TSBVI Sponsored Workshops & Conferences

Outreach Programs sponsor and co-sponsor a variety of workshops and conferences on and off campus throughout the year.  We also collaborate with a number of organizations to help support their annual events.  Many of these events are available for as little as $25 (Early Bird) or $50 (Late Registration) which includes the cost of materials and two breaks.  For exact pricing please follow the links to the registration flyer for each of these events. 

Limited registration and/or travel stipends may be available for parents, paraprofessionals, and new teachers for select events.  Check each event's on-line registration to see if this assistance is available.

Most of our events are approved for Continuing Education Credits through both the State Board of Education Certification (SBEC) and the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).  Participants should go online to complete the evaluation after each event and their certificate(s) will be emailed to them.

Download the 2011-12 TSBVI Workshops & Conferences At-a-Glance to see a quick listing of all our events, download a more detailed listing of TSBVI Sponsored Workshops and Conferences, or download the 2011-12 Outreach Catalog of Services and Supports to have a more detailed listing.  If you want to browse our listings on the internet, just click on the month below:

September 2011

October 2011

November 2011

December 2011

January 2012

February 2012

March 2012

April 2012

September 29, 2011

Collaboration Skills: Meeting the Needs of Students with Visual Impairments in General Education Classes

Presenter: Ann Adkins, VI Outreach Consultant and Outreach Staff

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: This workshop will examine the roles of itinerant Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs), Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS), and general education teachers in order to identify effective ways to meet the needs of students who are visually impaired and served in general education classrooms. We will stress the importance of developing good collaboration skills and provide suggestions and strategies to help teachers support students who are visually impaired in inclusive settings.

Audience: COMS, TVIs, ECI professionals, parents.

Length of Training: 1 day.

October 6, 2011

Using Routines with Non-Ambulatory Infants & Preschoolers to Encourage the Development of Purposeful Movement

Presenter: Marjie Wood, COMS, AER Chair Division 9, Austin, TX

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: This session will share routines that have motivated infants and preschoolers to start moving and develop purposeful movement. This session is highly interactive and will include activities with baby dolls carried out on the floor, so be sure to wear comfortable clothing. Participants will be able to develop specialized routines for their students after the discussion on effective methods, materials and goals. This session is limited to 20 participants and is designed primarily for Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS) and Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs).

Audience: COMS, TVIs, ECI professionals, parents.

Length of Training: 1 day.

October 23-25, 2011

Mentor Center

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: VI professionals are a small, elite group that is spread out over the state.  Beginners may lack opportunities to observe seasoned VI teachers and O&M professionals in the classroom setting. Three times this school year we will be providing two days of classroom observation at TSBVI and in surrounding school districts for new VI professionals and Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin students currently enrolled in VI coursework. You will have the opportunity to discuss what you have observed and ask questions of the instructors during lunch and dinner. The mentor program pays for all hotel, meals, travel, and substitute teacher expenses; you just show up and learn!  For more information contact Eric Adcock at (512) 206-9434 or adcocke@tsbvi.edu.

Audience: Mentors and Protégés involved in the Mentor Program.

Length of Training: 2 days.

October 27, 2011

Adaptive PE for Students with Visual and Multiple Impairments

Presenter: Elina Mullen, Ed.D. CAPE, Adapted Physical Education Teacher, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: Like their peers, students with visual impairments, including those with significant additional impairments benefit greatly from learning recreational skills and fitness activities. Elina will share information about the impact of visual impairments and other disabilities on these students access to physical education and discuss strategies for including them in a variety of physical activities. She will emphasize adapting commercial products and modifying sports to allow for participation.

Audience: APE instructors, Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs), Teachers of the Deaf, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS), parents.

Length of Training: 1 day.

November 10-12, 2011

2011-12 SWOMA Conference:  Out of the Box and On a Shoe String

The SWOMA Planning Committee is pleased to announce the upcoming SWOMA Conference.  COMS need information about serving a wide range of individuals that include infants and toddlers, individuals with multiple impairments, elderly clients, and returning veterans.  The challenges of serving all these differing needs, keeping up with advancements in technology, and being sensitive to the emotional needs of each individual are rarely covered in most O&M training programs.  Thus the need for on-going inservice opportunities, like SWOMA.  COMS really need to learn how to think "outside the box" and with our current budget restrictions and reduced release time for training, we have to do it on a "shoe string". 

In order to make this year's SWOMA  time and cost effective as possible for participants, the SWOMA Planning Committee has made some unique plans for this year's event.  The conference will take place on the TSBVI campus in their new Conference Center.  A block of rooms has been saved at the Hotel Allandale which has rooms that can accommodate up to 8 people, many rooms include a kitchenette to allow participants to save on food and rooming costs.  Though the cost of the conference has been greatly reduced, the quality of the conference has not.

Tentatively scheduled speakers include:

• Diane Barnes
• Dr. Anne Corn
• Jim Durkel
• Dr. Nora Griffin-Shirley
• Joleen Kinzer
• Ruth Ann Marsh
• Scott Meyer
• Mary Tellefson
• Dr. Richard Templeton
• Melanie White
• Marjie Wood
• Representatives of the Veterans Administration And panels that include COMS, teachers, PT, OT, students, and adults.

