Navajo Elders, Blindness, and Cultural Competence: Part 1

Description

Join us for Part 1 of this enlightening presentation by disability advocate Sacheen Smith. This webinar explores culturally competent practices when working with Navajo (Diné) Elders who are blind or have low vision. Drawing on key insights from Native Communities on Health and Disability: Borderland Dialogues, the session highlights how cultural worldviews, relational communication styles, and traditional understandings of disability shape the experiences of Navajo Elders. 

Participants will learn how oral tradition, cultural silence, family-centered decision-making, and concepts of hózhó (balance and harmony) influence service engagement and trust-building. This guidance emphasizes respectful collaboration with families, recognition of traditional healing perspectives, and strategies that honor autonomy, dignity, and cultural identity. 

Attendees will gain practical approaches to enhance service delivery, reduce barriers, and support self-determination for Navajo Elders with blindness or low vision. This webinar is supported by the New Mexico Commission for the Blind.

Registration

Credits for Webinar

We are now offering 1 hour of ACVREP credit for our webinars! Read below for instructions on how to receive credit. Please note, CE credit will not be given for any of our webinars held before 2026.

Instructions for receiving credit for webinars:

If you attend live, follow these instructions:

1. Attend the entire webinar. OIB-TAC webinars are held on the third Friday of each month from 2:00 pm- 3:00 pm CT (except for June and December).
2. During the webinar, there will be two code words given. Listen for and make note of these words.
3. At the conclusion of the webinar, you will need to fill out a short form, which will ask you to provide your name as you would like it to appear on your certificate, both code words, and your greatest takeaway from the webinar. The link will be provided to you in three ways.
   1. The link will be posted in the chat at the conclusion of the webinar.
   2. The link will be sent out to all attendees the following Monday, unless otherwise stated in the webinar. Please note, if you use a phone to attend the meeting, we will not be able to send the link to your email.
   3. The link will be available on the specific webinar page of our website following the live webinar event.
4. Once you have completed the form, the OIB-TAC will send your CE certificate within 7-10 business days. If you do not receive the certificate within this time frame. Please email us at info@oib-tac.org.

If you watched the recorded version of the webinar on our website or YouTube channel, follow these instructions:

1. Watch the entire recorded webinar.
2. During the webinar, there will be two code words given. Listen for and make note of these words.
3. After you have finished watching the webinar, you will need to fill out a short form, which will ask you to provide your name as you would like it to appear on your certificate, both code words, and your greatest takeaway from the webinar. The link can be found on the specific webinar page of our website.
4. Once you have completed the form, the OIB-TAC will send your CE certificate within 7-10 business days. If you do not receive the certificate within this time frame. Please email us at info@oib-tac.org.

Presenter

Sacheen Smith is a Diné (Navajo) artist, advocate, and presenter dedicated to advancing disability rights, youth empowerment, and creative expression. With decades of leadership in national organizations, she brings her lived experience as a blind Diné woman to keynote talks, policy advocacy, mentorship, and arts education. Her work spans exhibitions, publications, and community initiatives, championing accessible education and uplifting individuals with disabilities across diverse communities.