BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:icalendar-ruby CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260820T060810Z UID:http://ksdetasn.org/events/9206 DTSTART:20261023T073000 DTEND:20261023T153000 CLASS:PUBLIC CREATED:20260727T075702 DESCRIPTION: \; \; \;​ \;  \;  \;  \;  \; ​9th Annual Kansas Vision Symposium \;- In Partnership with Kansas Optometric AssociationDate: October 23\, 2026NEW Location: \; Hilton D oubletree - Wichita Airport \;https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/ictardt -doubletree-wichita-airport/ \;Cost: \; \;FREE with lunch prov ided the day of the eventWho: Vision professionals (TSVIs\, COMS\, Braille Transcribers\, Instructional Assistants\, Early Intervention Providers) a long with general and special education professionals\, administrators &am p\; agencies who work with students with a visual impairment are encourage d to attend.2026 Vision Symposium Speakers: \; Dr. Susan Bruce\, Carme n Willings\, Stephanie Walker\, Erika Andersen Ko\, \;​This one day& nbsp\;FREE training will focus on the research and practice in effective S pecialized Instruction for students with a Visual Impairment.Raffle prizes available for registered attendees.Friday Agenda: \;7:30-8:00 Registr ation8:00-8:30 \;Welcome8:30-9:30 Roundtable / Q&\;A - NEW this YE AR!! 9:35-10:35 \;Session 110:45-11:45 Session 211:50-12:50 \;Lun ch &\; Vendor Fair1:00-2:00 Session 32:10-3:10 \;Session 43:15-3:30 Wrap Up and Raffle Prize AnnouncementsNOTE: \; \;“The content a nd presentations of the Vision Symposium are intended to address the speci fic needs/interests of TSVIs/COMS in Kansas. Other district employees are welcome to register/attend with the understanding that the focus of the ev ent will be geared toward certified professionals in the field of vision. ”Featured Presenters:Dr. Susan Bruce is a Professor Emerita\, Boston Col lege. Much of Dr. Bruce’s research has focused on communication developm ent and intervention with children who are deafblind or visually impaired with additional disabilities. She has more than 110 publications\, with 90 being about learners who are deafblind or visually impaired with addition al disabilities. Dr. Bruce continues to be an active researcher as well as conducting assessments and providing consultation to schools and families . \;Carmen Willings is a ​Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment s\, creator of \;https://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/ \, serving students with visual impairments since 1999. \;Carmen created this web site as a comprehensive resource for Educators\, families\, and profession als dedicated to supporting students who are blind or have a visual impair ment. Her goal is simple: to provide practical tools\, instructional strat egies\, and professional guidance that help students build independence\, confidence\, and success in school and in life. ​What began as a resourc e she could share with colleagues has grown into a global resource used by educators\, families\, and professionals who support students with visual impairments.In addition to managing the website\, Carmen works full-time as an itinerant Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) and has served in this role for more than two decades\, joining the vision field i n 1999. Her work has allowed Carmen to collaborate with educators\, therap ists\, administrators\, and families to help students access their educati onal environments and develop the skills they need for independence.Ms. Wi llings is also a wife and proud mother of two adult sons. When she not tea ching or writing\, you might find her exploring National Parks on road tri ps\, baking something savory\, diving into a craft project\, or enjoying a good British mystery. \; \; \;Stephanie Walker serves as the Outreach Specialist for the Southcentral Region\, covering Arkansas\, Kans as\, Missouri\, Nebraska\, Oklahoma\, and Texas. With a Master of Arts in Special Education focusing on Visual Impairments and Orientation &\; Mo bility from Texas Tech University\, Stephanie has over 20 years of experie nce in the field. Her roles have included TVI and COMS in both Texas and C olorado. She is also the webmaster for Texas AER. Stephanie is pursuing he r doctorate in Educational Leadership and Innovation. Previously\, she was the State Lead for the Texas Sensory Support Network at ESC Region 11\, w here she offered technical assistance and professional development through out the state. Stephanie lives in Texas with her family. \;Erika Ander son Ko is a Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT) with over 20 years of ex perience serving school-age children through adults. Over the years\, she has practiced in various settings\, including academia\, the VA\, and priv ate practice (both in-person and via telerehabilitation)\, and she has bee n active in the low vision community through leadership roles\, speaking\, and writing.Erika has a strong track record of interdisciplinary collabor ation\, including working with optometry\, ophthalmology\, occupational th erapy\, orientation and mobility professionals\, and teachers of students with visual impairments.Erika's areas of expertise and interest include: p sychologically informed practice\, multidisciplinary collaboration\, clini cal gaps\, technology to individualize care\, and clinician sustainability work. \; She is also the host of Low Vision Beyond the Clinic\, a pod cast and community for vision rehabilitation professionals\, recently rela unched with grant support from the CAER\, the Colorado chapter of the Asso ciation for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaire d.In her free time\, you'll find her outdoors\, adventuring\, or indoors\, deep in conversation\, or curled up with a book. \;Mandy Smith:   \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;Shellanne Thompson: \;  \;Disclaimer: \;"Sponsorship of presenters/work shops by KSSB does not imply endorsement of a particular philosophy\, prod uct\, or procedure. \; The educational material and techniques present ed at this meeting reflect the views of the presenters and have been made available by KSSB "as is" for educational and informational purposes only and not as professional advice for specific cases or circumstances. \; The material and techniques discussed in these presentations reflect the best practices at the time of their development and should be used with th e clear understanding that continued new knowledge or recommendations coul d emerge."Sponsored by: \;KSSB\, KIRC\, the KS DeafBlind Project\, Nan opac\, Inc. CATT\, and the Family-Infant Toddler Services at KSSB. \;& nbsp\; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \; \;​&n bsp\;ACVREP RPPLE CE Credits available \; \; \; \; \; LAST-MODIFIED:20260819T164232 LOCATION:Wichita\, KS SUMMARY:NINTH ANNUAL VISION SYMPOSIUM 2026 URL:http://ksdetasn.org/events/9206 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR