Course Listings

“Blindness Basics” is a scenario-based, interactive e-learning course that enables (para)professionals and volunteers new to the blindness field to learn fundamental concepts about visual impairment and apply them to real-life situations. The course teaches students the proper etiquette when interacting with people who are visually impaired. It presents an overview of the field’s history, identifies some common causes of blindness and explains how people with disabilities can live independently.

Course: DPF-261
Media: OL
Lessons: 4
Maximum Completion Time: 2 months
Credit: 1 CEU
Tuition: NO CHARGE

Blindness Basics Course Details and Sample Lesson

EARLY CHILDHOOD

Early Independence

This course presents information on orientation and mobility, daily living skills and social skills, all of which enable you to create an environment that fosters the skills your student needs to become independent. This course is recommended if your blind or visually impaired student is developmentally 3 to 6 years old.

Course: IND-121
Media: C, P or OL
Lessons: 7
Maximum Completion Time: 3 1/2 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Early Independence Course Details and Sample Lesson

Learning Through Play

Play is essential to a child’s growth and development. Through play, children acquire self-confidence and become more independent. The right toy can help a child reach developmental milestones. This course offers suggestions that parents and caregivers can use to teach children about themselves and the world around them.

Course: LPA-121
Media: LP or OL
Lessons: 7
Maximum Completion Time: 3 1/2 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Learning Through Play Course Details and Sample Lesson

Finding Your Way

Do you wish you could help your blind or visually impaired students explore the world independently? This course can help you select games and activities that reinforce the O&M skills children learn in elementary school.

Course: WAY-121
Media: C or LP
Lessons: 5
Maximum Completion Time: 2 1/2 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Finding Your Way Course Details and Sample Lesson

Social Skills: Foundation

Do you wish you could help your student acquire and refine social skills but wonder where to start? This prerequisite course in the Social Skills Series will help you understand social skills development. You will also learn about the challenges that children who are blind or visually impaired may face in social situations. (Available only to students able to view VHS formatted video)

Course: SSK-121
Media: B or LP with VHS video
Lessons: 1
Maximum Completion Time: 1/2 month
Credit: none
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Social Skills: Foundation Course Details

Social Skills: Preschool Years

This second course in the Social Skills Series examines the impact of visual impairment on the development of social skills during the preschool years. It suggests ways for you to teach your student the necessary skills for healthy interaction with family members, caregivers and peers. Prerequisite: Social Skills: Foundation. (Available only to students able to view VHS formatted video)

Course: SSK-221
Media: B or LP with VHS video
Lessons: 3
Maximum Completion Time: 1 1/2 months
Credit: 1 CEU
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Social Skills: Preschool Years Course Details

Social Skills: Elementary Years

Elementary and middle school-age children who are blind or visually impaired often benefit from social skills instruction, which enables them to interact successfully with others. This third course in the Social Skills Series enables you to help your student achieve social competence. Prerequisite: Social Skills: Foundation. (Available only to students able to view VHS formatted video)

Course: SSK-321
Media: B or LP with VHS video
Lessons: 8
Maximum Completion Time: 4 months
Credit: 1 CEU
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Social Skills: Course Details

BRAILLE

Introduction to Braille

Want to read braille visually? This course gives you the tools to communicate in writing with clients, students and colleagues who read braille. Its goal is to enable you to read and write uncontracted braille. As an introductory course, it does not make you fully proficient. To do so, additional study and practice are necessary.

Course: IBR-121
Media: OL or P
Lessons: 8
Maximum Completion Time: 4 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: NO CHARGE

Introduction to Braille Course Details and Sample Lesson

Contracted Braille Diagnostic Test

Have you learned uncontracted braille in another setting, or has it been over a year since you completed Hadley’s "Introduction to Braille" course? Enrollment in “Contracted Braille” requires a certain level of proficiency with uncontracted Braille. This short test measures your ability to read and emboss letters, numbers and a variety of punctuation marks in uncontracted braille. The results determine which braille course is appropriate for you.

Test: CBD-021
Media: LP
Lessons: 1
Maximum Completion Time: 1/2 month
Credit: none
Tuition: NO CHARGE

Contracted Braille

As a professional who works with those who are visually impaired, your ability to read and emboss contracted braille will enhance your relationship with your clients, students and colleagues. The goal of this course is to enable you to visually read and emboss contracted braille. Prerequisite: “Introduction to Braille” or “Contracted Braille Diagnostic.”

Course: CBR-221
Media: OL or P
Lessons: 27
Maximum Completion Time: 13 1/2 months
Credit: 6 CEUs
Tuition: NO CHARGE

Contracted Braille Course Details and Sample Lesson

Braille Assessment for Nemeth Code

This brief assessment is used to determine your knowledge of contracted braille, which is a prerequisite to enrolling into "Basic Nemeth Code."

Test: BNC-021
Media: P
Lessons: 1
Maximum Completion Time: 1/2 month
Credit: none
Tuition: NO CHARGE

Basic Nemeth Code

The Nemeth Code for science and mathematics includes all the symbols a braille user needs for written math and science. By learning basic symbols presented in this course, you can help those who use braille develop math skills that will serve them throughout the school years and beyond. This course will not enable you to transcribe material from print to the Nemeth Code. Additional study and practice are necessary before doing so. Prerequisite: “Contracted Braille” or the ability to read and write contracted (grade 2) braille.

Course: BNC-121
Media: P
Lessons: 12
Maximum Completion Time: 6 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $139 (U.S. Dollars)

Basic Nemeth Code Course Details and Sample Lesson

ABACUS

Abacus 1

Learn to do arithmetic the abacus way. In use for thousands of years, the abacus is an efficient, accurate tool for doing math. By using the abacus provided with this course, you can add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers and decimals. Prerequisite: Prior knowledge of math facts.

