It is hard to believe that Spring is around the corner. Perhaps we can say goodbye to the icy weather and say hello to warmer temperatures. Here's to warmer weather as we turn our calendars to the month of March.

Ever wonder what happens when a blind person flies an airplane? Find out in a fun new video from YouTuber Tom Scott, with captions and audio description provided by DCMP (Described and Captioned Media Program)!

Sessions will include the new guidance document from TEA related to visual impairment eligibility. A separate session will address eligibility for DeafBlind. Please join us for this event. Use this link to register.

Are you a teacher that works with children who have visual impairments? Do you have an idea that you would love to try?? Would $1,000 Help????

Apply for DVIDB Grant!

Purpose:

CEC Division on Visual Impairment and Deafblindness (DVIDB) seeks to provide two $1,000 funding opportunities via a competitive grant to provide support for innovative teaching practices for children with visual impairments

Eligible Applicants:

Eligible applicants must be a current member of DVIDB and work in the field of visual impairments or deafblindess. Including but not limited to Teachers of the visually impaired, O&M specialists, Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, etc.

Application:

Apply using the link below by March 15th, 2022. Applications should include an abstract of what the money will be used for, budget, and how you will present your project once it is completed. (Ex: webinar through DVIDB, report, presentation at CEC, local presentation, etc.)

Grant Award & Period:

Two $1,000 grants will be awarded by June 1st, 2022 and a report and/or review of how the grant was used is due to the DVIDB board by June 1st, 2023. Applications will be reviewed by a committee using a blind review process. It is our hope that results will be presented to DVIDB members in a webinar format or as a conference presentation at an upcoming CEC Convention upon completion.

Email Dr. Nicole Johnson: njohnson@kutztown.edu with any questions.

Apply using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfncIuqISH-68EiOi4kJYIqgAFbyTI6U3O1cX3_e4d6- Oqsmg/viewform?usp=sf_link

TSBVI is offering a series of Coffee Hours generally on Mondays from 3-4pm. Here are the options for March.

March 3, 2022 Teaching a Child's First Teacher: Adult Learning in Early Intervention - Use this link to register. Please note this date is on a Thursday.

March 7, 2022 Negotiation Skills for the Educational Professional -Use this link to register.

March 21, 2022 Early Childhood- Use this link to register.

March 28, 2022 CHARGE Syndrome: The Puzzle, The Practicals, and The Possibilities - Use this link to register.

13 Favorite Kitchen Gadgets

Hadley staff share their favorite kitchen gadgets and tips. Whether you're an experienced home chef or a total novice, you're bound to pick up a few ideas that fit your vision needs and make your time in the kitchen more productive (and fun).

To view this podcast, click on the link.

VI and O&M Preparation in Texas

Are you or do you know someone who is interested in becoming an TVI or COMs? If so, check out the Spring 2022 VI and O&M Newsletter to learn more.

Medical Travel Assistance Program for Students with CHARGE Syndrome

This program may be used to cover transportation, meals, lodging, and parking for medical care that requires out of state/long distance travel. The program is intended for families who would benefit from assistance to cover the cost for travel to receive medical care. For more information, click this link.

Babies' Day Out-Save the Date! April 28, 2022 from 10am - 2pm. For parents or guardians of children ages birth to 3 who are visually impaired, blind, or deafblind, deaf or hard of hearing. The Babies' Day Out Committee is planning an in-person event to be held at Region 10. More information and registration forms in both Spanish and English are now available online. Please share the information with your families and encourage them to register for this awesome event.

Technology Olympics

All of us here at Region 10 who participated in the Technology Olympics this year were so excited to see and your students. We wanted you to see some of the great photos that we captured from the event. One of the greatest things that happened that day was the sense of community and friendship that we have been missing through the past couple of years. We understand that it is still difficult to manage logistics to get students to our events, but we sure do enjoy seeing you.

the Camp Wisdom Boy Scout Camp is quickly approaching us and the deadline for registration is March 18th and can be found on the flyer. This link provides specific information on the individual events offered as well as a FAQ sheet with frequently asked questions. We are so excited to be part of this event with you!

