Stategies for an adequate supply of VI professionals

The Professional Preparation Advisory Group met on November 11, 2008 to determine future priorities and actions. The PPAG was divided into 4 groups to work on the domains listed below. Once developed, the work of each group was presented to the large group and priorities were voted on. Then, in an effort to acknowledge that some actions can be readily accomplished, and others need more time, the members were asked to identify those items which were important and how easy or quick it could be accomplished. Below is the data developed by the PPAG, the number of priority votes received and whether it would be easy, medium, or hard to accomplish. Please note that Item 1 in the Programming domain and Item 2 in the Miscellaneous domain were essentially the same. The votes for both items have been combined.

What can WE do to make a change? What/How can we leverage our resources to make that change?

Please reflect on all the information presented.
Information provided must be realistic and within the scope of this group.
Groups may brainstorm as part of their process, but they should develop solid statements.
Statements should be action-oriented and do-able.
Please be careful about indicating responsible party. This is an advisory committee. You will not be committing anyone to action, but it should be something that they can/will do.

Domain: Programming

Sub-domain: Increase support for new VI teachers
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1.	Provide a new VI teacher training package in all 20 regions. Replicate model from ESC 4 on a 2 –year cycle. 5 meetings/sessions per year Supporting materials and personal library Outside speakers Minimal travel reimbursements Content to include information related to: FVE and LMAs Infant and toddlers Itinerant teaching logistics Abacus Tactile graphics CVI Nemeth AT evaluations Build into network plan	VI consultants at ESCs Model adapted by ESC 4 consultants ESC consultants	Fall 09	30	4 easy 6 med 2 hard

Sub-domain: Communicate scope of job
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	Provide all ESCs with a recommended listing of training topics for O&M service providers that specifically address evaluation and intervention for infants, toddlers, MIVI, low vision students and students with additional disabilities. Develop and provide students and ESC consultants with a list of speakers and materials to support #1 above.	Sub-group of PPAG (university faculty, O&Ms, TSBVI outreach staff)	May 09	16	6 easy

Sub-domain: Job shadowing during training for O&M specialists and VI teachers
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	Infuse more observation and job shadowing into university courses.	Universities		10	9 easy
2	ESC will provide university programs with names of VI professionals willing to be shadowed by students.	ESC consultants	May 10	0	0

Domain: Miscellaneous

Sub-domain: Supporting a coordinated system of professional preparation
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	Increase notification of new students in the university programs to VI professionals at ESCs. VI staff can then start to build relationships with pre-service VI professionals and those with a temporary credential (emergency permit or probationary certificate). University faculty will assign students to get in touch with VI professionals at the ESC. The assignment should be such that the student can’t just get information off the internet and submit it. It was suggested that the student email the ESC, possibly with some questions. The VI professional would then respond to the questions, and turn in that email as the assignment.	Chrissy Cowan University faculty	May 08	19	20 easy
2	Explore “new teacher “program training through ESCs and offer it statewide.	Olga Uriegas	See Note in introduction.
3	Explore updating the RECC to include web-based accessible training. Pass out RECC bookmarks, and other activities to increase marketing the RECC.	Julie Prause (RECC) KC Dignan (RECC)		0	4 easy 1 med.

Sub-domain: Certification issues for students who are deafblind
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	PPAG will stay current on the plans to provide an associates degree through Utah State and the Hadley School for the Blind. The programs will be provided on-line and will be appropriate for VI paraprofessional and deafblind interveners. Information will also include how to advertise this program throughout the state.	Cyral Miller		0	1 easy 3 med.
2	Gather current information on certification for deafblind professionals and paraprofessionals through the ACVREP certification. Present information to the PPAG.	Cyral Miller	May 08	0	1 med. 3 hard

Sub-domain: O&M evaluations for ALL VI students
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	Work towards finding a sponsor for the legislation developed by AVIT. (Since the meeting, a sponsor has been found.)	Marjie Wood (AER) Marty Murrell	Immediately	10	5 med.

Domain: Recruitment and retention

Sub-domain: Collaborative recruitment and funding stream
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	Develop FAQs for ESCs and district special education administrators on “How to Homegrow your Own TVIs and O&M Specialists”. Document to be short; perhaps 1-2 pages long. Disseminate through ESC and on the TSBVI website.	Sub-committee from PPAG	May 09	19	13 easy

Sub-domain: Identify strategies to retain VI professionals
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	Increase caseload analysis in an effort to retain VI professionals by reducing caseloads.	ESC, TETN by TSBVI Outreach staff		15	6 easy 4 med. 5 hard

Sub-domain: Determine why new VI professionals leave the field
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Timeline	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1	Query protégées on Mentor Program Update form on reasons for either withdrawing from program or leaving the job.	Mentor Coordinator	May 2009	9	5 easy

Domain: Funding

Sub-domain: Collaborative recruitment and funding stream
Item Number	Action	Responsible person, agency, or entity	Priority Votes	Ease or Time Needed
1.	Explore Medicaid funding to pay for O&M and VI services.	KC Dignan	2	2 hard
2.	Encourage local school districts to pay the ESC “building use fee” generated by using the TETN system for training. This is done for the SLP program.		2	0
3.	Encourage parents to advocate for vision services by a qualified and certified VI professional.		0	1 med.
4.	Encourage special education administrators to hand pick personnel to become university students. This may save money in the long run since these staff members are more likely to stay in the position.		0	0
5.	Develop co-ops within co-ops to deliver shared VI and O&M services		2	0
6.	Continue to seek a variety of funding streams for university programs (ESCs, school districts, federal and state funds, grants, private funding.)		0	1 med.

Go to Top of Page

Agency Contact Information | Texas State Homepage | Texas State Wide Search

Please complete the comment form or send comments and suggestions to: Jim Allan (Webmaster-Jim Allan)

Last Revision: January 27, 2009