SOMA

Mark your calendars to be in Tallahassee for SOMA 2005 on September 21-23. It will be at the Ramada Inn Conference Center. 2900 N. Monroe St.

The Ramada Inn has recently conducted a $2 million renovation to the hotel and meeting space. They were awarded the 2004 Chef Sampler Award which means they have the best food in Tallahassee! There are a number of other places within walking distance of the hotel where you can eat. The hotel will provide transportation to venues within 5 miles of the hotel.

Registration is $150 ($100 for students) until August 31 (postmarked) after which it is $165 ($150 for students). This includes welcome reception Wednesday, two hot breakfast buffets, lunch buffet on Thursday and morning and afternoon breaks.

Room rates are $70/single and $89/double. Make your reservations with the Ramada Inn at 850-386-1027. Make them early as the block of rooms may fill up. There is a possibility to enlarge the block, but you must call early to make sure of that option.

Directions: Those driving in on I-10 will take the Havana/Tallahassee (Hwy 27) exit which is N. Monroe St. Those coming from the east will turn left and those coming from the west will turn right. You will turn right at the first traffic light and the Ramada Inn will be on your right immediately. There is plenty of free parking at the hotel.

If you drive up on Hwy 27, turn right when you get to the capital and go north until you see the I-10 signs. The Ramada Inn will be on your left just before the interstate.

If you are flying into Tallahassee, the Ramada Inn has a van that transports to and from the airport. You can make arrangements ahead of time or simply locate their phone when you arrive at the airport and request a ride.

1. Private contracting
2. The Cane Docta – repairing/refurbishing canes and other miscellaneous ideas
3. Accessible location information GPS-Mike May
4. I want a guide dog! Goals for transitioning students and clients adult onset blindness
5. Research on Accessible Pedestrian Signals
6. Crossing Roundabouts and Right Turn Lanes
7. Veni, Non Vidi, Vici
8. The independent airport traveler
9. Curriculum to Teach Recognition of Gap Detection Ability for Crossing Streets
10. K-Sonar Fun
11. Current research at the VA
12. "Teaching Orientation and Mobility Skills to Young Children Through Movement Activities"
13. Teaching Deaf-Blind People to Communicate with the Public
14. Creating a sensitivity training session for transportation providers
15. Low Vision Driving with Bioptics: Misconception v. Reality

Mike May will be doing GPS demonstrations via van rides. If you want to participate bring a blindfold. I will try to have some, but may not be able to have enough. This should be a great activity. It has been very popular at other conferences.

Dates: September 21-23 Time: Begins at 1:00 PM Wednesday and goes to 12:00 PM Friday.

SOMA Southeastern Orientation and Mobility Association 2005 Conference Registration September 21-23, 2005 Ramada Inn Conference Center 2900 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, FL

REGISTRATION FEES (check one) ___ Regular $150.00 ___ Late $165 ___ Student $100.00 ___ Single Day $75.00

Make checks payable to Kathy Yale SOMA 2005 Mail to: Kathy Yale 4905 Lester Rd. Tallahassee, FL 32317

Make reservations with the Ramada Inn at 850-386-1027 for the SOMA Conference. The block may fill up so make your reservations soon so we can expand the block if necessary. If you wait too late, we may not be able to expand the block.

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A special mini-seminar re low vision driving with bioptics will be offered on Thursday, September 22nd, 2005 from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Ramada Inn Conference Center, 2900 North Monroe Street, in Tallahassee, FL as part of the upcoming Southeastern Orientation and Mobility Association (SOMA) Conference (see conference flier attachment). Those low vision consumers of vocationally employable age in Florida are especially encouraged to attend. Attendance and participation in solely the 2.0 hour roundtable discussion from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. that is part of this seminar is free for interested consumers and professionals.

The schedule of bioptic driving related activities (actual times may vary slightly) for September 22nd as part of SOMA Conference is as follows:

Thursday, September 22nd, 2005

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. .... LUNCH

1:00 - 1:30 p.m. ..... Registration (advanced registration is recommended for those who wish to have lunch)

1:30 - 2:45 p.m. ..... "Low Vision Driving with Bioptics: Misconceptions v. Reality" (Chuck Huss, presenter)

2:45 - 3:00 p.m. ...... BREAK

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. ..... Round table discussion meeting on low vision driving with bioptics issues (Huss, moderator and facilitator)

Fee Schedule is as follows:

For those individuals (professionals and consumers alike) who wish to attend only the 2.0 hour round table discussion (3:00 - 5:00 p.m.) on issues and concerns re to low vision driving with bioptics, no fee will be charged.
For those individuals (professionals and consumers alike) who elect to attend the entire day of conference activities on September 22nd including lunch and my afternoon bioptic driving presentation and subsequent round table discussion, a $75.00 registration fee as already advertised (see enclosed conference flier) will be charged.
For those individuals (professionals and consumers alike) who wish to attend only the afternoon bioptic driving activities on September 22nd (my presentation and the roundtable discussion) a $30.00 registration fee (excluding lunch) or a $40.00 registration fee (including lunch) will be charged.

To date, interest to attend the low vision driving related presentation and/or roundtable discussion has been received from the following professional staff:

Dr. Jack W. MacDonald, M.D., Chairman, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Medical Advisory Board (FL HS & MV MAB)
Ed. K. Walker, O.D., Florida Optometric Association (FOA) board member
Robert I. Greenburg, O.D., current and sole optometrist on the FL HS & MV MAB
Julian Newman, O.D., Englewood, FL, former director of FL's bioptic driving program, late 1960's early 1970's
Thom Blom, O.D., Sarasota, FL, member - FL Low Vision Committee (tentative)
Kathy Yale, COMS, SOMA Conference Coordinator, Tallahassee, FL
FSU Academia Staff (Sylvia Correa, Julie Bardin) and graduate students
Margaret Gannon, OTR/L, CDRS, Jacksonville, FL
Zach Seidenberg, News Director FL Public Radio (has delegated this assignment to his asst. news director and will be sending a reporter to cover my presentation and roundtable discussion)
Local AAMVA and NHTSA representatives (not confirmed yet)
FL legislators (tentative)
Bob Rafael (consumer advocate with low vision website)

Individuals (professionals and consumers alike) who attend the roundtable "low vision driving with bioptics" discussion (who may be representing a professional organization or consumer advocacy organization, committee or institution) are not expected or requested to offer a position statement for or against low vision driving with bioptics at this time; only that all parties are afforded an opportunity to attend and participate in the round table discussion if interested, gather up-to-date information on the issues, and be better prepared to address such issues "objectively" if low vision consumer groups contact FL legislators in the future with their interests in exploring the driving privilege.

Please feel free to contact me if additional information is needed.

Cordially,

Chuck Huss, COMS

Consultant - Bioptic Driving

West Virginia Rehabilitation Center

P.O. Box 1004

Barron Drive

Institute, WV 25112

Ph: (304) 766-4803

FAX: (304) 766-4816

chuckh@mail.drs.state.wv.us

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ANN, Inc. is a volunteer, nonprofit organization for persons and families involved with nystagmus. ANN, Inc. does not diagnose or treat, or provide professional counseling. It is involved in self-help, while trying to promote research and education, among other goals contained in its mission statement.