CVI Workshop This Spring

The Louisiana DeafBlind Project is hosting a workshop, Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI): Impact and Compensatory Strategies. If you are an EarlySteps provider or a teacher or administrator working with young children with disabilities, we hope you’ll join us at one of our four locations!

Dates and Locations

UPDATE: Registration has closed for the Lafayette and New Orleans workshops.

Date	Time	City	Address
Saturday, March 2	8:00 AM-4:00 PM	Lafayette (Registration closed)	Affiliated Blind of Louisiana 409 W Saint Mary Blvd. Lafayette, LA 70506
Saturday, March 9	8:00 AM-4:00 PM	New Orleans (Registration closed)	LSU Health’s Human Development Center 411 S. Prieur St. New Orleans, LA 70112
Friday, March 15	8:00 AM-4:00 PM	Ruston (Workshop full)	Louisiana Center for the Blind 101 S. Trenton St. Ruston, LA 71270
Friday, April 5	8:00 AM-4:00 PM	Alexandria (Workshop full)	Kees Park Community Center 2450 Hwy. 28 East Pineville, LA 71360

Cost

Free! Lunch provided. Limited stipends available to Early Steps providers.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Describe typical visual development.
2. Summarize how visual impairment impacts typical developmental outcomes.
3. Contrast visual acuity and functional vision.
4. Explain the differences between ocular and neurological vision impairments.
5. Define Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI).
6. Apply the characteristics of CVI to their caseload to identify children who may have unidentified visual impairments.
7. Predict the impact complexity will have on therapy outcomes.
8. Identify the purpose of active learning strategies.
9. Discuss the reasons that a multisensory approach to strategies and interventions is critical to successful outcomes for children with visual impairments.
10. Apply evidence-based strategies to their therapy routines.

Presenters

Qualified Instructional Personnel and Financial Disclosures

Lead presenter: Cindy Champagne, MA

Teacher of Blind Students, Perkins-Roman CVI Range Endorsee, Nationally certified in Unified English Braille, Owner of High Expectations VI Services, LLC

Cindy Champagne is the owner of High Expectations VI Service, LLC. She provides assessment, teaching, and consulting services to school districts throughout Louisiana, and she is also an early steps provider.

Cindy Champagne, MA has no non-financial disclosures.

Breakout group facilitator: Blanche Faulk, MA

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Ancillary Certification holder in Orientation and Mobility

Blanche Faulk is the Orientation & Mobility and Outreach Coordinator for the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired and receives a salary. She is also the founder of non-profit Blind Grace, where she works on a volunteer basis.

Blanche Faulk, MA has no non-financial disclosures.

Breakout group facilitator: Marissa Ramos, MA, CCC-SLP

Doctoral Student at Lamar University

Marissa Ramos, CCC-SLP is the owner of Rise & Sign Therapies, LLC. She provides contracted speech therapy services through Early Steps. Additionally, she does social media content creation for supplemental income. 

Marissa Ramos, MA, CCC-SLP has no non-financial disclosures.

Workshop organizer: Nicky Gillies, MS, NIC

Louisiana DeafBlind Project Director

Nicky Gillies is the Project Director for the Louisiana DeafBlind Project at LSUHSC’s Human Development Center and receives a salary. The Louisiana DeafBlind Project is funded by a grant from the US Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

Nicky Gillies, MS, NIC has no non-financial disclosures.

Agenda:

8:00 – 8:30	Typical Visual Development
8:30 – 9:00	Visual Acuity vs. Functional Vision vs. Cognitive Impairments
9:00 – 9:30	Signs of Functional Vision Impairment
9:30 – 10:15	Ocular Impairments
10:15 – 10:20	Break
10:20 – 11:30	CVI and At-Risk Populations
11:30 – 12:30	Lunch Break
12:30 – 1:30	CVI – What’s the Complexity
1:30 – 2:30	Targeted Accommodations to Reduce Complexity
2:30 – 2:35	Break
2:30 – 4:00	Application of strategies to therapy routines

Continuing education credits

CEs for OTs, PTs, social workers, and ACVREP holders have been approved.

Contact

Please email Nicky Gillies at ngilli@lsuhsc.edu with any questions, and we hope to see you there! Register early because space is limited.

Accommodations: To request accommodations or to address any questions or concerns about the workshop, please contact Nicky Gillies at ngilli@lsuhsc.edu.

Complaints: If you have complaints or concerns regarding this course or registration please contact Nicky Gillies at ngilli@lsuhsc.edu.

Privacy Policy

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