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Photo of Dr. Diane Fazzi


Introduction
Teaching Interests
Research Interests
Educational Background
Charter College of Education

Division of Special Education and Counseling

Diane L. Fazzi, Ph.D., COMS
Professor

Office: KH C1070
Phone: (323) 343-4411
FAX: (323) 343-5605
Email: dfazzi@calstatela.edu

INTRODUCTION

Dr. Fazzi is a Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS) and coordinates the Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Specialist Training Program in Visual Impairment & Blindness in the Division of Special Education. The O&M program at CSULA was started in 1967 and has continued to grow and evolve to meet state and national standards for the preparation of O&M specialists to serve children and adults with visual impairments.

Dr. Fazzi serves as Project Director on federally funded personnel preparation grants in the areas of O&M and teacher preparation in visual impairment. These grants provide support for graduate students who are interested in becoming professionals in the field of visual impairment and blindness, serving children, youth, and adults from diverse backgrounds. Grant funds may be available on a competitive basis to all qualified applicants.

TEACHING INTERESTS

Dr. Fazzi's primary instructional load consists of courses in the Programs in Visual Impairment & Blindness, including teaching instructional strategies and advanced issues in the field of blindness. Dr. Fazzi supervises O&M practicum and internship students in a wide variety of settings, including private agencies, public schools, and blind rehabilitation centers that serve individuals with visual impairments.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Her research interests include early childhood development for children with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities. She has authored texts, chapters, and articles on the topics of visual impairment and blindness, with an emphasis on orientation and mobility for young children. She makes numerous scholarly presentations at state, national, and international conferences in the field of visual impairment. Her most recent presentations have been on the topic area of orientation and mobility for young children, orientation and mobility for students with multiple disabilities, and strategies for on-line instruction.

Representative Professional Activities

Date

Publications/Presentations
2002 Pogrund, R. L., & Fazzi, D. L. (Eds.) Early focus: Working with young children who are blind or visually impaired and their families (2nd edition). New York: AFB Press.
2001 Fazzi, D. L., & Petersmeyer, B.A. (2001). Imagining the possibilities: Creative approaches to orientation and mobility instruction for persons who are visually impaired. New York: AFB Press.
1998 Fazzi, D.L. (1998). Facilitating independent travel for students who have visual impairments with other disabilities. In S Sacks & R. Silberman (Eds.) Educating students who have visual impairments with other disabilities, pp. 441-468. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
1997 Fazzi, D. L. (1997). Visual Impairments. In J. Wood, & A. Lazarri (Eds.) Exceeding the boundaries: Understanding exceptional lives, (1st ed.), pp. 328 - 365. Fortworth, TX: Harcourt Brace.
1996 DuPass, M., & Fazzi, D. L. (1996). State qualifications for orientation & mobility specialists working in the public school system: A national survey. RE:view, 28 (3), 136-144.
1996 Fazzi, D. L., Blasch, B. B., Sauerburger, D., & Millar, D. (1996). Ca persons who are blind or have other disabilities safely and effectively teach orientation and mobility (Point-Counterpoint). Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 90 (1), 4-9.
1994 Fazzi, D. L. (1994). Orientation and mobility for young children with multiple disabilities. In Blind Childrens Center (Eds.) Starting points: Instructional practices for young children whose multiple disabilities include visual impairment. Los Angeles: Blind Childrens Center.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Ph.D. Special Education June 1993
UCLA-CSULA Joint Doctoral Program

Los Angeles, CA

M.Ed. Rehabilitation of the Blind - Orientation & Mobility August 1984
University of Arkansas at Little Rock

Little Rock, Arkansas

B.S. Elementary Education - Visually Handicapped August 1983
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown, PA

Office Hours not available at this time.

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