PROFILE OF PERSONNEL PROFILE OF PERSONNEL PREPARATION PROGRAMSPREPARATION PROGRAMS

AND THEIR FACULTY IN AND THEIR FACULTY IN BLINDNESS AND VISUAL BLINDNESS AND VISUAL

IMPAIRMENT IMPAIRMENT 2007-20082007-2008

bybyGrace Ambrose-Zaken, Ed.D.Grace Ambrose-Zaken, Ed.D.

Hunter College CUNYHunter College CUNYandand

Laura Bozeman, Ph.D. Laura Bozeman, Ph.D. University of Massachusetts at BostonUniversity of Massachusetts at Boston

Surveyed University VI Surveyed University VI Programs US / CanadaPrograms US / Canada

2007-20082007-2008

DemographicsDemographics Instructional ModelsInstructional Models Funding FormulaeFunding Formulae

BackgroundBackground

VI Professionals Require Unique, VI Professionals Require Unique, Specific PreparationSpecific Preparation

Graduate/Undergraduate University Graduate/Undergraduate University ProgramsPrograms

Need Continues to Grow with the Need Continues to Grow with the Increase in Numbers of Individuals with Increase in Numbers of Individuals with VIVI

National VI DataNational VI Data

Numbers: Severe VI Increasing (all Numbers: Severe VI Increasing (all ages)ages)

Children, Baby Boomers, VeteransChildren, Baby Boomers, Veterans

Shortage of Qualified VI PersonnelShortage of Qualified VI Personnel

ContinuesContinues

Life ImpactLife Impact

Visual Impairment Affects Across the Visual Impairment Affects Across the LifespanLifespan

Congenital: delayed developmental Congenital: delayed developmental milestonesmilestones

Acquired: linked to increased Acquired: linked to increased unemploymentunemployment

University-Prepared University-Prepared ProfessionalsProfessionals

Lessen Impact of VI: Lessen Impact of VI: Congenital/Acquired VICongenital/Acquired VI

Improved Overall SkillsImproved Overall Skills

Improved IndependenceImproved IndependenceThan those who received services from Than those who received services from

paraprofessionalsparaprofessionals

University VI ProgramsUniversity VI Programs

Growth has been slowGrowth has been slow

Difficulties recruiting into low Difficulties recruiting into low incidenceincidence

Lack of access in rural areasLack of access in rural areas

Federal, State, Private Federal, State, Private FundingFunding

Grant monies help initiate VI Grant monies help initiate VI programsprograms

ChallengeChallenge sustain low incidence programsustain low incidence program foster university ‘buy in’foster university ‘buy in’

55thth in a Series of Studies in a Series of Studies

Evaluate Status of University VI Evaluate Status of University VI ProgramsPrograms

2007-20082007-2008

ImprovementsImprovements

ChallengesChallenges

MethodMethod

Contact information on each Contact information on each university (n=52) was obtained:university (n=52) was obtained: previous study databasesprevious study databases public websites (e.g., American public websites (e.g., American

Foundation for the Blind and Texas Foundation for the Blind and Texas School for the Blind and Visually School for the Blind and Visually Impaired)Impaired)

Word of mouthWord of mouth

MethodMethod

A request to complete the Personnel A request to complete the Personnel Preparation Program (PPP) Survey Preparation Program (PPP) Survey was emailed to 52 coordinators. was emailed to 52 coordinators.

The 52 Coordinators completed the 7 The 52 Coordinators completed the 7 part survey and provided contact part survey and provided contact information full-time faculty (n=43).information full-time faculty (n=43).

MethodMethod Subjects were contacted Subjects were contacted

email request to complete the on-line, email request to complete the on-line, accessible surveys. accessible surveys.

email included letter of consent and URL email included letter of consent and URL link to the surveys. link to the surveys.

Subjects who did not respond to the Subjects who did not respond to the initial email received follow-up phone initial email received follow-up phone contacts. contacts. Often resulted in updated contact Often resulted in updated contact

information.information.

