Mission Statement:
The Arkansas School for the Blind will offer statewide, quality educational
programs and resources to students who are blind or visually impaired, birth
through twenty-one, enabling them to become productive, self-sufficient
citizens through the involvement of all students, staff, parents, and
community.
Purpose:
The Early Intervention Program has been established to provide support,
guidance, and hands on training to parents and caregivers of all blind and
visually impaired infants and toddlers.
About the coordinator consultants:
Shelli Hardman Moore, Director
501) 296-1820
smoore@asb.k12.us.ar
Hello! Welcome to our program and thank you for stopping by our website!
We hope that you will find this website helpful and informative!
Because of my own life experiences in raising a blind child, I
understand the emotional roller coaster families can go through. I also
understand the importance of early intervention for babies. As an Early
Intervention Coordinator, I want to help parents and caregivers provide an
array of concrete, complete, meaningful, and connected experiences for their
babies, as well as provide parent networking education, and support.
Prior to this postition as an early intervention coordinator, I taught 5th
grade at ASB for five years and during that time I obtained a Master's of
Special Education, TSVI (Teaching students with visual impairment)degree from
the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Currently, I am working toward's a
Mobility and Orientation certification through UALR.
My professional memberships include: serving as a board member for The
Arkansas Chapter of the Association of the Education and Rehabilitation for
the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), The Council for Exceptional Children
(CEC), Division for Early Childhood (DEC) and the National Association for
Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI). I also serve as the
Parent Representative on the ASB's School Nutrition and Physical Activity
Advisory Committee.
Recently I helped co-found the Arkansas chapter of NAPVI. This is
an association for parent's of visually impaired children. I am very excited
about the possibilities, support, and networking this organization can
bring! AR-NAPVI has teamed up with ASB on several activities including:
Kiddie Camp, Summer Camp, Cookies with Santa, and parent meetings.
I’m married to John Moore, live in Maumelle, and have two beautiful
daughters. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you need help, have
questions, or just need another parent to talk to! I look forward to
speaking with you soon.
Bette Parker, TSVI
(501)296-1820
bparker@asb.k12.ar.us
About me...
Hello! My name is Bette Parker. I have been in Little Rock all my life,
except for the four years that I attended College. I graduated with a BSE in
Art from U of A in Fayetteville and in 1974 I was hired to teach Art at the
AR School for the Blind. During that time, I attended UALR and received my
vision certification. After teaching Art for 10 years, I transferred to
Educational Services for the Visually Impaired (ESVI). I worked with
visually impaired preschoolers (birth-five) for 21 years traveling to homes
and schools throughout southeast Arkansas. In July of 2005, I was hired as
an Early Intervention Coordinator with the Early Intervention Program at AR
School for the Blind. I love having direct contact with families and their
children. I feel early intervention for visually impaired children is so
important to enhance the child’s social, physical, and intellectual
development.
I have been very active in many professional organizations such as serving
as a board member for the Association for the Education of the
Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), Council for
Exceptional Children (CEC), Division for Early Childhood (DEC), Arkansas
Association for Blind Athletes (AABA), and the Deaf/ Blind Consortium.
I have had a wonderful career working and playing with visually impaired
children and their families. Somewhere in the middle of my career, I was
married for 15 years, but now I am divorced and live with my cat Allie. I am
a member of Fellowship Bible Church where I teach in the Special Needs
classroom. I love decorating, scrapbooking, sewing, and gardening.
Please call me for more information about our program (501-296-1820). I
welcome you to visit our Early Intervention Program at the Parent Resource
Center.