“Makes me unique” were the three words on the poster created by one student with albinism who participated in NOAH’s “My Three Words” YouTube video. Feeling good about yourself when you stand out as unique can be a tricky path. Students with albinism have unique needs in addition to having low vision and providing service for this student population is the focus of our 2018 Low Vision Conference. Program highlights include an interactive session on genetics of albinism with Dr. Murray Brilliant, a renowned researcher who has dedicated his professional work to this topic and a session focusing on psychosocial impact with Ms. Kelsey Thompson, a licensed clinical professional counselor and a certified rehabilitation counselor.
Objectives:
Participants will...
1. Summarize the different patterns of inheritance and the genes associated with the most common forms of albinism.
2. Identify unique needs of students with albinism and intervention strategies to support them.
3. Describe the impact on social and emotional growth of having albinism, a condition that includes visual impairment along with differences in appearance and social stigma.