Course: ABA-121
Media: LP or OL
Lessons: 15
Maximum Completion Time: 7 1/2 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $139 (U.S. Dollars)

Abacus 1 Course Details and Sample Lesson

Abacus 2

Did you enjoy “Abacus 1”? To further your abacus skills, learn to compute fractions, percents, quantities, square roots and negative numbers. Prerequisite: Teacher recommendation after completion of “Abacus 1” or equivalent.
Course: ABA-221
Media: LP
Lessons: 5
Maximum Completion Time: 2 1/2 months
Credit: 2 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Abacus 2 Course Details

EYE COURSES

Diabetes: Toward Self-Management

This course will help you identify the factors necessary to successfully manage diabetes. The information in this course is based on recommendations of the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association. The lessons offer information to supplement the guidance provided by health care professionals.

Course: DIA-121
Media: OL
Lessons: 10
Maximum Completion Time: 5 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $139 (U.S. Dollars)

Diabetes: Toward Self-Management Course Details

Glaucoma

This course explains the workings of the eye and the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma. It also discusses the emotional impact of vision loss and ways to continue daily activities when such loss occurs. The glaucoma-related information provided in this course will help you take an active role in the rehabilitation process.

Course: GLA-121
Media: OL
Lessons: 5
Maximum Completion Time: 2 1/2 months
Credit: 2 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Glaucoma Course Details

Macular Degeneration

Do you work with those who have age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? This course addresses the questions that arise upon such a diagnosis. The AMD-related information will enable you to better understand AMD and to help your clients take an active role in the rehabilitative process.

Course: MDG-121
Media: OL
Lessons: 5
Maximum Completion Time: 2 1/2 months
Credit: 2 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Macular Degeneration Course Details

The Human Eye

Gain a better understanding of the eyes: their anatomy, how they see and how they are examined. Lessons focus on particular parts of the visual system, along with common diseases and treatments.

Course: EYE-121
Media: LP
Lessons: 10
Maximum Completion Time: 5 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $139 (U.S. Dollars)

The Human Eye Course Details

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Access Technology: Beginnings

This course helps you understand what a computer is as well as the pros and cons of using print-enlarging software, refreshable braille displays and speech output to read the screen. You do not need a computer to take this course. This course teaches basic computer concepts, commonly used software and types of access technology that can be used by someone who has a visual impairment. It is not intended to serve as a training manual or tutorial.

Course: ATB-121
Media: OL
Lessons: 4
Maximum Completion Time: 2 months
Credit: 1 CEU
Tuition: NO CHARGE

Access Technology: Beginnings Course Details

Finding Employment

This course examines the job-search process from the point of view of the person seeking employment. It includes useful information to help your client or student, whether he or she has never worked before or is looking for a better job. Unlike traditional courses about finding employment, this course covers both the basics of the job hunt and topics specific to individuals who are visually impaired.

Course: EMP-121
Media: OL
Lessons: 6
Maximum Completion Time: 3 months
Credit: 2 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Finding Employment Course Details

Guide Dogs

This story-based course will provide you with insight into the decision-making process so that you can better empathize with your clients and colleagues, weigh the benefits of companionship and learn about the mutual dependence between the guide dog user and a trusted canine partner. Be secure in the knowledge that getting a guide dog is the right decision.

Course: GDG-121
Media: OL
Lessons: 5
Maximum Completion Time: 2 1/2 months
Credit: 1 CEU
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Guide Dogs Course Details

Independent Living

Any uncertainties that a person feels in the wake of vision loss can be replaced with a growing sense of optimism as he/she learns different ways to accomplish things. This course suggests techniques and resources to complete everyday tasks that your clients and students once performed with vision or are learning to do with a visual impairment for the first time.

Course: DPF-111
Media: P
Lessons: 7
Maximum Completion Time: 3 1/2 months
Credit: 3 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Independent Living Course Details and Sample Lesson

Using Raised Markers

This course shows you how your clients and students with visual impairments can use the sense of touch (via raised markers) to accomplish tasks such as setting the oven, distinguishing shampoo from conditioner and identifying canned foods. No braille skill is taught or required. Many ideas are offered, and raised markers are provided.

Course: URM-121
Media: C
Lessons: 5
Maximum Completion Time: 2 1/2 months
Credit: none
Tuition: NO CHARGE

Using Raised Markers Course Details

Self-Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness

This course can help you understand the adjustment to life’s demands for your clients and students with vision impairment. Maintaining self-esteem with the changes and adaptations that come with blindness are discussed in-depth and illustrated with quotes from many blind persons.

Course: SFE-121
Media: B or P textbook with OL study guide
Lessons: 10
Maximum Completion Time: 5 months
Credit: 4 CEUs
Tuition: $139 (U.S. Dollars)

Self-Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness Course Details

Self-Help Groups: An Introduction

Meeting with others in similar circumstances often helps people through times of change. This course describes the benefits of self-help groups and explains how they operate.

Course: SHG-121
Media: LP
Lessons: 4
Maximum Completion Time: 2 months
Credit: 1 CEU
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Self-Help Groups: An Introduction Course Details

Self-Help Groups: Advanced Topics

Are you thinking about starting a self-help group? This course can help transform your idea into reality. It describes the skills needed to plan, organize and lead a self-help group for blind or visually impaired people or their family members. Prerequisite: “Self-Help Groups: An Introduction” or instructor approval.

Course: SHG-221
Media: LP
Lessons: 4
Maximum Completion Time: 2 months
Credit: 2 CEUs
Tuition: $99 (U.S. Dollars)

Self-Help Groups: Advanced Topics Course Details