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TSBVI's COVID-19 Response Center

Governor Abbott announced Texas schools are to remain closed through at least May 4th. We will of course abide by this requirement and continue to provide instructional support to students and families while working from home. It's amazing how many of our staff are connecting with students and how colleagues are supporting those efforts. As this becomes normal, and maybe the energy of change is wearing off, know that you have the support of myself and others. Remember to take care of yourselves.

Recommendations for health and safety can be found at tea.texas.gov/staywell.

Health & Wellness at Home

TSBVI strongly recommends everyone monitor the unfolding COVID-19 news via the Centers for Disease Control's website, taking care to follow health tips and guidance from these expert health professionals.

We also recommend the Region 13 COVID SPED Resources for Parents.

Family Resources

To help TSBVI families during this time, the TSBVI Social Work staff have put together "Family Resources: COVID-19", a Google Document with a list of resources for families.

Texas Health and Human Services has established a COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, help is available. Call the toll-free COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line at 833-986-1919. (PDF flyer)

National Caregiver Help Desk offers free support to family caregivers across the country. It is staffed by caregiving experts who can help you find the information you need to navigate your caregiving challenges and support you on your caregiving journey. https://www.caregiveraction.org/helpdesk

The Texas Education Agency has compiled a resource list for mental and behavioral health, grief and trauma, and virtual support lines. (Download the PDF, English)

For Families with Children and Adults who are DeafBlind

Myrna Medina and the California Deaf-Blind Services team have graciously invited any Spanish-speaking families with children or adults who are deafblind to their daily phone calls. These are great opportunities for connection and support. The drop-in calls will take place daily starting Monday, 3/30/20. The link for the Zoom meeting follows.

Myrna Medina y el equipo de California Deafblind Services han invitado amablemente a cualquier familia de habla hispana con niños o adultos sordociegos a sus llamadas telefónicas diarias. Estas son una gran oportunidad de conexión y apoyo. Esta llamadas se realizaran diariamente a partir del Lunes 30 de Marzo del 2020. Aquí esta el enlace para la reunión de Zoom.

Topic/Tema: Spanish Drop-in Calls / Llamadas en Español
Hora: 6:00 PM Central Time / hora central (US y Canadá)

Every week on Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, until May 11, 2020, 31 occurrence(s) / 
Cada semana, Lunes, Martes, Miércoles, Jueves y Viernes hasta el 11 de Mayo del 2020, 31 eventos.

Zoom Meeting
https://sfsu.zoom.us/j/741989383
Meeting ID: 741 989 383

Working with your Child at Home

Remote Engagement with TSBVI Teachers

TSBVI will be communicating with students and families via Zoom Video Conferencing, email, and the Remind App. For more information about Zoom Video Conferencing, check out the TSBVI Zoom Quick Start Guide.

To continue working with your child, we recommend downloading two free curriculum books from TSBVI:

Additionally, here are some other resources we think are great:

Information for School Year Students & Families

Comprehensive Programs Students & Families

Graduation 2020
More information coming soon.

Grading and Credit during School Closure
During this time of distance instruction and school closure, we will grade student work and issue report cards as usual. Teachers will provide students with remote engagement opportunities to receive instruction and demonstrate proficiency in the remaining content for a course so that students may be awarded credit.

Short-Term Programs Students & Families

Individualized Instruction

In certain situations, Short-Term Programs offers individualized instruction over the internet; for additional information contact Sara Merritt at or 512-206-9176.

Distance Learning Opportunities

Short-Term Programs offers two kinds of distance learning opportunities for visually impaired students. 

Self-paced online courses offer interactive learning experiences where students work through content individually and at their own pace on a computer. Students still have opportunities to ask questions of the teacher and collaborate with other students through learning activities in Google Classroom.

Real-time online courses offer students the opportunity to work through content with an instructor in real time. This instruction can be presented to groups or to individuals through video conferencing software over the internet.

Current Distance Learning Courses

Information for Summer Programs Students & Families

Summer Programs are currently scheduled as planned, and we hope it stays that way. However, TSBVI is closely monitoring COVID-19 conditions across the state and may make changes based on local and statewide guidance, and we will notify families and teachers of any changes to the summer schedule.

Please reach out to Sara Merritt, Principal of Short-Term Programs, 512-206-9176, or , if you have any questions or concerns.

Information for TVIs, O&Ms, and Other Professionals

Districts Working with TSBVI

For local districts with students currently attending the school year Comprehensive Programs:
TSBVI will remain in partnership with local districts to continue assisting in providing IEP services to their students with visual impairments. While students are not able to receive instruction on our campus, TSBVI staff will be actively engaged with local districts in communicating with families, identifying supportive family resources and developing temporary distance learning plans for each student.

