BVI Resources

(listed alphabetically)

• 2020 Guidelines and Standards for Educating Students with Visual Impairments in Texas  
  2020 Spanish version
  
  
• Accessible Materials - How to Create Them: 
  - Enlarged Copies 
  - Handouts
  - PowerPoint Presentations 
  - Tables
  - Websites
  - Word Documents
  
• Accessibility - Navigating Accessibility for Blind and Visually Impaired Students:  Resources for Educators 
  
  
• Accommodations:  Recommendations for Virtual Implementation of Accommodations
  
  
• Active Learning Space 
  Information, Resources & Techniques that Emphasize Ways for Students to Become Active Learners 
  
  
• BVI Bridge Smore 
  Newsletter for BVI Professionals and Families of Students with BVI  
• Commissioner's Rules Concerning Special Education Services, Eligibility   
  89.1040 Section C.2. Deafblind, Section C.12. Visually Impaired
  
  
• Common Eye Report Abbreviations 
  
  
• Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Information
  and
  CVI Fact Sheet
  
  
• Eligibility for Special Education for Students with Visual Impairment - guidance document
  
  
• Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) - plus 9
           - What is the Expanded Core Curriculum? from TSBVI         
           - Activities, Ideas, & Resources for Developing ECC Skills:  What Parents Should Know from Family Connect
           - ECC Screening Tool Template for TVI & OMS, adapted from Dr. Wendy Sapp, Georgia & Karen E. Blankenship, Iowa
           - ECC Content Area Assessments, Teaching Curriculum, & Resources for TVI & OMS from TSBVI
  
  
• H.B. 590 - regarding a student's eligibility as visually impaired for special education services & related services 
  
• HHS-Blind Children's Vocational Discovery & Development Program (BCP) 
  The Blind Children's Program (BCP) provides services and BVI materials at home to eligible children and families.
  CONTACT:   Christina Medina
              6302 Iola (i-o'-la) Street, Lubbock, TX 79424
    Email  Christina.Medina04@hhs.texas.gov       
    Office (806) 783-6411          
    Mobile (806) 252-8031
  
  
• Legal Framework  

  Visual Impairment          Deaf-Blindness          Multiple Disabilities 

• Low Vision Evaluation (LVE) Request form   LVE Referral Form.docx  
  TSVI should send completed referral form to Region 17 ATTN: Evelyn Gilson at egilson@esc17.net or fax (806)780-6694.
           Low Vision is a Loss of Sight that Makes Everyday Life Challenging   
           The process for LVE referral is also detailed on page 13 of Resources for People with Visual Impairments (link below).
   
• MathType Add-in usable in Microsoft 365 Word online and desktop versions
   
• NEW TSVI GUIDANCE - a checklist to get the new TSVI started on a successful journey
  

• O&M/VI Resources Wall (Mrs. R's) 
  Resources for Professionals Serving Students with BVI
  
• Paths to Literacy  
  Information, Resources, & Training for a More Inclusive View of Literacy

• Reach Across Texas Scholarship Program & Application 

• Required Information for Parents at ARD Meetings 
            - TSBVI Information Parent flyer     English     Spanish
            - Expanded Core Curriculum flyer   English     Spanish
            - Benefits of Braille     English      Spanish
            - Benefits of O&M    English & Spanish (2-sided)
            - Consent form     English     Spanish
• Resources for Parents with Visually Impaired Children 

• Resources for People with Visual Impairments revised 2020 .pdf   
  
  
• State of Texas Interagency Eye Examination Report     
  About the Report & link to form  or  Form Only
                                                    
  
  
• Teaching Students with Visual Impairments - resources, forms & more from Carmen Willings, CTVI   
  
  
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) 
  - Short-Term Programs Home
  - School Year Program Home     Steps to Admission (referring a student)
• Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) - Vocational Rehabilitation for Youth & Students  
  TWC South Plains Office CONTACT the BVI VR Counselor for Referrals & Case Management
  2002 W. Loop 289, Suite 117 - Heather Saldana heather.saldana@twc.state.tx.us  (806) 773-3948
  Lubbock, TX 79407
  

• TxBVI - Statewide Network Website  and TxBVI Livebinder - VI, O&M, DB

• Typical Roles and Responsibilities of VI Professionals 
  

• VI and O&M Preparation in Texas 
  Programs to Become a VI Professional
  

• VI Teacher Notebook 
  Resources for TVI & OMS

• Virginia Sowell Center Home Page 
  
  

• Visual Impairment Scales of Service Intensity of Texas (VISSIT & O&M VISSIT)
        - VI          - O&M VISSIT 
  
  
• Wonder Baby 
  Website dedicated to helping parents of young children with BVI as well as children with multiple disabilities.   
  
  
• Year At-A-Glance LiveBinder for New VI Professionals 

BVI Training Opportunities

Services

Technical Assistance:

• Assist districts with TEA VI Registration
• Assist districts with the Deaf/Blind Census
• Acquisition of APH materials
• Assistive Technology Loan Program
• Interagency Coordination

Training:  

• Staff development for assessing students with suspected blindness/visual impairments, and for reassessing students with blindness/visual impairments
• Staff development for serving students with blindness/visual impairments

Assessments:

• Provide technical support for assistive device considerations
• Coordinate Low Vision Clinics
• Provide technical support for Functional Vision Evaluations, Learning Media Assessments, Orientation and Mobility Evaluations, and assessing areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum