’s are not versed in AT assessment, ECC assessments (Expanded Core Curriculum); Learning Media Assessment (LMA)
•	Need a wider spectrum and continuum on how to teach braille starting at the first grade level (alphabet) through the high school curriculum level
•	Dual Certification is necessary to address BRITE Act
•	Currently not experienced in nighttime O & M assessment procedures
•	Placement knowledge – schools for the blind are crucial to address ECC

Presentation – Blind/Low Vision Data on Student Achievement, Mary Corey, Coordinator, Special Education Data – Handout provided
•	Graduation Rates – Number could be higher because many student who are eligible to graduate may choose to remain in order to continue receiving services.
•	Annual Blind Literacy Study
•	Transition Services
•	Primary Reading Medium
•	English Language Arts MAP
•	Vision Impairment as primary diagnosis versus a broader picture (Multiple Disability and unidentified (socially economically marginalized))
•	Cannot currently pull data from IEP data system – Recommended that DESE look at a secondary diagnosis category. If these students are not counted, they are not getting the services they need. Should include a visional impairment piece.
•	Up to the school districts to report
•	APH data could be used to gain a better perspective of staffing needs – and if it at an emergency level of need – APH data could be used. How would we capture them if we are not pulling the second disability category?
•	A motion was made, seconded and carried asking DESE to gather information about adding a field to include multiple disabilities.

Presentation – Accessible Educational Materials (AEM), Kristin Funk, Assistant Director, Achievement PowerPoint
•	Print and tech‐based materials (print, digital, graphic, audio and video)
•	AT vs. AEM – Access anything in my environment – increase, maintain or improve the life of a person with visual disability. Assistive Technology does not always mean you can have access to the materials you need
•	AEM and the IEP – Currently working with compliance team (Dana Welch). What are other states doing?
•	Not just a checkbox option
•	Area of Eligibility? How does it impact the general education classroom? What do the students need?
•	Dissecting the IEP and incorporate into academic performance
•	Where and how can we find and provide training that will help districts to look at AEM and AT and determine how these can work best for any student needing access to accessible materials for their specific environment and educational needs?
•	How can we tell districts about these services? Power Up Conference, MoCASE Conference, Special Education Directors Academy, Transition Training Institute, parents, students, teachers, educators, independent living, dedicated website of resources, media tools
•	Gain better insight into just how much AEM is used every day

Presentation – Career Education Special Needs (CESN), Amy Herrman, Planner, South Central RPDC, Missouri University of Science and Technology
•	Terminology shift – Career Training – Focus on 16 career clusters that in turn lead to 79 different categories.
•	We want the right student in the right seat!
•	Labor Force Participation – Disability ages 16 to 64
•	Employability skills for all students with disabilities
•	Professional development and training to better prepare our students with disabilities
•	A CTE representative should be a part of the IEP process

2023 Sub Committees: Membership and Chairpersons
•	A subcommittee listing was provided to all members. Each subcommittee broke into groups during working lunch to discuss and determine two or three goals that the subcommittee will want to focus on for the upcoming year. Subcommittees to begin meeting during working lunch (when in‐person) or schedule at least one committee meeting and have each committee chairperson send their individual notes from those meetings to minute taker to be included in minutes
•	All members should be assigned to a subcommittee
o	Academic and Vocational Services – Louise Whitworth, Chairperson
o	Children’s Vision Summit – Rose Ehresman, Chairperson
•	Children’s Vision Summit (CVS) – Every two years – April 2024; need to finalize venue; will begin meeting on the first Monday of June to plan
o	Rules – Sheila Wright has agreed to be subcommittee chairperson
o	Student Achievement – Carla Keirns, Chairperson
•	Look at the data. (Bylaws, Student Achievement) Are they answering the questions we need answered?
•	Transition Outcomes
•	Need for follow through and commitment not only on the subcommittee level, but overall membership as a whole.

New Members/Vacancies/Updates:
•	Need for student representation in our meetings
•	G. Barney has offered to coordinate for an official student representative to be present at each meeting beginning in August and that student may bring a guest.

2023 Nominations/Election of Officers:
•	Will review procedure and table further discussion for August meeting to prepare for November meeting nominations/election of new officers for 2024.

Meeting to meet virtually or in‐person moving forward? Suggested that meetings be staggered to include in‐person and virtual throughout the year. Will determine if August meeting will be in‐person or virtual.

Motion to adjourn – C. Keirns, motion seconded and approved. Meeting Adjourned at 3:15 p.m.