VI/DB Professional Community

Visit TSBVI's Outreach Department for information on staying connected via online "Coffee Chats" every Monday and Wednesday, and find opportunities to engage with peers through email, social media, and ESC Works.

Stay Connected!

Connect with TSBVI on Facebook

 

TSBVI Coronavirus Disease(COVID-19) Response

March 24, 2020

Today, the City of Austin and Travis County issued a "Stay Home - Work Safe Order" effective midnight tonight through April 13th. Due to this requirement, our school will remain closed through at least April 13th, and we will continue to provide instructional support to students and families while working at home. We will continue to post updates on our website. Be safe and stay well.

March 16, 2020

Over the past few days, we've been receiving guidance from Texas, the City of Austin, Travis County, and nationally in regards to COVID-19. Earlier today, Austin ISD, the Texas School for the Deaf, and other local districts announced closure through at least April 3rd. Our school will be doing the same. This timeline can be extended at any time and we are preparing for that possibility.

Although our in-person programs will be cancelled, TSBVI will still be open and all employees will be able to work on-site as needed or remotely. We'll continue to support the educational needs of students that attend school on our campus and the remaining students who are visually impaired, blind, and DeafBlind throughout Texas.

During this difficult time, we want families to know we'll be reaching out following spring break. For now, we want staff to know they will continue to have their regularly scheduled hours as we work to support Texas students as determined by our mission. In order to achieve this goal, we'll need all staff to think creatively during this unique time.

Sincerely,
Emily Coleman
Superintendent

 

Read the TSBVI Coronavirus Disease Response Plan (PDF) from March 13th, 2020.

Garver Engineering Gives $5000 to TSBVI Makerspace

Last spring, TSBVI Comprehensive Programs students competed in the Garver Engineering Chain Reaction Challenge, spending several weeks researching, designing, prototyping, testing, and filming a successful chain reaction video for the competition. TSBVI students not only won the competition, but Garver was so impressed and moved by our students' perseverance that they donated an extra $5000 to the TSBVI Makerspace and partnered with TSBVI to build STEM kits specifically for students who are blind or visually impaired in other schools they serve.

Keeping TSBVI a Safe & Secure School 

TSBVI intends to ensure that all students feel safe and secure. Please click this link to report any safety concerns. The Safe and Supportive School Team will be notified and will investigate your concern. Thanks.

Welcome from TSBVI Superintendent Emily Coleman

Beginning in 2019, Emily has become the first woman to lead TSBVI in its 163-year history. As a certified teacher of students with visual impairment (TVI) — and also a parent of a child who is blind with additional disabilities — Emily possesses a deep understanding and appreciation of the challenges faced by VI professionals, educators, and family members as we strive to serve the specific needs of students who are visually impaired, including DeafBlind.

Emily’s background includes work as an itinerant teacher, statewide leadership with both TSBVI and the Washington State School for the Blind, national leadership as president of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and family leadership through her work with FamilyConnect. Emily brings that professionalism and dedication to the role of TSBVI Superintendent as she builds upon the school’s outstanding mission and its national and international reputation as a paragon for visual impairment services.

Enjoy Emily's welcome message!
PLAY FULL VIDEO  0:01:02

Downloads: Transcript (txt) Audio (mp3)

Presenting Our Student-Produced Video - "Special Ed"

Description: 'Special Ed,' is an original music video by fine arts students at the Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired.

PLAY FULL VIDEO 0:07:12

Downloads: Transcript (txt) Audio (mp3)

Free Online Nemeth Tutorials

A FREE Nemeth online resource is now available on the TSBVI Online Learning webpage!  It is designed to provide easy access to support learning or reinforcing Nemeth braille code skills for families, teachers or paraeducators working with students who are braille readers.  

These modules are a companion to the TSBVI publication, Nemeth at a Glance.  Dr. Derrick Smith, professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, was the creator of this series, with sections by Janet Bean, Lead Teacher in the TSBVI Curriculum Department.

Although presented in the grade-level order that symbols are typically introduced to students in school, you can dip in at any level to find specific symbols and examples.  

Modules include an explanation of the symbol, relevant rules, and examples of how to use the symbol in math examples. There are multiple samples of using Nemeth within UEB contexts.  Short, ungraded quizzes following each module will help document mastery of the material and provide useful feedback.  Completing these optional quizzes will lead to a certification of completion. 

Modules are available here. 

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. 

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.