Very often, to attend a conference, one has to be
a member of the sponsoring organization (or pay
a higher registration fee - the choice is often
yours). Our alphabet soup of organizations is as
wide and varied as the conferences themselves.
We have professional organizations such as
CEC/DVI (Council for Exceptional Children/
Division on Visual Impairments) and AER
(Association for the Education and Rehabilitation
of the Blind and Visually Impaired). We have consumer organizations such as NFB (National Federation of the Blind) and ACB (American Council
of the Blind). A Google search will turn up hundreds of organizations dedicated to education
and rehabilitation of individuals who are blind or
visually impaired.
As a professional in our field speaking to my
peers, I invite you to attend a conference this
year. Find a professional organization that meets
your philosophy and needs and JOIN IT. Become
part of a dedicated group of professionals who
are working to solve some of the problems we
face daily in our classrooms and work environments. If you have knowledge and experience,
SHARE IT. If you are a rookie, come to learn from
the leaders and legends in our field. Do something new or learn something new to enhance
your presence in the classroom every year.
And if we happen to meet up at a conference,
come over and introduce yourself to me. I'd love
to sit and chat with you for a while. I'm sure we
will both learn something new.
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