Code of Professional Ethics for NOMC Certification
July of 2002
As updated February 22, 2006
Preamble
The National Blindness Professional Certification Board's (NBPCB) CODE OF PROFESSIONAL ETHICS is a public statement of the common set of values and principles used to promote and maintain high standards of behavior among those specialists in work with the blind who elect and are accepted to become Certified Blindness Professionals through this Board's certification processes. The Board is committed to furthering the ability of persons who are blind or partially blind to function competently, independently, and successfully not only in their own environments but also as fully integrated and participating citizens in the broader society. To this end, all Certified Blindness Professionals (CBPs), working at all professional levels, shall treat persons who are blind or partially blind with dignity and respect and will provide the best possible training and related vocational rehabilitation services which can be offered, based upon the most current techniques and training principles available at the time. It is the ongoing objective of CBPs to act in an ethical manner.
Acceptance of an NBPCB certification commits the CBP to adherence to these ethical principles. Any action in violation of either the spirit or purpose of this Code shall be considered to be unethical and shall be grounds for immediate suspension or revocation of certification. An intentional Code violation by any CBP shall serve as prima facia evidence of his or her desire and choice voluntarily to relinquish NBPCB certification and to forfeit all rights or privileges which inure to a person by reason of holding one of this Board's professional certifications.
It is the responsibility of each CBP to review and to come fully to understand these ethical principles. Lack of knowledge or understanding of an ethical responsibility may not be used as a defense against a charge of unethical conduct. Since the use—in connection with a certificant's name and/or title—of a designation relating to one of the NBPCB certifications (such as NOMC) is a privilege granted by the NBPCB, this Board reserves unto itself the sole power to suspend or revoke this privilege upon a determination that a Code violation has occurred. If a violation is found, the CBP will relinquish the certification designation.
Definitions
0.01. Blind means any person who is totally blind or any person who is functionally blind—that is, a person who is partially blind and who uses alternative techniques to enable him or her to perform a majority of life's essential activities or functions competently, independently, competitively and successfully.
0.02. Board means the National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Inc.
0.03. CBP means any professional in work with the blind who has qualified for and received certification from the National Blindness Professional Certification Board. Blindness professionals may become certified in the areas of Orientation and Mobility, Teacher of Blind Students, Rehabilitation Counselor, Rehabilitation Teacher or Independent Living Teacher.
0.04. Consumer means a blind person as defined in section 0.01 above who is a child or student receiving special educational services; an adult client receiving Vocational Rehabilitation services, Rehabilitation Teaching services or Independent Living services from any state or private agency for the blind; or a blind person who has contracted privately with a CBP for educational or adjustment to blindness services.
0.05. NBPCB means the National Blindness Professional Certification Board, Inc.
Principle 1. CBP Core Values and Beliefs
1.01. The CBP operates from an understanding that persons who are blind or partially blind are normal people who cannot see and that blindness is a normal characteristic like the hundreds of others which, taken together, mold each of us into an unique human being. Based upon this fundamental truth, the CBP provides his or her blindness-related services with the high expectation that the blind or partially blind consumer with whom he or she is working will be able to do what normal people do, upon completion of proper blindness training and services. Personal empowerment and complete integration into the broader society are the aspirational goals and objectives for consumers of CBP services. The CBP strives at all times to help the blind or partially blind consumer achieve these objectives and become the very best that he or she is capable of becoming.
1.02. The CBP understands that persons who are blind or partially blind are members of a visible and identifiable minority and that, therefore, the primary problem faced by persons who are blind is attitudinal rather than physical—that is, there are widespread public misconceptions and misunderstandings about blindness which lead to beliefs and feelings of inferiority. While these public attitudes about blindness are socially constructed rather than factual, they are prominent in our society and in the emotions of consumers of services for the blind. Therefore, each of the blindness services which are provided by CBPs must be designed and intended to teach consumers of services a new and constructive set of attitudes, based upon an understanding that the prevailing views about blindness are wrong and harmful.
