WBRC Welcomes New CATs Instructor

Photo: Alison Schoenrock, new CATs Instructor

WBRC is proud to announce that Alison Schoenrock accepted the position of WBRC Computer Access Training (CATS) Instructor.  Ms. Schoenrock started on July 13, 2015.  Alison received her Masters of Education in Special Education, Visual Disabilities from Northern Illinois University with a dual focus in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) and Rehabilitation Teaching in May, 2015.  She also received a BA in Psychology from Marquette University in Milwaukee in 2012, including three semesters of “studying abroad” at Columbia College Chicago as she cultivated her interest in Fine Arts.  Alison is accredited by ACVREP as a Certified O&M Specialist and has recently passed the exam to receive her Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Certification.  She completed two sixteen-week internships in O&M and Living Skills at Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital near Chicago, IL.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Alison!

CLICK HERE to learn more about the WBRC CATs Program

WBRC Welcomes New Administrative Officer

Photo: Jessica Vilay, WBRC Administrative Officer

WBRC is proud to announce that Jessica Vilay has accepted the position of WBRC Administrative Officer (AO).  Jessica started on June 29, 2015.  She completed her Master’s Degree in Health Care Administration at Cal State East Bay and her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at UC Berkeley.  Jessica was previously the AO for Dental Service and interned in the Chief of Staff Office at VAPAHCS.  Welcome to the WBRC Team, Jessica!

WBRC Welcomes New CATs Instructor

Photo: Matthew Vitale, new WBRC CATs Instructor

WBRC is proud to announce that Matthew Vitale has accepted the position of WBRC Computer Access Training (CATs) Instructor.  Mr. Vitale started on June 1, 2015.  He completed his Master’s Degree in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) at Western Michigan University in May of 2015.  Matthew completed his Graduate Level O&M internship at the WBRC earlier this year and is an ACVREP certified O&M Specialist (COMS).  Welcome to the WBRC Team Matt!

CLICK HERE to learn more about WBRC's Computer Access Training Program

WBRC Welcomes New Living Skills Instructor

Photo: Craig Eckhardt, New WBRC Living Skills Instructor

 
WBRC is proud to announce that Craig Eckhardt has accepted the position of WBRC Living Skills Instructor.  Mr. Eckhardt started on February 9, 2015.  Mr. Eckhardt is a recent transplant from New York City, where he completed his Master’s Degree in Vision Rehabilitation from Hunter College.  He is dually ACVREP certified in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy as well as Orientation and Mobility.  Mr. Eckhardt has worked in the blind rehabilitation field for many years, teaching at various residential and itinerant programs throughout the United States, including Colorado, Iowa and New York.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Craig!

WBRC Welcomes New Living Skills Instructor



Photo: Delaney Stein, New WBRC Living Skills Instructor

WBRC is proud to announce that Delaney Stein has accepted the position of WBRC Living Skills Instructor.  Ms. Stein started on February 9, 2015.  She completed her Master’s Degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy at Western Michigan University (WMU) in 2014.  She also completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology at WMU in 2012.  Ms. Stein is accredited by ACVREP as a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.  She previously interned at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Delaney!


2014 WBRC Annual Review Available Online

Photo: Cover of the 2014 WBRC Review

The 2014 WBRC Review has just been published and is available online.  The ‘WBRC Review’ is a Fiscal Year (FY) review of the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC) for stakeholders including former and current students, prospective students, family and caregivers, VA staff and volunteers, and anyone interested in learning about low vision and blind rehabilitation services available to Veterans and Active Duty Service Members through the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.  The FY 14 edition  includes information about the WBRC including outcome measures and demographics as well as articles about our building construction, special programs, WBRC New Faces, and how to stay up-to-date with WBRC News.  The annual fiscal year ‘Review’ will also be printed and mailed to WBRC students who attended the program during FY 14 as well as to prospective and scheduled students.  It will also be used for WBRC outreach and is available to all stakeholders online on the WBRC Website and WBRC Blog. 

