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What’s the Latest from the TSBVI Media Minute?

Authors: Suzanne Becker, Digital Archivist, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)

Abstract: Learn about the latest TSBVI Media Minute posts on the MakerSpace, Fine Arts, Theater, and Summer Programs. The Media Minute is a campus resource which uses current and historical media to highlight programming across various TSBVI departments—Comprehensive Programs (Instructional and Residential), Short-Term Programs, Outreach, and the Curriculum Department.

Are you wondering how students use 3D printing at TSBVI or where to see artwork in the local Austin community created by TSBVI students? Answers to these questions and information about programming across all departments at TSBVI are featured in the latest Media Minute posts on the TSBVI website. The Media Minute debuted during the 2023-2024 school year, as detailed in the Spring 2024 TX SenseAbilities magazine. This article will summarize the latest posts which highlight the TSBVI MakerSpace, fine arts, theater and TSBVI Summer Programs.

TSBVI MakerSpace

In March 2024, the Media Minute focused on the TSBVI MakerSpace, our history and the current space. What is a MakerSpace? A MakerSpace provides students with critical opportunities for hands-on learning in an organized and innovative environment that sparks creativity. The TSBVI MakerSpace has been around since 2018, first existing in a small corner of the Learning Resource Center (LRC) on campus. TSBVI developed a relationship with Garver, an employee-owned multi-disciplined engineering, planning, and environmental services firm. With Garver’s support and generous funding through the years, plus feedback from experts at the University of Texas, area schools, and Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, and with internal support from the TSBVI administration, the Operations Department, and dedicated staff, the MakerSpace had a grand opening in January 2024 during STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Week. Students and staff explored the new space in the Fine Arts Building on campus and had fun making hands-on projects. Equipped with tools, assistive technology, and inspiration, this unique classroom allows students to explore their interests learning hands-on skills and get real-world experience producing prototypes and physical products. The space hosts a variety of tools, 3D printers, a laser cutter, some woodworking equipment, electronic components, and a variety of materials for building, as well as accessible building kits and computers. 

Garver Transportation Manager, Bill Nguyen, who has been a volunteer and supporter of TSBVI since 2019, said about the new MakerSpace, “This new space provides students the opportunity to practice working with power tools, a 3D printer, and laser-cutting machines. It empowers them to pursue a career in STEM.” Indeed, three highly-skilled and creative high school Comprehensive Programs students participated as “The TSBVI Makers” in the Make48 competition at the Kansas School for the Blind in April 2024. Teams came from schools for the blind nationwide to compete in a multi-state challenge and had to create a working product prototype along with a marketing plan in only 48 hours. They utilized a variety of tools, materials, makerspaces and access to qualified experts who assisted them with the provided fabrication tools to prototype ideas of ranging complexity. The TSBVI Makers designed and produced accessible climbing wall rocks with adaptive hand and foot holds that blink and buzz when a climber’s hand or foot is within six inches of the rock. This system alerts climbers who are blind, visually impaired, or deaf when they are close to the next rock. They were awarded a $500 prize for their efforts!

The MakerSpace at TSBVI continues to grow and is also included in TSBVI Staff Development, where staff receive instruction in woodworking, electronics, laser cutting, and 3D printing throughout the year, including during the annual Tech Day training. Chris Correll, STEM coordinator and Instructional Specialist Teacher, facilitates classes who sign up to use the MakerSpace and supports teachers with meaningful hands-on projects. Listen to Chris and Sue O’Brien, Braille Transcriber/Adapted Materials Coordinator/Technology Apps Teacher, talk about creating accessible learning environments for STEM on TSBVI’s A Sense of Texas podcast with host TSBVI Superintendent Emily Coleman. 

A senior in Comprehensive Programs who graduated in May 2024 shared what the MakerSpace meant to her: 

I love getting to learn how to unscrew and rescrew a door knob in two different ways. I love making synthesizers and making pretty cool noises with them. Some other things that I love about the MakerSpace is how it has a 3D printer. I actually have two keychains made from the 3D printer, and I get asked about them a lot. I feel like you can learn a lot of different things in the MakerSpace. I feel that it should be a place that is more known to everyone on campus so that a lot more people can enjoy it just like I do! 

Chris added, “The amount of success and growth we’ve had in this short time is very promising, and I truly believe that hands-on long-term project learning is the key to both academic and lifelong success in every student’s life!”

Fine Arts at TSBVI

The April 2024 Media Minute post featured fine arts at TSBVI. Students responded to the question posed by Gretchen Bettes, their art teacher and TVI, “What does art mean to you?” A Comprehensive Programs senior shared, “Art class helps me bring out who I really am inside. Gives me space to be who I am.” A junior said, “I like doing art for entertainment. Art makes me feel calm.” A sophomore added, “Art class makes me happy. It feels good to make art. I like art because it makes me feel relaxed. It feels good to think about my art.” All departments across the TSBVI campus–Comprehensive Instructional and Residential Programs, Short Term Programs, Curriculum, and Outreach–recognize the importance of arts education for our students. The Media Minute post featured student works through the years done with clay, paint, fabric, yarn, wood, ink, cardboard, braille paper, stickers, and balloons, to name a few of the artistic mediums.

TSBVI Summer Programs 2024 debuted a new class called “Art for Credit I”. Designed to serve students who aren’t enrolled at TSBVI during the school year, this course offers State Board of Education credit toward high school graduation requirements in art for students who participate in two consecutive summer sessions. A student who participated in that program shared, 

My favorite thing about the summer art program was designing and learning how to play the Native American flute. It was really cool. I have continued playing the Native American flute over the summer. I enjoyed meeting and making new friends while we made beautiful artwork together. Can’t wait to come back next summer!

