Professionals

Learn About Our Supports for Educators

The Outreach Programs of TSBVI serve as a statewide resource for families and professionals that support students who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Get in touch with our team today!

Our services include:

• Consultation on Student Programming. The staff consults with local school districts on student programming, implementation of evidence-based practices, and transition planning, in coordination with regional education service centers. A request for individual student consultation or local teacher training must come from the local school district staff.
• Family Support. TSBVI Outreach supports families of children with visual impairment and/or Deafblindness to gain access to resources, connection to other families, and needed training. Families can request information, home consultation, assistance to attend training, and/or helpful connection to other families.
• Statewide Training. The staff provides local and regional workshops, sponsors on-campus workshops and statewide conferences, online courses, and live and archived webinars.
• Publications and Materials. The Outreach Program produces original materials, including a bi-annual publication (TX SenseAbilities), instructional modules, blogs, and a variety of distance learning materials.
• Tech Loan Program. Subject to availability, local school districts may borrow specialized technology for use by individual students for up to one school year by completing a technology loan application. The technology loan program administered through the TSBVI Outreach Department is available to any local school district within the state of Texas.
• VI Registration Coordination. TSBVI provides guidance and coordination of the statewide registration of students with visual impairments and the Deafblind census.
• APH Materials Distribution. Specialized materials from the American Printing House for the Blind may be ordered from the TSBVI Outreach Program using federal quota funds to provide VI specific materials to eligible students.
• Coordination of Professional Mentors and Support for Professional Preparation Programs. TSBVI provides professional mentorship to new teachers of students with visual impairments and certified orientation and mobility specialists. This is accomplished in collaboration with universities and regional education service centers that recruit and train new professionals in the field.