JAWS, and Independence, and Exploration, Oh My! Short-Term Programs School Year Programs
Authors: Eden Hagelman, Principal, Short-Term Programs, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, TSBVI
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No need to be scared! Short-Term Programs school year programs include a wide range of classes addressing needs from academic to recreational for students who are currently working on or near grade level. Offered classes are either weeklong or weekend. Students must be referred by their local Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI). STP is excited to learn together, build community, and have a lot of fun!
Academic Classes
Three types of classes are offered to address academic needs:
- Individualized Instruction: Individualized instruction classes offer collaborative distance-learning opportunities for TSVIs and their students to develop compensatory skills needed for students to access their home school curriculum (e.g., JAWS, abacus, VoiceOver). Students participate alongside their TSVI via Zoom video conferencing while remaining in their local community.
- Access to Academics: Access to Academic Skills classes teach access skills on campus in a small group setting, usually two to three students with a teacher. Math and Assistive Technology are the instructional areas most frequently addressed.
- Algebra I, for high school credit: This is the fourth year Short-Term Programs has been offering a hybrid online/in-person Algebra class. The year-long class meets via video conference four times per week (Monday-Thursday) for an hour and a half. The class meets in-person three or four times per year. Students participating in the course are able to remain in their district, while also receiving small group instruction from the STP teacher, John Rose, a secondary math teacher and Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI).
Dissecting an eye during Access to Academics
A high school student learning JAWS during Access to Academics
A student in Elementary Series plays Build-A-Robot.
Working on a math problem using manipulatives
Using a talking graphing calculator to graph in Algebra class
Expanded Core Curriculum Classes
STP offers Expanded Core Curriculum classes throughout the school year for students of all ages.
A few examples are:
- Game of Life for middle school students and their parents
- Work Exploration: Cook! for middle school
- Move Your Body! for elementary
- Nature Navigators for elementary
- Wellness Weekend for high school
- Performing Arts in Focus for high
An elementary student at Candlelight Ranch
Sanding wood during Heart of Texas
Middle school student bowling on the TSBVI campus during Game of Life
Making sandwiches during the Elementary Outdoor Exploration class
Visiting the State Capitol in Capitol Experience, offered during legislative years
High School student visiting the Austin Community College Make It Center
Be sure to check out the STP calendar of classes offered this year, and mark your calendars for summer applications. Summer Applications open the week of January 6, 2026, and close on February 14, 2026. Be on the lookout!!!