Another student said, “I had so much fun in the summer course it felt more like camp! I got to try a lot of different art projects that I’ve never experienced before. I even learned that I like weaving! I can’t wait to come back and finish the course next summer.” 

Weaving with students is a chapter in Artful Instruction: Making Art Accessible for Individuals who are Blind or Have Low Vision, the latest publication from the TSBVI Curriculum Department. This book is intended for teachers who work with students who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision, including those with complex access needs, and their families. Please see the announcement in the News and Views section for information on how to get a digital or print copy.

For the past two years, Comprehensive Programs students, along with Almost Real Things Gallery and professional artists, have collaborated on “Touch the Art,” a public sensory group exhibition. Almost Real Things Gallery elaborated about the partnership on their website and are expanding in 2025 with more ways to involve the greater community: 

After a visit to the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) in 2019, we were inspired to create a show that lets attendees break rules and touch art. We partnered with TSBVI for our first show in 2023. We included 8 professional artists and 20 student artists (ages 14-19). Our first year of “Touch the Art” focused on education, career development, networking and creating art for display and sale during our exhibition, with proceeds going to the artists and students. In 2024, we expanded the program to include 51 artists. We started with a paid 6-week mentorship program for 5 professional artists to lead 16 TSBVI students (ages 14-19) and collaborate on installations. We were trained by TSBVI staff on incidental learning, equitable accessibility and non-verbal communication. The artwork created was exhibited and sold alongside art from 30 additional artists in an immersive month-long show with music, activities and a documentary. Attendees were fully immersed in an experience that evoked all of the senses.

Several Austin news crews also reported on the “Touch the Art” events: KVUE covered the 2023 art show in April and May 2023. CBS Austin covered it in May 2023 and KXAN did a feature in April 2024. Stay tuned for exciting fine arts happenings at TSBVI in the 2024-2025 school year!

TSBVI Theater

The May 2024 Media Minute featured theater at TSBVI. Late Spring is usually a busy time on campus. Among final assignments, sports competitions, end-of-year events, and graduation, select TSBVI students and staff work day and night to prepare for the school play. This Media Minute post featured information about formal theater classes at TSBVI, opportunities for students to perform in annual holiday shows, plus Short Term Programs Actor’s Workshops. It also shared how TSBVI adapted the theater program as remote productions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with links to original recorded showtunes. Musicals, dramas, fairy tales, original productions–the TSBVI Theater Department has immense talent and creativity. Look for this year’s play in Spring 2025! TSBVI streams an evening performance for those who can’t make it to Austin to see the show live and we will announce the date of the show closer to the performance!

TSBVI Summer Programs

The September 2024 Media Minute featured TSBVI Summer Programs. Each summer, hundreds of students from around the state of Texas come to TSBVI to participate in Elementary Summer Enrichment, Secondary Enrichment, Working and Living in the Community (WALIC), and Summer Work Experience in Austin, TX (SWEAT) programs. Opportunities range from working as a design intern at a local sculpture garden, traveling through an art installation of over 8,000 hanging colorful bulbs, engaging in blind fencing, and building a model of the eye out of everyday items. These are just some of the enriching experiences of students who attend TSBVI Summer Programs.  

When a student who attended Elementary Summer Enrichment was asked to share something she enjoyed about Summer Programs, it was hard to pick just one!

I love going to the science museum. I like seeing other people who are blind or visually impaired. When it gets closer to the TSBVI camps it gets more and more exciting. I like going to restaurants. It’s really fun and you get to go on a lot of field trips!

In addition to the Art for Credit course mentioned above, Short Term Programs also offers a P.E. for Credit course for students who aren’t enrolled at TSBVI during the school year which satisfies high school graduation credit when completed in two consecutive summer sessions. Kathi Garza, TVI and VI Educational Consultant in TSBVI Outreach, who also has albinism, elaborated on the significance of the courses for credit:

I love to see that TSBVI is offering summer program options for credit. I predict that the Art and PE classes have a greater impact for students across the state than we can imagine. Those two subjects can be incredibly challenging for kids with visual impairments to access and might not offer an opportunity for meaningful engagement. As a student with low vision, I struggled to access content in both subjects, and felt frustrated that my grades were more of a reflection on my visual limitations than my effort. I would love to see these classes grow and continue to provide limitless opportunities for our students to engage!

Students across all Summer Programs practice independent living skills and learn to transfer the skills to their home environment. For many students, a week in Summer Programs is their first introduction to TSBVI programming. A guardian of a student attending Secondary Enrichment shared,

TSBVI staff are always so understanding, patient, and kind to my son when he comes. I can’t express enough how good it feels to be able to trust y’all to know he will be cared for. The lessons are always very well thought out and I appreciate the effort that is put into planning outings and dorm activities as well. Can’t rave enough about how much I love TSBVI’s summer program!

Please read the article, “Empowering Blind and Visually Impaired Students: The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired’s Summer Programs” in the Fall 2023 issue of TX SenseAbilities. It is available in English and in Spanish. Also visit the Summer Programs page on the TSBVI website for more in-depth information about our exciting offerings.

The Media Minute will continue to feature the amazing instruction that happens across every department at TSBVI to deepen learning and awareness of the community of students who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision, including those that are served around the state. Please continue to check the TSBVI website frequently for new Media Minute posts, which will also be announced on TSBVI Facebook, Instagram, and in future issues of TX SenseAbilities.

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