Space Camp Scholarship

We are pleased to announce that thanks to a grant from the former Dallas Foundation of the Blind Inc., 5 scholarships are available for students in grades 4 - 12, who are blind or visually impaired to attend Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS) in the fall of 2022. These scholarships are available only to students who attend school in the ESC Regions 10 and 11 service areas.

SCIVIS is a special week at Space Camp in Huntsville Alabama. It’s a 6 day/night exciting experiential learning adventure. Space, Science and Aviation curriculum is presented and teamwork is a key component during simulated space/aviation missions. All program materials are available to students in braille (English or UEB braille, both contracted and uncontracted), large print, and electronic magnification also is available. Students also are encouraged to bring their own hand-held assistive technology devices. Many areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) also are addressed throughout the camp.

Information about Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students (SCIVIS) can be found at http://www.scivis.org. Information about Space Camp®, in general, and can be found at http://www.spacecamp.com. Prior to applying, you should go to the general Space Camp website to determine the program of most interest to you.

Use the following link to access the application, or you can use this QR code.

https://form.jotform.com/SLSBVI/NorthTexasSCIVISgrantApplication

Free Computers for Students who are Visually Impaired

Thanks to several local grants, Computers for the Blind is offering free laptops to students with visual impairments in the Dallas, Tarrant and surrounding counties. These laptops are refurbished, come with a one year warranty, and include JAWS 2022 Screen Reader and/or ZoomText Screen Magnifier/Reader (one year licenses), Windows 10 Pro Operating System, Microsoft Office and Home Student 2019, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox Browsers, various helpful programs, tutorials and help files. Also included is a large monitor.

Eligibility requirements are:

1. Student with a visual impairment living within Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton, Ellis, Rockwall, Kaufman, Hunt, Wise, and Johnson Counties, ages 5 - 23, receiving Vision Services through the IEP/ARD process and enrolled in a LEA or dually enrolled in a LEA and transition program.

2. Have a need for an accessible laptop for home and personal use, and have a personal email for software activation.

3. First come first served, with priority given to students in parts of Dallas County, per grant guidelines.

Please contact Christy Householter at chouseholter@computersfortheblind.org for any questions.

https://forms.gle/ymqyT7ZgTQbFAaVMA

ParaSports Jam

The former Sports Extravaganza for Blind and Visually Impaired event has merged with Kid-netic Games to bring our families the ParaSports Jam! This event promises to bring double the fun and competition. It will be hosted at Coppell High School on May 6 and May 7, 2022. There will be all of the traditional track and field events on May 7th for students with visual impairments or physical impairments ages 3 to 22 (enrolled in HS) years old. In addition, there will be exciting sports demonstrations and/or tournaments on May 6. For more information and registration, please go to the website below:

https://www.region10.org/programs/parasports-jam/overview/

As always, we appreciate your assistance in getting the word out. Please forward this information to your peers around the state! In the past, this event has drawn participants from all over Texas and other states. For more information, contact Randy Foederer at rfoederer@sbcglobal.net

The TWC has training opportunities available for students interested in learning more about life after school. If you have students interested in any of these trainings, they should contact their Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) as soon as possible. See the links below for these fantastic opportunities.

Discovering the Future: Transition from School to Adult Life for Students with Visual and Multiple Disabilities, Including Deafblindness April 29-May 1, 2022

Description: This weekend workshop will help families of students with visual and multiple impairments, including those with deafblindness, gain new ideas about making plans for their family members’ adult life after graduation. For more information click on this link.

City Travel Plus

This year we are opening up City Travel to not only students and their Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS), but to parents, guardians, or others serving in that capacity. Students will travel with their COMS and adult family members to Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) for learning relevant to everyone.

