Professionals and Agencies
Whether you're an aspiring blindness rehabilitation professional, currently working in the blind rehab field, or part of an agency providing services to people who are blind, we have resources to help! Here are some of the things you can find in this section:
- Orientation & Mobility for Your Clients: Leader Dog's O&M program can supplement the work you're doing with your clients. Find out how we can help ease your workload.
- Virtual Learning: Check out our modules for professionals and aspiring professionals in the blind rehab space. ACVREP continuing education credits are available for these recorded sessions, available on our website for you to access at any time.
- Professional Seminar: We offer a free, annual seminar with hands-on experience to learn more about specialized O&M techniques, GPS, guide dogs and how you can help your clients become guide-dog ready.
- University Opportunities: Graduate-level students are invited to participate in a week-long orientation and mobility practicum or apply for an orientation and mobility internship at Leader Dog.
- Collaboration Events: We host monthly events to spotlight other organizations within the blindness and low vision field and explore the services they provide. These live, virtual events are free and open to anyone.
- Request a Toolkit: Order free resources for yourself and/or your agency or organization to discover more about what Leader Dog does and how we can work with you to achieve your goals.
- Request a Speaker: Leader Dog team members are available to present on our programs, best practices, learnings, [etc.]
Stay informed about our programs, resources, upcoming webinars and events and more. Sign up here:
[Email form with whatever details you want to collect.]
Orientation & Mobility for Your Clients
We want to collaborate with you and/or your organization to provide services to more individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Leader Dog's one-week orientation and mobility program is a great option to boost your clients' foundational skills quickly and get them back home to generalize skills and work on specific routes with you. By working together, we can serve more clients and provide comprehensive training. Clients who could benefit from free O&M training at Leader Dog include:
- Clients in the US and Canada who are legally blind
- Clients who are 16 years or older
- Clients who may not qualify for vocational services
- Clients who have minimal hours of training available but still need more training
- Clients who could benefit from FREE O&M training, including travel and equipment
- Clients who can spend one week away from home
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You can explore Orientation & Mobility at Leader Dog on our website. If you have a client who would be a great fit, please have them contact our client services team by email or at 888-777-5332 to request a paper application (applications are also available online on our website) or to find out more.
Virtual Learning
We offer recorded presentations on everything from outside-the-box O&M activities, to helping to prepare your client for a guide dog, to a guide for GPS lesson planning and more. Many of these courses offer ACVREP continuing education credit. Check out our courses for blind rehab professionals or see all the Virtual Learning courses we offer.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the virtual learning options or would like to learn more about a topic, please email Leslie Hoskins or give her a call at 248-650-7104.
Professional Seminar
We offer free O&M seminars to help educate current orientation and mobility professionals on the use of guide dogs and accessible GPS, and our Universities Program educates the next generation of O&M professionals on foundational techniques and instructional strategies. These seminars and programs broaden the reach of Leader Dog and increase the resources available to both students and practicing O&M professionals.
Room and board are provided on Leader Dog's campus. Attendees are responsible only for providing their own transportation to/from Michigan.
Free O&M Professional Seminar – In Person
Announcing 2023 Pro Seminar Dates: May 31 - June 1, 2023
Applications will be available in February 2023.
ACVREP CEUs to be determined.
Join us to learn more about specialized O&M techniques, GPS, guide dogs and how you can help your clients become guide dog ready. Get hands-on experience with orientation aids, DeafBlind simulations, guide dog practice and more. Time will be provided for Q&A, group discussion, networking, and several added activities to enhance your learning experience.
We are not accepting applications yet but if you would like to be added to receive early notification and information about upcoming opportunities for O&M professionals, please enter your information below. Thank you for your interest!
University Opportunities
Orientation and Mobility Practicum
Students in graduate-level programs from participating universities receive hands-on teaching experience working with individuals who are visually impaired and need orientation and mobility skills in the one-week Orientation & Mobility program.
Contact our manager of extended services, Erica Ihrke, by phone at 888-777-5332 or email.
