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) |
|---|
Family-to-Family Communities
Wonderful Families!
Family-to-Family Communities registration is open until August 10, 2019!
We are offering 9 groups for English-speaking family members and 2 groups for Spanish-speaking family members. Please see the flyers for more information, and please share with other families you may know!
If you have any questions or wish to explore this as an opportunity, please feel free to contact Edgenie Bellah at or 512-206-9423. You are also welcome to contact Carol Darrah, F2FC Coordinator, at or (706) 542-2433.
Looking forward to another successful Family to Family Communities year for Texas families!
Familias Maravillosas!
¡Las inscripciones de Comunidades de Famila-a-Familia estáran abiertas hasta el 10 de agosto de 2019!
Estaremos ofreciendo 9 grupos para familiares que hablan Ingles y 2 grupos para familiares de habla hispana. ¡Porfavor de leer los folletos adjuntos para obtener más información y comparta con otras familias que usted conosca!
Si tiene alguna pregunta o desea explorar esto como una oportunidad, no dude en contactarle a Edgenie Bellah al or 512-206-9423. También puede contactar a Carol Darrah, Coordinadora de F2FC, al or (706) 542-2433.
¡Esperamos otro año exitoso de Comunidades de Familia a Familia para las familias de Texas!
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.
| Downloads: | Transcript (txt) | Audio (mp3) |
Free Online Nemeth Resource
A FREE Nemeth online resource is now available for Pre-K through 8th grade levels 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 for PreK - 1st grade, 2nd - 3rd grade, and 4th - 6th and 7/8 grade are already available here, Look for the upper level math grades to be posted in the fall of 2019.
Resources for General Ed Teachers and Other Team Members Working with an Elementary Age Student with a Visual Impairment
Developed by: Dr. Tina Herzberg, University of South Carolina Upstate
Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum, University of Arizona
***FREE ***SELF-PACED ***ONLINE ***AVAILABLE IN SUMMER
Please pass this along to any teacher you may be working with in the coming school year. Download the Flyer
The training is for those who will be working with a student with a visual impairment in 2019-2020. It will remain open until September 15, 2019.
Requirements:
- Complete a short demographic survey
- Take a pre-test
- Complete 11 units each 8-12 minutes on topics related to working with an elementary aged student with a visual impairment.
- Some of the topics include:
- How Do You Use Your Vision?
- Understanding the Numbers Behind a Student’s Visual Impairment and the Use of Functional Vision
- What is Braille and How Do Students Read It?
- Who’s on My Student’s Educational Team?
- How Does the Student Use Technology in My Classroom?
- Take a post-test
- Complete a follow-up survey
Those who complete the requirements will receive a certificate for 5 hours of continuing education credit.
OPTIONAL: Those who complete two assignments to demonstrate knowledge gained through the training will receive a certificate for 8 hours of continuing education credit instead of 5 hours.
How to Sign up or Get More Information:
Please complete the consent form and short demographic survey. Within 2 weeks, you will receive information on how to enter the Blackboard site.
For more information contact:
Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum
520-621-1223
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!
For additional articles and resources that have been featured on our home page, visit the Home Page Archive.
Siri Shortcuts for Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Imagine using a powerful technology to simplify everyday life. Siri Shortcuts can be used to make frequent tasks easy and allow users to execute multiple tasks with a single voice command or tap. Dan Brown provides the details.
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.