A certified teacher of children with visual impairments (TVI) provides both direct and consultative services relating to the education of students who have visual impairments within TMCSEA's twenty-one member districts. A TVI can provide for the needs of a student in a variety of ways. Services can be offered through direct instruction or consultation with the educators involved in a student's education as well as the students themselves. Teachers of children with visual impairments also provide:
- Information & instruction in the use of vision-related assistive technology & adapted materials
- Braille & Nemeth Code instruction
- Instruction in & collaboration to incorporate the expanded core curriculum into the educational/home setting (technology, social skills, independent living skills, sensory efficiency skills, O/M, career education, recreation & leisure, compensatory academic skills, & self-determination)
- Learning materials in the appropriate media, whether it be Braille, large print, recorded material, or tactile symbols
- Any necessary assessments related to vision, including a Functional Vision Assessment & Learning Media Assessment
- Assistance in determining & obtaining necessary equipment, aids/materials the students may require to aid them in performing in the classroom/home environment. This includes low vision devices, AT, computer use, or a Brailler.
Who typically qualifies for services from a TVI??
- Students who have a vision loss primarily due to pathology rather than a visual perception problem.
- Students who have an acuity loss of 20/70 or higher.
- Students who have a significant field loss.
- Students who have a cortical visual impairment.
- Students who have a degenerative eye condition.
Orientation and Mobility (O&M) are vital skills that support individuals with visual impairments in leading safer, more independent lives.
What is Orientation and Mobility?
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Orientation involves understanding where you are within your environment. This includes knowing your position in a room, building, neighborhood, or city. It’s the development of a mental map that helps guide movement through space—often without relying on vision.
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Mobility refers to the ability to move safely and efficiently from one place to another. It includes walking, using assistive tools such as a white cane, and navigating environments like streets, public transportation, or crowded areas.
Together, orientation and mobility comprise a specialized field of instruction designed to help individuals who are blind or visually impaired travel with safety, confidence, and as much independence as possible.
