May is a busy month with wrapping up the school year, attending ARD meetings and staff members deciding to change positions or retire. Let us know if you are planning to post positions and we will be happy to connect you with candidates as we hear about them.

Also, spread the word to those who may wish to become a TVI or COMs. If you find anyone interested, have them check out this website to learn more. Best to you as you wrap up the year.

Webinar: Independence for Children with Visual Impairments

Join the HHSC Office of Disability Prevention for Children and Blind Children's Program on May 5, 2022, from 10-11:00 a.m. for a live webinar on improving the health and wellbeing of infants and children in Texas.

Attendees will learn about the Blind Children’s Program (BCP), which provides individualized services to children from birth to 22 years old who are blind or have a visual impairment. BCP provides supports that allow children to have maximum independence as they grow and develop. Early identification and services are critical to ensuring children develop the confidence and competence needed to be an active part of their community.

What: “Independence for Children with Visual Impairments” webinar

Who: Parents and people who work with families and children

When: May 5, 2022, 10-11:00 a.m. Central Time

Presenters:

• Kathalene Gale, BCP Manager
• Lee Rodriguez, BCP Blind Children’s Specialist

Register for the "Independence for Children with Visual Impairments" webinar

This free event will include live captioning and ASL interpretation. Please let us know by Friday, April 22, should you require any additional accommodations to fully participate in the event.

For questions, email Jay Smith at jay.smith@hhs.texas.gov or call 512-206-5100.

Interested in finding solutions for assistive technology? Dr. Therese Willkomm, author of Make Stuff and Love People: Assistive Technology Solutions in Minutes will be here at Region 10 on May 24, 2022. This is one you will want to attend.

TSBVI is offering a series of Coffee Hours on Mondays from 3-4pm with a couple of exceptions as noted below. Here are the options for May.

Thursday, May 5, 2022 11:00-1:00 Supporting Language Across Modalities: Strategies for the Home presented by Kimberly Sanzo-Use this link to register.

May 9, 2022-Making Evaluation Meaningful (by Marnee Loftin) Has Been Updated!! presenter by Debra Sewell-Use this link to register.

Monday, May 16, 2022 9:00am CVI Scotland: Optimizing Support for Children with CVI Part 3 presented by Professor Gordon Dutton and Helen St. Clair Tracey-Use this link to register.

May 23, 2022-Trauma Informed Instruction for students with Sensory Impairments presented by Scott Baltisberger and Sara Kitchen-Use this link to register.

Container Gardening Series

Gardening can be a relaxing, rewarding and fun activity. Discover tips and tricks for creating your own container garden in this series of Workshops provided by Hadley.

Consider sharing this information with parents so they can learn and guide their children to work on Recreation and Leisure Skills-one of the nine areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum.

Dining Out Series

Enjoy dining out, no matter your level of vision. Learn practical tips in this series of workshops provided by Hadley.

Consider sharing this information with parents so they can learn and guide their children to work on Independent Living Skills-one of the nine areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum.

A BLINDING EYES DINNER EXPERIENCE

Ever wondered what it is like to eat in the dark? Dining in the Dark is a restaurant located in Dallas that provides this experience and may be wonderful for both professionals and parents to gain insight into dining without sight.

Studies show that 80 percent of people eat with their eyes; with that sense eliminated, the theory is that the other senses—namely taste and smell—take over to elevate your meal to a whole new level. After donning your blindfold in the darkened, candlelit room, you'll soon realize that focusing on taste and smell alone can be a truly enlightening experience.

Do you have time for a good article? GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE Safe Navigation for Pedestrians and Bicyclists at Alternative and Other Intersections and Interchanges NCHRP RESEARCH REPORT 948 is something for COMS to read. This article is research conducted by the Transportation Research Board.

