by Carla Ruschival
Many continuing education (CE) and professional development (PD) opportunities will be offered at the 2021 ACB Virtual Conference and Convention. CE units are recognized by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP). Individuals working in many diverse fields, including but not limited to vision, may also earn professional development hours from home or office through the power of ACB Radio and the Zoom platform.
ACB’s 2021 CE/PD program has a new look. In the past, you were required to register for each program or session for which you wished to earn CEUs or PDs. Not so in 2021.
When registration opens on May 20, you will discover an amazing array of programs that carry CE and PD hours. Additional events will be listed in the official conference program, on the convention website, and via the acbconvention email list as the convention draws near. Simply purchase a block of Flex Credits at registration, and then mix and match general session programming, relevant exhibit presentations and tours, and sessions sponsored by ACB and its committees, special-interest affiliates, and partners to create an experience tailored to your specific needs. Topics will include but are not limited to employment, technology, health and leisure, orientation and mobility, self-advocacy, braille, low vision, and much more. Even better: if you attend more programs and presentations than you anticipate, just submit reports for all sessions as described below and we will contact you for payment.
Individuals registering for CE and PD opportunities should plan to arrive a few minutes early for each CE/PD session. A unique code will be announced at the beginning of each session, and another unique code will be announced at the end of each session. Make note of these codes, as you will need to include them in your report.
Next, make note of the name of the program, the date, and the actual starting and ending times; use Eastern time for this purpose. For example, you might report “Humanware, exhibit channel, Saturday, July 17; start time 2:30 p.m.; end time 2:57 p.m.”
Finally, following the conference and convention, complete the CE and PD report that will have been emailed to you. You must enter the codes from your sessions and/or the dates and times for your Flex Credits on this form. You must also complete a report and evaluation form for each session or program. This will provide feedback to the presenter and/or provider, and will help ACB improve its CE and PD offerings in the future. Return all forms to ACB NO LATER THAN Aug. 30, 2021.
Upon receipt of your completed forms, ACB will issue your certificate, indicating the number of CE units or PD hours earned with ACB. You are responsible for submitting your certificate to your employer for your PD hours or to ACVREP for your CEUs.
Receive important conference information and updates in your inbox as they become available. Subscribe to the convention email list by sending a blank message to [email protected].
For more information about CE and PD opportunities, contact Carla Ruschival, CE Chair, at (877) 630-7190 or at [email protected].