TSBVI Media Minute: Spring 2025 Showcase

TSBVI Life Science Instructor and TVI, Laura Hospitál, has spent almost 20 years in the classroom designing lessons for students who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Ms. Hospitál is passionate about making science accessible for all. She teaches at the High School level and encounters many students who have never done a science project at school. Ms. Hospitál says, “The essential piece is that the students choose their own projects—even if that means taking several weeks to design them. When students get to pick projects of their choice on what they’re going to study, it’s inherently motivating.” Ms. Hospitál also builds bridges with others in the science community. She has developed a strong partnership with students studying at the University of Texas and invites them into the classroom as volunteers throughout the school year. Ms. Hospitál also connects with scientists who are blind or have low vision around the globe to serve as mentors to her students. 

Students who attend Short Term Programs (STP) classes are also instructed in scientific topics. Students in the class “Chemistry: In Your Element” visited an accessible chemistry lab at Baylor University. EmmaGrace, who attended “In Your Element,” wrote an article for TX SenseAbilities (Spring 2024) about her experience (Spanish version)! For techniques and strategies to make science accessible to all, visit the Perkins Accessible Science Website (part of Perkins School for the Blind eLearning) to assist in supporting students with visual impairments in science classes. Ms. Hospitál also put together a resource document that summarizes many of the important Perkins links. Please also check out the TSBVI Outreach Coffee Hour from March 24, 2025 on Science Education. 

Low Vision Awareness Media Minute

Learning about eye anatomy and understanding their visual impairment leads to self-identity and helps students advocate for their needs. Dr. Cindy Bachofer and Kathi Garza, two Outreach Consultants and professionals with low vision, stressed this message in their TSBVI Coffee Hour, “From Eye Anatomy to Empowerment.” Haley, a student in the “Experiences in Transition (EXIT)” program at TSBVI, shared her thoughts on the low vision instruction she has received: 

I use the telescopic lens at Starbucks to look at the menu. It works really well and it is nice not having to use my phone to see things that are far away. If I could use it again out in the community, I would use it at a zoo to look at the animals.

It is important for young people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision to be able to visualize themselves as successful and capable teenagers and adults with a wide variety of potential hobbies and careers available in their future. TSBVI students have many opportunities to connect with peer and adult mentors and role models with low vision. Short Term Programs elementary classes invite high school mentors to lead fun, hands-on activities. A TSBVI Short Term Programs instructor says, “The elementary students are excited to share about the tools they use, especially when the high schoolers use the same ones!”

TSBVI Outreach offers support for low vision instruction around the state. We organize a Low Vision Conference every spring, in 2026 on May 15th, and run “Low Vision on the Road” workshops, where we take the “eye anatomy to empowerment” training to local communities around Texas. We also have a free online course on Bioptic Driving and Teaching Telescope Skill to students with low vision. 

Tomás and the Case of the Mysterious Missing Dog, by TSBVI Outreach Consultants Scott Baltisberger and recently retired Chrissy Cowan, is a book for encouraging and empowering students with low vision. Intended for elementary readers, the tale relates the adventures of Tomás and his friends as they search for his beloved dog. The book is available for free download in the TSBVI Store in English, Spanish, and German digital formats. This webinar presents the book in its entirety, showing all illustrations. Below is a video of a dramatic reading with a transcript.

Friendship Media Minute

In May 2024, three high school students in the Audio/Video Production class at TSBVI collaborated on a podcast episode for A Sense of Texas, showing us what day-to-day life looks like for students attending TSBVI Comprehensive Programs. In the interview for the podcast, former Student Council President and High School student Jazmin shared, “I love getting to be able to act and sing and do sports and just pretty much everything at our school!” Students who attend TSBVI programs have the opportunity to work together on projects and to join various clubs and music groups with their peers. TSBVI offers many team sports, such as goalball, track, wrestling, cheer, dragon boat racing, and swimming.

Social interaction is an important area of the Expanded Core Curriculum, which includes concepts and skills that often require specialized instruction for students who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision to compensate for decreased opportunities to learn incidentally by observing others. Students learn social skills through routines that incorporate scripts in their preferred literacy, through turn-taking, and with topics that motivate them. Social skills are taught and friendships formed in activities like yoga, Hobby Hour, building a model of an eye, Braille Challenge competitions, Farmer’s Market, and participating in “Start with Hello,” a week of programming on teaching empathy and social interaction.

Conclusion

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.