CLICK HERE to view the PDF Version

CLICK HERE to view the Text Only Version

CLICK HERE to view the WBRC Website

WBRC Welcomes New Computer Access Training Program Supervisor

WBRC is proud to announce that Glenda Buscarello has accepted the position of WBRC Computer Access Training Program Supervisor.  Mrs. Buscarello started in December of 2014.  Mrs. Buscarello is a graduate of San Francisco State University where she obtained degrees as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and in Orientation and Mobility (O&M).  She is accredited by ACVREP as a Low Vision Therapist, Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and an O&M Specialist.  She is also a Veteran who retired from the United States Air Force Reserve in 2006 after 21 years of service.  She previously worked for the University of Colorado, Boulder as the Disability Access Coordinator and has also taught college courses covering a variety of computer equipment and software including JAWS, ZoomText, and iPad/iPhone.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Glenda!

WBRC Welcomes New Nurse Manager

WBRC is proud to announce that Roschild Grullon has accepted the position of WBRC Nurse Manager.  Ms. Grullon started in September of 2014.  She is a registered nurse with a Master's Degree in Public Health Administration from New York University.  She previously worked at New York Presbyterian/Colombia University Medical Center and has practiced in cardiology, OB and behavioral health.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Roschild!

WBRC Welcomes New CNVR Program Coordinator

Photo: Ms. Leanne Wakefield, new WBRC CNVR Coordinator

 

WBRC is proud to announce that Ms. Leanne Wakefield has accepted the position of WBRC Comprehensive Neurological Vision Rehabilitation (CNVR) Program Coordinator.  Ms. Wakefield started the position on Feb. 24^th, 2014.  Ms. Wakefield has a Master’s of Social Work from University of Southern California and a Master’s of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from CSU Fresno. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor and also a certified case manager.  She has over seven years of experience working at a level I trauma and burn center within acute medical and acute rehabilitation units providing case managed and social services.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Leanne!

 

CLICK HERE to learn more about the WBRC CNVR Program

WBRC Welcomes New Administrative Officer

Photo: Mr. Mark Edwards, new WBRC Administrative Officer

WBRC is proud to announce that Mr. Mark Edwards has accepted the position of WBRC Administrative Officer.  He started the position on Feb. 10th, 2014.  Mr. Edwards is a 14 year veteran of the United States Navy.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1990 as an Aviation Electrician’s Mate (AE).  Mr. Edwards earned a commission in the Navy through the NROTC program at Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from 1993 to 1997.  In his 14 years of active duty, he served on three ships: the USS America (CV-66) assigned to aircraft squadron VAW-123, the USS Estocin (FFG-15) as the Communications Officer, and the USS-Nimitz (CVN-68) as the Electrical Officer.  He also subsequently served as a Human Resources Officer for 5 years and attended graduate school at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California.  Mr. Edwards previously worked for the VA Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania starting in September of 2009 where he worked as an administrator in the Surgical Clinics.  Mr. Edwards was then was competitively selected by the Human Resources (ER/LR) Department at the VA Hospital in Pittsburgh in October of 2013 prior to being selected for the WBRC Administrative Officer position in November 2013.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Mark!

WBRC Welcomes New Manual Skills Instructor

Photo: Annalise Shaffer, new WBRC Manual Skills Instructor
 

WBRC is proud to announce that Annalise Shaffer has accepted the position of WBRC Manual Skills Instructor.  Ms. Shaffer started on January 14, 2014.  Ms. Shaffer completed her Master’s Degree in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy at Western Michigan University in 2013, and completed a Bachelor’s Degree in International Global Studies from WMU in 2012.  She is accredited by ACVREP as a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist and previously Interned at Edward Hines Jr. Hospital in Chicago. Welcome to the WBRC Team Anna!

WBRC Welcomes New O&M Instructor

Ms. Hass & Guide Dog Puppy Hawthorne

WBRC is proud to announce that Ms. Lindsay Hass has accepted the position of WBRC Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Instructor.  Ms. Hass started on October 7th.  Ms. Hass completed her Master’s degree in Special Education with emphasis in Guide Dog Mobility and Orientation & Mobility at San Francisco State University in 2010.  She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Spanish from the University of California, Davis.  Ms. Hass completed her Graduate Level O&M internship at the WBRC in 2010 and is an ACVREP certified O&M Specialist (COMS).  Ms. Hass previously worked for the San Diego Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired, where she served as an O&M Specialist.  She also participates in the Guide Dogs for the Blind puppy raising program and is currently raising Hawthorne, a male Yellow Labrador Retriever, which is her 5th guide dog puppy.  Welcome to the WBRC Team Lindsay!