A certified teacher of children with visual impairments (TCVI) provides both direct and consultative services relating to the education of students who have visual impairments within TMCSEA's twenty-one member districts. A TCVI can provide for the needs of a student in a variety of ways. Services can be offered through direct instruction or consultation with the educators involved in a student's education as well as the student themselves. Teachers of children with visual impairments also provide:

• Information & instruction in the use of vision related assistive technology & adapted materials
• Braille & Nemeth Code instruction
• Instruction in & collaboration to incorportate of the expanded core curriculum into the educatinal/home setting (technology, social skills, independent living skills, sensory efficiency skills, O/M, career education, recreation & leisure, compensatory academic skills, & self-determination)
• Learning materials in the appropriate media, whether it be Braille, large print, recorded material, or tactual symbols
• Any necessary assessments related to vision including a Functional Vision Assessment & Learning Media Assessment
• Assistance in determining & obtaining necessary equipment, aids/materials the students may require to aid them in performing in the classroom/home environment. This includes low vision devices, AT, computer use, or a Brailler.
• A low vision clinic for students. This annual event allows the TCVI, parents & the student to interact with an eye care profession who specializes in meeting the needs of patients who have low vision. Students are fitted for glasses & other optical aids that may contribute to his/her success in the classroom

Who typically qualifies for services from a TCVI??

• Students who have a vision loss primarily due to pathology rather than a visual perception problem.
• Students who have an acuity loss of 20/70 or higher.
• Students who have a significant field loss.
• Students who have a cortical visual impairment.
• Students who have a degenerative eye condition.

Some Tips for Working with Students with Visual Impairments:

1. Preferential seating is important. Most students with visual impairments need to sit at the front of a learning acitivity. This may mean that he/she needs to be allowed to move around the room in order to position themselves in a manner in which they can see. Younger students often need to be told where to sit while older students need to be encouraged to locate the best seat or position for them.
2. Provide additional locker or desk space to accommodate student needs related to a visual impairment. (Braille or large print books, optical devices, reading stands, technology)
3. Children who have visual impairments often miss facial expressions or visual cues given, therefore, verbal cueing may be necessary to inform a student of a direction.
4. Many students who have visuall impairments have assistive technology/adpative devices that will aid them in being successful. (Braille writer, note takers, CCTVS, computer software, magnifers, specialized paper, etc.) Encourage them to use what they are given.
5. When addressing students who have low vision, avoid standing in front of windows or bright light source. Many students will have difficulty with sensitivity to light, causing them to have difficulty looking & concentraining on the speaker when a bright light source is in front of them.

Organizations

• American Foundation for the Blind
• National Foundation for the Blind
• American Counsil for the Blind

Parent Resources

• Illinois Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
• Family connect (AFB)
• National Organization of Parents of Blind Children

Braille Information/Books

• Braille Bug from AFB
• Seedlings Braille Books for Children
• Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
• Illinois Instructional Materials Center

For more information contact Kristina Neville, Program Coordinator or Jasmine Wells, Teacher of the Visually Impaired