The Schedule

Day 1

Friday, October 27, 2023

8:00 - 8:30

Check-in and Breakfast

8:30 - 8:45

Opening Session and Welcome

Kerri Johnson-Jones, MAER President-Elect

8:45 - 10:00

Keynote: Elevating Social Well-being While Adjusting to Blindness

Dr. LaShawna Fant

10:00 - 10:10

Break

10:10 - 11:10

Recreation Therapy Insight of Others "A Positive Outlook"

DeVonda Elliot

11:10 - 12:20

Lunch and MAER Awards Ceremony

Concurrent Sessions with CUPCAKES Provided by CATT

12:20 - 1:20

Presentation Room (near Exhibitors)

Concurrent Session: Ethical Considerations in Empowering Individuals with Visual Impairments: Understanding the 2023 Code of Professional Ethics for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors

Dr. Zaccheus Ahonle, Dr. Phillip Rumrill and Dr. Stuart Rumrill

Main Conference Room

Concurrent Session: Breaking Barriers to Recreation and Leisure for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Tyler Griffin, Moderator

1:20 - 2:10

Exhibitors and Networking

2:10 - 3:10

Recreation Therapy for Individuals with Vision Loss

Destin Parsley and Garrett Davenport

3:10 - 3:20

Break

3:20 - 4:20

Finding Hope in the Darkness: Perspectives on Adjusting to Vision Impairment

Kendra Farrow

4:20 - 5:25

Panel Discussion – Vision Beyond Limits: Embracing Recreation and Leisure with Vision Loss

Herbert Humphreys, Moderator

Panelists: Garrett Pendergast, Kendra Farrow, & Tracy Ferro

5:25 - 5:30

Day 1 Wrap-Up and DOOR PRIZE

End of Day 1

Day 2

Saturday, October 28, 2023

7:30 - 8:15

Continental Breakfast, DOOR PRIZE

Gold Exhibitor Presentation: Mountain View Low Vision Services, Cheryl Saucier

8:15 - 9:30

Keynote: Finding the Courage to Dream Big

Dr. Malinda Wimbs

9:30 - 10:30

Using Creative Art to Break Barriers

Dr. Shelly Bates and Nancy Raia

10:30 - 11:00

Services in Mississippi for Persons Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Dorothy Young

11:00 - 11:30

Exhibitors and Networking

11:30 - 12:30

Oh Yeah . . . Goalball, Beep Baseball AND Blind Soccer!!

Dr. Joann Judge

12:30 - 1:00

Box Lunch

1:00 - 1:50

MAER Business Meeting

1:50 - 2:00

Closing and DOOR PRIZE

Conference Schedule (downloadable PDF)

Copy of Conference Schedule Flyer (1).pdf