Braille and Audio Classical Guitar Lessons Now Available
"Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is happy to introduce Let's Play! - a collection of step-by-step Braille and audio classical guitar lessons.
The Let's Play! curriculum was designed by Joseph Palmer and TSBVI Music teacher Jeremy Coleman along with Dr. Matthew Hinsley of Austin Classical Guitar and the GuitarCurriculum.com education team. There are six levels of instruction and a guide to tuning a guitar - all free to download at letsplayguitar.org. You may also order a printed braille package from the TSBVI Online Store for $20.
TSBVI appreciates the efforts of all those who made this resource possible and encourages educators and enthusiasts to take full advantage of letsplayguitar.org. "
- William Daugherty, Superintendent
2018 ACBT Conference / Convention
The American Council of the Blind of Texas (ACBT) will hold its 40th annual Conference/Convention Thursday, September 20 through Sunday, September 23 at the Houston Marriott Westchase. View details and register.
Assistive Technology Survey - Participants Needed
Dear TVI, O&M Specialist, or Specialized personnel:
You are invited to complete a survey on assistive technology skills and products being taught to high-school students by teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs), orientation and mobility instructors (O&Ms), and other specialized personnel.
This research has been approved by Florida State University’s Institutional Review Board. It is being conducted by Sandra Lewis, Ed.D., Eric Caruso, M.S., and Nicholas Trotter, M.Ed.
We are interested in understanding the assistive technology skills and products being taught to high-school students, what factors might act as barriers to that instruction, and how that instruction varies based on teacher characteristics. Learning more about assistive technology instruction may lead to identifying and developing better practices for educating students with visual impairments.
We are looking for TVIs, O&Ms, and other specialized personnel currently providing assistive technology instruction to high-school students who participate in general education courses.
We anticipate it will take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey.
Please forward this link to other professionals you believe are eligible to complete this survey. Link to Survey
Visually Impaired Students Learn to Code
Representatives from tech giant Apple recently visited the TSBVI campus to unveil talking technology that allows blind students to create computer programs. The "Everyone Can Code" curriculum is designed to be accessible to all students.
Download Braille Books
From the TSBVI card catalog you can now search for books by name or braille format (contracted/uncontracted), braille translator extension (abt, brf, or dxb), or braille translator name (Braille2000 or Duxbury). And, you can search for UEB books - we will have some up by the new year.
Go to the TSBVI card catalog and search for "dogs brf uncontracted". Help is available at Help with braille files.
Recruiting Academic Students who Want to Build Their Graphic Literacy Skills
Do you have a student who is doing math at the 5th to 7th grade level who can benefit from systematic instruction in using graphics to gather information to solve math problems? As a TVI, are you looking for strategies to teach your students so they are efficient consumers of graphics?
Read more: Recruiting Academic Students who Want to Build Their Graphic Literacy Skills
Skyward Family Access, a web-based method for parents to access their student's school information, is now available!
For School Year/Comprehensive Programs students, TSBVI is pleased to announce the launch of Skyward Family Access, a web-based method for parents to access the student's school information, including grade history, grades and attendance.
More Announcements, News & Current Events
- TSBVI in the News - On occasion, the great work happening at TSBVI spills over into local and national news feeds. Be sure to follow @TSBVI_News on Twitter for the latest media sightings!
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