MethodMethodPersonnel Preparation Programs (PPP) Personnel Preparation Programs (PPP)

SurveySurvey Part I – Demographic Information (Faculty Part I – Demographic Information (Faculty

Survey) Survey) Part II – Program Demographics; Part II – Program Demographics; Part III – Availability of Programs; Part III – Availability of Programs; Part IV – Instructional Model; Part IV – Instructional Model; Part V – Funding; Part V – Funding; Part VI -- Doctoral Students and Part VI -- Doctoral Students and Part VII -- Open-ended Questions. Part VII -- Open-ended Questions.

ResultsResults

Types of ProgramsTypes of Programs 47 of 52 programs in the US 47 of 52 programs in the US

(including Puerto Rico) and Canada (including Puerto Rico) and Canada responded with a completed survey responded with a completed survey or confirmation that the program had or confirmation that the program had closed (response rate = 90.4%). closed (response rate = 90.4%).

ResultsResults

Types of ProgramsTypes of Programs Seven programs (3 Canadian) Seven programs (3 Canadian)

completed the survey for the first completed the survey for the first time in 2008. time in 2008.

Five programs did not complete Five programs did not complete surveys confirmed active at the time surveys confirmed active at the time of data collection.of data collection.

ResultsResults

As of 2008:As of 2008: 48 active university programs in 31 states, Puerto Rico 48 active university programs in 31 states, Puerto Rico

and Canada with at least one program in VI and Canada with at least one program in VI specialization. specialization.

19 states and DC had no university prep programs in 19 states and DC had no university prep programs in VIVIAlaskaAlaska Delaware Delaware HawaiiHawaii ConnecticutConnecticutIdaho Idaho Kansas Kansas Maryland Maryland MaineMaineGeorgiaGeorgia Minnesota Minnesota Montana Montana Rhode IslandRhode Island IowaIowa Nevada Nevada Virginia Virginia New HampshireNew Hampshire Washington Washington WyomingWyoming VermontVermont

ResultsResults

05

101520253035404550

VIPrograms

20 plus10-19 years5-9 Yearsless than 5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

TVI O&M VRT DB LVT VRC-BVI

number

Ten Greatest ChallengesTen Greatest Challenges

NumberNumber CitedCited Ten Greatest Challenges to Personnel Preparation Ten Greatest Challenges to Personnel Preparation

Programs in VIPrograms in VI------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1919 FundingFunding 1313 Consequences of Low EnrollmentConsequences of Low Enrollment 1212 Recruiting CandidatesRecruiting Candidates 77 Recruiting Qualified LeadershipRecruiting Qualified Leadership 55 Distance LearningDistance Learning 44 Collaboration with Local Education Agencies (LEA)Collaboration with Local Education Agencies (LEA) 44 Need for Balance: Scholarship, Teaching, Service Need for Balance: Scholarship, Teaching, Service 33 Certification versus Masters Degree ProgramsCertification versus Masters Degree Programs 22 Need for More VI ProgramsNeed for More VI Programs 22 Adjustment to Program Content to Reflect AdvancesAdjustment to Program Content to Reflect Advances

Trends Across the Five Trends Across the Five StudiesStudies

Decrease in new programs: although Decrease in new programs: although increase in numbers of people with VIincrease in numbers of people with VI

Over 80% use some form of distance learningOver 80% use some form of distance learning Increase in grants: decrease in those paid Increase in grants: decrease in those paid

from hard moneyfrom hard money Number of doctoral students remained Number of doctoral students remained

constant-still unable to meet current/future constant-still unable to meet current/future need need

FTE: nation-wide trend of understaffing in VIFTE: nation-wide trend of understaffing in VI Faculty Demographics: increase in women Faculty Demographics: increase in women

faculty; decrease in tenure/tenure trackfaculty; decrease in tenure/tenure track