1.03. The CBP understands that the overarching objective of the services which are being provided is to enable the blind or partially blind consumer to come emotionally—not just intellectually—to understand that he or she is a normal person who can be truly independent and self-sufficient.
1.04. The CBP understands that quality training in the skills or alternative techniques of blindness is essential to freedom and independence for persons who are blind or partially blind and that the skills should not merely be introduced—they should be mastered by the consumer. The CBP also understands, however, that the simple skills of blindness such as Braille or cane travel are not ends unto themselves but are merely small parts of a larger objective—helping the consumer adjust fully to his or her blindness.
1.05. The CBP understands that the blind or partially blind consumer must learn to cope calmly and unemotionally with the unusual or demeaning things other people will do or say because of the public's misconceptions about blindness. Therefore, discussions concerning prevailing misunderstandings and misconceptions and the consumer's responses to them are appropriately sprinkled throughout class or training sessions.
1.06. The CBP understands that the blind or partially blind consumer must learn to blend in and be acceptable and desirable to the broader society. Therefore, discussions are appropriate to help the consumer learn what it takes in the way of good habits regarding appearance, punctuality, reliability, courtesy and the like for the blind person to be enabled to blend in satisfactorily.
Principle II. Beneficence
2.01. The CBP shall demonstrate an ongoing concern for the wellbeing of each of the blind or partially blind persons with whom he or she is working.
2.02. The CBP shall provide services in a fair and equitable manner. In this connection, CBPs recognize and appreciate the cultural components of economics, geography, race, ethnicity, religious and political factors, marital status and the sexual orientation of all blind or partially blind consumers of services.
2.03. The CBP shall make every effort to advocate for those blind or partially blind persons with whom he or she is working to obtain needed high quality educational or adjustment to blindness services through all available means.
Principle III. Normaleficence
3.01. The CBP shall take reasonable precautions to avoid imposing or inflicting harm upon the blind or partially blind consumer with whom he or she is working.
3.02. The CBP shall maintain relationships that do not exploit blind or partially blind consumers sexually, physically, emotionally, financially, socially or in any other manner.
Principle IV. Autonomy, Privacy and Confidentiality
4.01. The CBP shall respect the rights of the blind or partially blind person with whom he or she is working.
4.02. The CBP shall collaborate with the blind or partially blind consumer in setting goals and priorities throughout the training period. For consumers of Vocational Rehabilitation services, the CBP shall respect the consumer's rights under the Informed Choice provisions of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act and will also do his or her best to provide relevant and factual information about programs and services so that the consumer's ultimate choice can truly be informed.
4.03. If research is to be conducted using information gathered by CBPs through the provision of their services, the CBP shall obtain informed consent from the blind or partially blind consumer or consumers with whom he or she is working before using any personal information which might be published as a result of the research. Statistical information only may be used without the consumer's consent.
4.04. The CBP shall protect and keep confidential all privileged forms of written, verbal and electronic communication concerning the blind or partially blind consumer, unless consent has been provided by the consumer, or unless otherwise mandated by local, state or federal laws or regulations.
Principle V. Duty
5.01. The CBP shall achieve and continually maintain high standards of competence in his or her chosen profession.
5.02. The CBP shall obtain and maintain any state or private credentials required for the services which are being provided.
5.03. The CBP shall take responsibility for maintaining and improving competence by participating regularly in professional development and training opportunities.
5.04. The CBP shall provide appropriate supervision to individuals for whom he or she has supervisory responsibility.
5.05. The CBP shall refer to or consult with other qualified service providers whenever such a referral or consultation would be helpful to the adjustment to blindness of the blind or partially blind consumer.
Principle VI. Justice
6.01. The CBP shall comply with all laws and NBPCB policies which are intended to guide provision of services to persons who are blind or partially blind.
6.02. The CBP shall require those professionals whom he or she supervises in educational or adjustment to blindness activities to adhere to the NBPCB Code of Professional Ethics.