Topics include:

• Traumatic brain Injury
• GPS:  An overview of devices and a hands-on experience
• DARS-DBS:  A Structured Discovery Method for O&M Instruction
• Usng Movement Routines for Non-Ambulatory Infants and Toddlers
• A Team Approach to O&M for Individuals with Multiple Impairments and Wheelchair Users
• Functional and Standards-based IEPs
• Intersection Rating Scale
• Cochlear Implants and Impact on Travel in a Variety of Environments
• APH O&M Product Showcase
• Panel of Young Adults:  Motivation through Recreation and Leisure
• Getting Wheels
• Happy Tapping:  Teaching Beginning Cane Skills to Toddlers
• O&M with Seniors
• and more.

SWOMA 2011-12 also includes opportunities for blindfold practice, an update on legislation, resources,  and news critical to COMs, a Dinner/Dance at Threadgill's Restaurant and vendors. 

Early bird registration opens August 19th for those wishing to register at the special reduced rate and continues until October 1st.  Registration closes on November 8th.  Seating is limited  so register now! 

December 1, 2011

Teaching Braille Music - HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED IN 2012

Presenters: Sharon Nichols, Outreach Technology Consultant, and Brian Sobeck, BA in Music Composition

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: Want to help your student learn to read braille music? This hands-on workshop will provide you with strategies and resources for doing just that.

Audience: Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs), Music Teachers.

Length of Training: 1 day.

December 2 & 3, 2011

Mentor Training

Presenters: Chrissy Cowan, Mentor Coordinator, Jim Durkel, Outreach Teacher, and Cyral Miller, Outreach Director, TSBVI Outreach Programs

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: This training will prepare experienced teachers of students with visual impairments and certified orientation and mobility specialists to mentor an individual who is either new to the VI profession or has recently moved to Texas. Applications are accepted from across the state with recommendations made by VI personnel at your education service center, your supervisor, and a co-worker. As a precursor to this training, participants will be required to complete an on-line course http://www.tsbvi.edu/course/index.htm that requires approximately 2 hours. For more information on this training contact Chrissy Cowan at 512-206-9367 or cowanc@tsbvi.edu.

Audience: Experienced Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs), Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS).

Length of Training: 1 ½ days.

January 13, 2012

Interesting Facts About Skin and the Importance of Good and Safe Touch in Brain Development

Presenter: Gigi Newton, Early Childhood Consultants, TSBVI Outreach Program

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: Studies have shown how important good and safe touch is for an infant’s survival, growth, and development both emotionally and physically. Information will be shared why good and safe touch is vital for all human beings and what techniques can be done to promote this type of touch.

Audience: Early childhood instructors, Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs), Teachers of the Deaf, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS), parents.

Length of Training: 1 day.

January 20, 2012

Assessment of Students with Visual Impairments: New Tools, Successful Strategies

Presenter: Marnee Loftin, Psychologist, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: Blindness is a very low incidence disability area, and most evaluation staff have irregular opportunities for assessing students with visual impairments. Time-tested tips and strategies will be shared. A new braille edition of the Woodcock Johnson and a new tool from Dr. Joan Chase offer improved options.

Audience: School psychologists, Diagnosticians, Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs).

Length of Training: 1 day.

February 12-14, 2012

Mentor Center

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: VI professionals are a small, elite group that is spread out over the state.  Beginners may lack opportunities to observe seasoned VI teachers and O&M professionals in the classroom setting. Three times this school year we will be providing two days of classroom observation at TSBVI and in surrounding school districts for new VI professionals and Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin students currently enrolled in VI coursework. You will have the opportunity to discuss what you have observed and ask questions of the instructors during lunch and dinner. The mentor program pays for all hotel, meals, travel, and substitute teacher expenses; you just show up and learn!  For more information contact Eric Adcock at (512) 206-9434 or adcocke@tsbvi.edu.

Audience: Mentors and Protégés involved in the Mentor Program.

Length of Training: 2 days.

March 29-31, 2012

TAER / Texas Focus Back-to-Back

This year TAER and Texas Focus are merging to form one event!  You may choose to attend only the TAER portion of the conference or the Texas Focus portion or both for a low cost.  Go to the TAER/Texas Focus Back-to-Back Conference website to learn more and to register.

April 20-22, 2012

Transition Weekend for Parents of Students with Deafblindness and Visual and Multiple Impairments

Presenters: David Wiley and Eva Lavigne, Transition Consultants, TSBVI Outreach

Location: TSBVI Outreach Conference Center

Workshop Summary: This workshop will address how to take a more active role in Transition Planning to help move learners with visual and multiple impairments or deafblindness toward a personally satisfying adult life in the community. Transition Planning is based on setting personal goals for a meaningful and productive life, taking steps toward realizing those goals, and making connections with allies who can help.  This weekend workshop is designed for families of children who have visual impairments or deafblindness, as well as additional disabilities which limit their independence and create a need for ongoing support, supervision, and assistance as they move into adulthood.  Participants will learn effective strategies to make the most of the secondary school years by being prepared to set clear and realistic goals that reflect the students preferences and abilities.  Though primarily designed for parents, professionals and paraprofessionals involved with the participating families may attend.

Audience: Parents of students with deafblindness or visual and multiple impairments, their invited educational team members.

Length of Training: 2 days.

Attachments:

TSBVI sponsored workshops and conferences at a glance	[ ]	41 Kb	08/19/11 13:42
2011-12 Outreach Catalog of Services and Support	[ ]	1168 Kb	08/19/11 13:15
TSBVI Workshops Conferences TETN 2011-12	[ ]	75 Kb	08/25/11 19:26