Transportation Roundtable Discussion-An AERBVI Presentation

Join this facilitated discussion to share the transportation needs and creative solutions for individuals who have a visual disability. The facilitator will share practical ideas for using technology and self-advocacy to decrease transportation barriers from pedestrian orientation to ridesharing.

SESSION OBJECTIVES

• Participants will identify two barriers for access to transportation in their community.
• Participants will identify two potential sources of transportation solutions in their community.
• Participants will learn how apps can be tools for improved orientation and transportation independence.

This presentation was recorded in November 2021 and is available for ACVREP credit for a minimal cost.

SMU offering a full-ride-see more below!

SMU has a unique Ph.D. opportunity for an individual who is interested in research and teaching at the university level. It’s a full-ride 4 year Ph.D. program that includes a stipend. It is focused on mathematics and special education. A candidate does not have to have certification and direct experience in both; obviously experience in one and an interest in both is important.

This is a rare opportunity.

Do you have students who are looking for some summer fun? Check out opportunities offered at Jasmine's Beat, An Adaptive Dance Company for Persons of All Abilities. See below for one of the opportunities.

2022 Equation Editor Study Recruiting Survey

Pearson is looking for a variety of students who are taking grade level math courses in grades sixth through college and are using Nemeth code. If selected, you will participate in a Zoom interview about how you complete math assignments. During the interview, questions will be asked about tools you use in school, as well as other resources your school has that may or may not be accessible to you.

The interview will last between 30 and 60 minutes, and you will receive compensation for your time. Pearson will partner with you to schedule the Zoom meeting at a time that is convenient for you. If you have a student that is interested in participating in this study, please use this link to register.

Space Camp Scholarship-The deadline has been extended to May 9, 2022 to apply.

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. *The deadline to apply has been extended to May 9, 2022.

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.

“Just because I can't see the stars, doesn't mean I can't reach for them” - SCIVIS Alumni

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.

A Look Ahead May 2022 May 14 @ 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The ARC of Texas conference is coming soon. This conference brings together expert speakers for training focused on improving the lives of individuals with disabilities, the people who support them, and the community at large. Click this link for more information.

Current topics include:

• Guardianship: A Rush to the Courthouse or Last Resort? with Judge Brooke Allen, Tarrant County Probate Court 2
• College Bound…jump start your college tour Panel Presentation

Hand under Hand Training Offered--Road Show Training this June

June 15, 2022 -- Melissa, Texas

June 22, 2022 -- Irving, Texas

June 29, 2022 -- Greenville, Texas

Register here for the chance to participate.

Hand-Over-Hand is often used with students to engage them in activities throughout the school day. The use of this technique is adult driven and can overestimate the student’s performance in achieving goals and objectives.

Hand-Under-Hand involves an invitation for students to engage in activities and provides a clearer picture of the student’s performance. The hand-under-hand technique provides respectful, tactile support to encourage children to interact and communicate.

Low Incidence Disabilities Conference

July 20-21, 2022

The Region 10 LID Conference will include instructional strategies and resources for professionals, paraprofessionals and related services staff who serve students with Low Incidence Disabilities. Register Today!

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. Please contact Chris Tabb at tabbc@tsbvi.edu with any questions.

Visit our New Active Learning Website

This site is designed to provide an introduction to Active Learning, which is an educational approach developed by Dr. Lilli Nielsen. This is a collaborative project of Penrickton Center for Blind Children, Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Perkins School for the Blind. It is intended to provide an overview of the principles of Active Learning, as well as resources to implement this approach. We invite you to explore the materials here to deepen your understanding of this approach, and to share it with others.

Literacy Brochures:

If you have not had a chance to review these brochures, this is a great resource to review.

The literacy brochures were developed by the Texas Sensory Support Network to support the conversation around literacy media with parents. They are intended to be a supplement to the Benefits of Braille,(PDF) developed by the Texas Action Committee for the Education of Students with Visual Impairments. These brochures are an excellent way to discuss literacy for children at all developmental levels and the progression of skills.