[Image shows flyer with pictures of cups of coffee and computers with the text "Educators, Paraprofessionals, Coffee Hour with TSBVI. Mondays at 3:00 pm Central Time"]
Looking for some PD Time? Need a chance to visit with colleagues?
Please join members of our Outreach team in discussing topics related to supporting students and families of students with visual impairments or who are deafblind.
TSBVI Outreach Coffee Hour happens on Mondays at 3:00 PM (CDT) starting on August 2nd, 2021.
Captioning will be provided, if you need anything else, please email Kaycee Bennett at . Some logistics will be different this time around, but you can expect the same commitment to providing information, discussion, and collaboration on topics important to students who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind, including CVI, Active Learning, distance strategies, and family engagement.
Here are some important details:
1. Coffee Hour sessions happen every week on Mondays at 3:00 pm (CDT) starting on August 2nd, 2021.
2. Registration is required for each session. This means that CEUs are available! Registration links can be found in the schedule on this page.
(You must have an account in our ESC-Works system to register for the Coffee Hour sessions. If you do not have an account, you can set one up here.)
3. Zoom links will be provided for each session. So again, please make sure you register!
Looking for certificates, handouts, chat logs, or recordings?
Visit the TSBVI Outreach Coffee Hour archives. Here you can watch recordings and download handouts from past sessions. 2020 Coffee Hours - 2021 Coffee Hours
For sessions held before August 2020, view past materials (2019–2020 school year sessions only)
October Schedule
| Date | Time | Topic | Presenter(s) | Session Description | Register Here: (Registration closes 30 min. before session) |
| 10/4/2021 | 3:00 PM | Literacy Considerations for Individuals with CVI: Part 2 | Judy Endicott | Literacy Considerations for Individuals with Cortical Visual Impairment, Part 2, will address questions posted during the May 2021 presentation. Part 2 will further explore literacy experiences and the customization of curriculum for individuals in Phase II and Phase III (Roman-Lantzy, 2018) who are ready for instruction with print symbols. | https://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40336 |
| NO SESSION October 11 | |||||
| 10/18/2021 | 3:00 PM | Nemeth in a Box | Susan Osterhaus, Tina Herzberg, and Sara Larkin | This session will share a variety of games, activities, and resources that can be used when providing instruction of Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts to students at the middle school level. It will include the use of Which One Doesn't Belong (WODB), Bingo, What is Wrong (WOW), What is the Question, Mazes, Boggle, and Jeopardy! This can be done virtually and in person. The purpose of the games is to promote critical thinking skills while learning the Nemeth code and reinforcing math concepts. Participants will be able to: 1. Identify ways to include families in virtual instruction of the Nemeth Code. 2. Identify three activities that can be used to teach Nemeth code in person or virtually to middle school students who read braille. 3. Make connections between learning the Nemeth code and learning math. |
https://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40338 |
| 10/25/2021 | 3:00 PM | But What Do I DO with a Toddler?! | Karen Borg | This presentation will focus on instructional strategies for working with infants and toddlers with vision impairment. The session will touch on a variety of topics including, assessment; strategies for developing vision and compensatory skills; glasses and patching; complex kids; motor strategies; working with other professionals; etc. | https://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40344 |
November Schedule
| 11/1/2021 | 3:00 PM | Storytime. A Former Blind Child. How Technology Saved My Life. | Bill Boules | Bill Boules is a former blind student turned rehabilitation professional. Join us as he tells a story of learning to use technology in order to gain success. He will discuss gaining independence through exploration, education and empowerment. | https://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40367 |
| 11/8/2021 | 3:00 PM | From Eye Anatomy to Empowerment | Kathi Garza and Cindy Bachofer | Have you ever had a student say, “I hate it when somebody asks me about my eyes”? The presenters will discuss lesson ideas and strategies to help students gain confidence in responding to questions, comments, and curiosity about their vision. Learning about eye anatomy is a great place to start. | https://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40369 |
| 11/15/2021 | 3:00 PM | Step-By-Step: An Interactive Guide to Mobility Techniques | Dr. Sandra Rosen | Presentation of a computer curriculum that provides a step-by-step demonstration of how mobility skills are performed, of visual observation skills used by professionals to spot common performance errors made by new learners who are blind, and methods for correcting errors most efficiently. This webinar will also discuss the benefits of using the Step-by-Step curriculum in personnel preparation, skill review by direct service providers, and sharing with significant others who will assist in practicing selected skills with a traveler who is visually impaired. | https://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40371 |
| NO SESSION November 22 | |||||
| 11/29/2021 | 3:00 PM | Guidance for Planning Behavior Intervention for Children and Young Adults with DeafBlindness or Visual and Multiple Impairments | Deanna Peterson and Lynne McAlister | Join us for an overview of TSBVI's new behavior guidance document. We will explore ways to foster safety, success, independence, connectedness by using proactive and responsive strategies. We will also address how meeting these needs can impact behavior and lay the foundation for all development and learning. | hhttps://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40373 |
Looking for certificates, handouts, chat logs, or recordings?
Visit the new TSBVI Outreach Coffee Hour archives. Here you can watch recordings and download handouts from past sessions. (August 2020 to present)
For sessions held before August 2020, view past materials (2019–2020 school year sessions only)
Let us know how we are doing!
Please complete our session evaluation form.
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TSBVI Outreach Zoom Security
TSBVI Outreach is aware of current concerns with the Zoom videoconferencing platform, and we are following recommended practices to prevent unauthorized users from disrupting the events that we host in Zoom. To date, we have not had any adverse incidents during our webinars or the TSBVI Coffee Hour.
TSBVI Outreach takes the following precautions to keep our meetings safe:
Authenticated Users - all participants must be logged into a Zoom account, or verified through a Google or Facebook account. Requiring sign-ins allows us to hold participants accountable for their actions in the meeting. Please create a free Zoom account if you do not already have one.
Waiting Room - before the session starts, all participants must log into a waiting room. The waiting room allows us to be aware of who is attending the meeting and helps prevent disruption.
Recordings - Occasionally, we record the TSBVI Outreach Coffee Hour sessions for later viewing. If the session is being recorded, you will be notified by Zoom upon entry into the event.
Please email our media team at if you have questions or concerns about attending TSBVI Outreach Zoom events.