It’s been a busy couple of weeks here at CVI Momifesto. Spring is conference season. Time for the experts in everything to get together in quaint or exotic places to compare notes, to share their research, and, maybe to learn a new trick or two.
It’s been a great conference season in terms of building momentum and raising awareness about the learning needs of children with CVI. Needs that continue to be unmet in most educational settings across the country.
(Then, it’s Spring Break, and all bets are off for writing any blog posts as your children run amok in your house demanding to be fed, nurtured, and challenged at board games. But I digress.)
So far this year, CVI was a hot topic at the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Also, several AER conferences admitted presentations by educators and parents about Cortical Visual Impairment. The Northeast AER conference included presentations on CVI (from Dr. Christine Roman-Lantzy, Ellen Mazel, and Peg Palmer among others) in each slot in their schedule. Virginia AER had several presentations including a parent’s perspective on the challenges of getting a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for a child with CVI.
At the Pacific Northwest AER conference, MaryAnne Roberto, a CVI Endorsed Teacher of the Visually Impaired (Envision CVI Consulting), presented on Current Trends in CVI to standing room only crowds.
On March 15th, this CVI mom drove to St. Michael’s in Maryland for the DC / Maryland AER Conference to reach out to Teachers of the Visually Impaired and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists. Thanks to Karen Frank and the AER folks who allowed me the chance to talk up the urgent need for educators to get more training to help children with CVI build functional vision.
Image: Rob Hair, Michelle Horseman, and Karen Frank from the Maryland School for the Blind
Image: Dr. Michael Bina from the Maryland School for the Blind and Rebecca Davis
The Executive Director of AER, Lou Tutt, attended this conference and sat in on my presentation. When I suggested to the audience of teachers that they contact AER to tell them they support more training for TVI in Cortical Visual Impairment, I didn’t have to give Mr. Tutt’s email address. I just said, “There he is.” He was a great sport about it.
Image: Lou Tutt and Rebecca Davis
If you have any luck sharing your stories at a conference or a meeting of educators or doctors (or legislators… or anyone who will listen), send us your story! CVI Momifesto would love to expand the scope of both personal stories and adventures in advocacy.
CVI Momifesto 
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