6.03. The CBP shall take reasonable steps to ensure that employers are aware of CBPs' ethical obligations, as set forth and promulgated in this Code of Professional Ethics.
Principle VII. Veracity
7.01. The CBP shall provide fair and accurate information about available educational or adjustment to blindness services.
7.02. The CBP shall accurately represent his or her credentials, qualifications, educational background, experience, training and competence.
7.03. The CBP shall disclose any professional, personal, financial, business or volunteer affiliations that potentially could pose a conflict of interest to those with whom he or she may establish a professional, contractual or other working relationship.
7.04. The CBP shall refrain from using or participating in the use of any form of communication that contains false, fraudulent, deceptive or unfair statements or claims concerning colleagues or service providers.
Principle VII. Fidelity
8.01. The CBP shall treat colleagues and other blindness professionals with fairness, discretion and integrity.
8.02. The CBP shall preserve, respect and safeguard confidential information about colleagues and other blindness professionals, unless otherwise mandated by national, state or local laws.
8.03. The CBP shall accurately represent the qualifications, views, contributions and recommendations of colleagues.
8.04. The CBP shall take adequate measures to discourage, prevent, expose and correct any breaches of this Code of Professional Ethics and report any breaches to appropriate NBPCB officials for curative action.
8.05. The CBP shall familiarize himself or herself with established NBPCB policies and procedures created for the purpose of handling and resolving complaints arising out of alleged violations of the standards set forth in this Code of Professional Ethics.
Principle IX. Allegations of Unethical Acts or Practices
9.01. It shall be a breech of this Code of Conduct for any CBP to violate any Section of any Principle set forth in this document concerning CBP Core Values and Beliefs; Beneficence; Nonmaleficence; Autonomy, Privacy and Confidentiality; Duties; Justice; Veracity; and Fidelity. As indicated above in the Preamble to this document, an intentional violation of any Section of this Code shall be prima facia evidence of a CBPs affirmative decision to choose voluntarily to relinquish NBPCB certification.
9.02. An allegation of a violation of any Section of this Code shall be submitted in writing to the President (or his/her designee) for action. Where there is incontrovertible evidence of a violation of the Code by a current certificant which is not supported by written allegation, the Board has the authority to proceed with prosecution of the issue as though a complaint had been filed.
9.03. Within ten days of the receipt of a written allegation of violation of this Code, the President (or his/her designee) shall name a three-member panel to review the allegation and shall furnish each member with a written copy of the complaint. The three reviewers may be either NBPCB Board members or members of certification committees. The President shall name one of the three appointees as chairperson of the review panel.
9.04. The review panel may find (1) no violation and recommend dismissal of the complaint; (2) may find a minor violation; and recommend suspension for a fixed period of time, during which period the CBP shall correct his or her improper action; or (3), where a violation is clearly intentional and/or flagrant, the panel may find a serious violation and recommend total revocation of certification.
9.05. Within twenty days of receipt of the written allegation, the Chairperson of the review panel shall report the findings and recommendations of the panel to the President (or his/her designee) in writing, and the President shall notify the respondent in writing of the findings and recommendations of the panel.
9.06. Where the finding of the panel has been either to recommend suspension or revocation of certification, the respondent may request that the entire NBPCB Board review the decision of the panel. This request must be in writing and submitted to the President within ten days of receipt by the respondent of the panel's adverse decision.
9.07. If an appeal is submitted in writing to the President, he/she shall convene a meeting of the NBPCB Board, and the Board shall provide a written decision to the respondent within twenty days of receipt of the appeal. The Board may uphold, modify or reverse the panel decision. All decisions of the NBPCB Board shall be final.
9.08. Where a CBPs certification has been revoked, the respondent may apply for recertification after one full year has elapsed following the final revocation. It will be the responsibility of the respondent to demonstrate to the Board that a good faith effort has been made to correct the acts or practices giving rise to the revocation. A written request for re-certification must be submitted directly to the President, and the Board shall determine whether or not to grant re-certification. The respondent may not simply apply for certification through the usual certification application process.