Many students with visual impairments throughout Texas are ready to learn about traveling in a metropolitan area—but it's nearly impossible for their COMS to find either time or a location to address these skills. This class provides an opportunity for students to practice:

• Bus travel
• Commuter train travel
• Busy downtown one-way and two-way streets
• Complex lighted intersections
• Large indoor and outdoor malls with escalators
• Large buildings with banks of elevators and revolving doors
• A large university campus (University of Texas-Austin)
• Much more!

The class will also provide adult family members the opportunity to learn about supporting the student’s independence through exploring activities related to the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC).

"Students, COMS, and Families Learning and Exploring Together"

April 21-24, 2022, Referrals are due by March 10, 2022.

Grades 7-12

For Students

Project INSPIRE Mission Control is seeking your help to build us the best rocket possible for our assigned mission!

Aspiring rocket scientists aged 11-15 who read braille in math and science classes are eligible for the mission. This mission will require our rocket scientists to:

1. Build a rocket prototype with Mission Control

2. Build their own rocket and test it

3. Present their findings to Mission Control staff

If your child is interested in this mission, please register them for consideration to participate at https://uofsc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0euLyShJ9gXVn0i

Do not Delay! Registration closes March 28!

TAER 2022 Conference “A Whole New World: Renew, Recharge, Refocus!” The conference will be held March 31-April 2, 2022, at Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Round Rock. Click this link for more information about the conference. Registration is now open.

AERBVI Biennial International Conference July 20-24, 2022 will be in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information, go to AER – Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (aerbvi.org)

SWOMA 2022 Mark your calendars for November 6-8, 2022 for this year's in person conference to be held at the Austin Marriot North in Round Rock, Texas. More information about registration will be provided at a later date. Do you have an idea for a presentation? The call for presentations is now open and submissions are due by March 28, 2022. Please contact Chris Tabb at tabbc@tsbvi.edu with any questions.

Looking for more information. Here are some links to other newsletters and new publications.

Described and Captioned Media Program-Submitted by Mary Ann Siller, TVI, Richardson ISD

DCMP is a national educational multimedia resource for children with visual impairments and those who are deaf or hard of hearing. DCMP has a 30 year history of captioned programming. And since 2006 described multimedia titles for K-12 have been added. They now have over 8,000 titles. Their resources are free and all you do is register. And if you have a visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing student in the class, these resource are open for the full class to enjoy.

As a teacher of students with visual impairments, I have personally seen the benefit of the DCMP project team’s work for children with visual impairments. As you know, DCMP programs and resource materials are quality-driven resources that are invaluable to teachers, families, and the children they serve. Their website is at http://www.dcmp.org.

Below is information to share about a free upcoming description class. You will learn new strategies to use description in the classroom or at home. Please consider joining and share with others.

QuickClasses are facilitated, asynchronous, online classes for professionals working with students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low-vision, or deaf-blind. The 2022 trainings are now listed. Note---Registration will open one month prior to the date. https://dcmp.org/learn/676-quickclasses

• May 2 - 22 , 2022
• June 6 - 26, 2022
• August 15 - September 4, 2022
• September 19 - October 9, 2022
• October 24 - November 13, 2022

The class will explore the benefits of using media in the classroom. The modules will explain the importance of accessible media for students with sensory impairments as well as students with and without disabilities. You will learn to evaluate the quality of accessibility features and various techniques for utilizing media to enhance classroom instruction.

The class is three weeks of asynchronous, online training. Choose your preferred time during the week to work online and meet weekly deadlines. Expect to spend approximately five hours per week completing the required work. When you successfully complete the class, you will receive a certificate for 15 continuing education credits from ACVREP.

Go to www.dcmp.org and create your account or sign in. Then go to: QuickClasses to review. One month prior to the date you want to join, click on the registration button for the class you want to join. Registration will begin one month prior to the date. If you have questions, please contact Cindy Camp, ccamp@dcmp.org.

Accessible Periodic Tables

Do you have a student that needs an accessible Periodic Table? See this link on the Paths to Technology site for options.