FVA for Students with Multiple Disabilities: A Collaborative Approach Across Disciplines

Participants in this webinar will have a better understanding of:

• Challenges in assessing students with multiple disabilities
• The role of the evaluator and team
• How to build a functional vision assessments for a student with multiple disabilities
• Ability to apply collaborative strategies

PRESENTERS SUMMARY:
Rajiv K. Panikkar was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Rajiv has been working with students with visual impairments and additional disabilities since 1987. He started at the Perkins School for the Blind as a houseparent (residential manager) and teacher aide. He received his Master’s degree at the University of Northern Colorado. He has had numerous experiences in residential schools, public schools and at the University of Colorado as an Assistive Technology Specialist. He is certified as a CLVT, COMS and TVI.

He is currently serving as a CLVT with the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and Blind. He has been an AER member since 1990. He is the 2013 recipient of the AZ AER Margaret Bluhm Worker of the Year Award.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife-Kirstin; two sons- Jaron and Devin; dog- Copper; and cats- Luna and Gizmo. He also enjoys golf, tennis and tending to his vegetable and herb garden.

Joanne Szabo brings more than 25 years of pediatric experience, having worked in the NICU, acute care, early intervention and school based services. For the past 6 years she has worked full-time at the Arizona State School for the Deaf and Blind.

Joanne received her Bachelors of Science in Physical Therapy and a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration from Long Beach State University. She received a post-graduate certification in School Based Physical Therapy from Drexel University and her doctorate in Physical Therapy from AT Stills University.

Joanne achieved Board Certification as a Pediatric Clinical Specialist in 2013, has had work published in Teaching Exceptional Children and Pediatric Physical Therapy, and presents and educates on topics related to serving children who are deaf, blind or visually impaired with multiple disabilities.

As a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and the Association for Education & Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), Joanne has served as a Member at Large on the AER board in Arizona and she has served as the APTA’s pediatric representative to the state of Arizona. Currently she serves as the Region IV representative to the School-based Special Interest Group of the APTA.

As a clinician, she was honored by receiving the Knowledge Translation Lectureship Award from the pediatric section of the APTA in 2015. In her free time Joanne loves to hike and bike in the lovely Sonora Desert where she lives. She also enjoys reading and spending time with her children Kyra and Connor as well as the family turtle Lucky and their dog Mikie.