TX SenseAbilities – Fall Winter 2021 Issue
Featured Article
Camp Guide Dogs for the Blind
A young adult takes us on her journey to Camp Guide Dogs for the Blind in Oregon. This week-long camp helped her gain an understanding of what it might be like to work with a guide dog in the future.
Family Wisdom
Exploring Origami Art: Feel It, Fold It, Fun!
Origami is an old art form in which beautiful creations are made from folding a single piece of paper. This article discusses how origami can be presented in an accessible format for people with visual impairments and how the author learned a new and entertaining hobby.
Art Activities at Home: It Does Not Take Vision to Make Art. It Takes Experiences
The art teacher from TSBVI shares ideas of projects that can be done at home by students with visual impairment.
I Believe Opportunities Matter
In a personal recount of Superintendent Emily Coleman’s family vacation to Yellowstone National Park, she reminds us that students need the opportunity to not merely participate in a collective experience but to also “actively contribute” to that experience.
Effective Practices
Music Class for Deafblind Students
deafblind, music, communication, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, emotional development, incidental learning, observational learning
Providing VI Services Within a Charter School System
Laura Hampton is a retired TVI from Birdville ISD who currently provides contract services within the Fort Worth area. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Stephen F. Austin State University. In this article, she shares her experiences with contracting with charter schools as a TVI.
How Do We Use What We Have Learned During the Pandemic to Move Education Forward for Children with Visual Impairments?
In this article, Dr. Rosenblum describes the work of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the education of children with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities and deafblindness. She discusses some of the findings from the Access and Engagement studies and considerations as we move forward with education in the 2021-2022 school year.
What’s Happening with Active Learning in Texas?
The authors provide an update on the expanding knowledge and use of Active Learning, a technique designed to provide education for students who are functioning within the developmental range of 0-48 months.
News & Views
TSBVI Believes in Our Students
In this article, TSBVI Superintendent Emily Coleman welcomes staff to the 2021-2022 school year and lays out the school’s vision for all 11,000 students across Texas who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. She also talks about not defining students with labels and shares thoughts from some of the school’s staff.
Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center Prepares Young Adults with Lifelong Skills to Navigate Life with Blindness
This article introduces readers to the Texas Workforce Commission’s Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center and the services that are available to young adults.
We Are Here to Help: HHSC Blind Children’s Program Updates
This article describes the service delivery model that is now offered through the Health and Human Services Commission’s Blind and Visually Impaired Children’s Program (BCP) since the pandemic. There is also an update on their Futures Planning series.