Orientation and Mobility Internship
Offered through the Edward T. and Ellen K. Dryer Foundation Orientation and Mobility Internship Academy, an O&M internship at Leader Dog will truly prepare the intern for a career as an orientation & mobility specialist. Throughout the internship process, the intern will have a multitude of teaching and learning experiences. Learn more about our O&M internships.
Collaboration Events
Collaboration Events are an opportunity to spotlight other organizations within the blindness and low vision field to learn about additional available resources. While we have many programs and services to offer, there are numerous other organizations that could be of great benefit to our contacts.
These events are held the last Wednesday of every month at 3 p.m. EST and are open to anyone. Visit our Collaboration Events page to view recordings of all Collaboration Events to date. You can also preregister for upcoming events.
If you or someone you know would like to share your organization's work with our audience, we'd love to talk with you! Please contact Leslie Hoskins and let's plan your Collaboration Event.
Request a Toolkit
Want to learn more about Leader Dog programs or how we can collaborate with you? You can request a toolkit to explore more information and resources. [In this area, I'd like to include more details about what the kit includes, etc.]
Request a Speaker
If you're interested in having a speaker from Leader Dog share program information with a support group or professionals at your agency, we'd love to join you! Invite us to present virtually or, when possible, in person.
Still have questions? Want to discuss whether a client would be a good fit or how to help a client apply? Email our Outreach Services and Community Engagement Manager Leslie Hoskins or give her a call at 248-650-7104.
Meet Our O&M Team
Erica Ihrke, Extended Services Manager, COMS
Erica enjoys working at Leader Dog because the organization is progressive and always growing. She has been the manager of extended services since 2008, but she still enjoys working with clients. Her favorite part of working with clients is their “Ah-ha” moment that leads to them feeling empowered to travel independently.
Rod Haneline, COMS
A Leader Dog team member since 1979, Rod is internationally recognized for his extensive knowledge in developing advanced O&M instructional programs. He has developed integrated methods for use of canes and dogs as well as GPS in both O&M and guide dog programs. His expertise in guide dog utilization, O&M and GPS has given him an innovative perspective for enhancing mobility and independence for people who are blind.
Kristy Plesscher, COMS
Kristy earned her master’s degree in orientation and mobility from Western Michigan University. After spending several years working as an O&M specialist in Alabama and Ohio, she retuned to Michigan in 2017 to join the O&M team at Leader Dog. Kristy loves the spirit of teamwork and collaboration at Leader Dog.
Barry Stafford, COMS
Since 1991, Barry has been teaching orientation and mobility in public schools, private rehabilitation centers, in a teacher preparation program at the university level, the VA Health Care system and at Leader Dog. A native Texan, Barry is a serial graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, with an undergraduate degree in orientation and mobility and a master’s degree in special education.
Tommy Strasz, COMS
Tommy joined Leader Dog first as an intern as he finished his master’s degree in orientation and mobility at Western Michigan University and then was brought on the team full time. He was drawn to Leader Dog's unique O&M training model and positive atmosphere. Tommy also thrives on the creative approaches to O&M encouraged at Leader Dog. He is particularly fond of taking O&M clients on hikes at the nearby state parks.
Garret Waldie, COMS
Garret served in the United States Marine Corps for four years as a rifleman. After being discharged, he graduated from Saginaw Valley State University with a bachelors degree in exercise science and then continued to get a master’s degree from Western Michigan University in orientation and mobility. Garret was drawn to Leader Dog because of their extremely supportive orientation and mobility team, the opportunities for community outreach and their all-around positive energy.
Leslie Hoskins, COMS
Leslie Hoskins is a certified orientation and mobility specialist and the outreach services and community engagement manager at Leader Dogs for the Blind. Leslie attended Western Michigan University where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in speech-language pathology and audiology and a Master of Arts in orientation and mobility. She first came to Leader Dog in January of 2013 as a practicum student and again in May of 2013 as an intern before she joined the O&M team as a full-time team member in March of 2014.
