Labor Day Weekend marks the end of the summer and school is in full swing for staff and students. We hope you are doing well as the days of fall weather are approaching. For the second year, the challenges with COVID continue to influence our work. Through Zoom and other technology solutions, we have been fortunate to find ways to accomplish our work. Many listings in this issue are designed to provide virtual opportunities.

Please let us know if you need anything from us. We are here to provide services and find solutions in your work with your students.

Have some time during an extended lunch hour to learn? We have some cutting edge topics for you to consider. ACVREP credits are available for these sessions. All sessions will be held from 12pm-1:30pm using a Zoom format.

September 9, 2021 The New Definition of Blindness-This session will explore the legal definition of visual impairment and implications for the evaluation and identification process. To register, use this link. https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2639549

October 7, 2021 Regression-What is it and possible implications-This session is designed to train staff on post COVID issues related to regression of students with visual impairments. To register, use this link. https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2639550

November 11, 2021 How to identify hearing loss in a student with a visual impairment? -This session will explore signs of possible hearing loss and implications of hearing loss for students with visual impairments. To register, use this link. https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2639551

Region 10 is offering specialized training for TVI and COMS with less than 3 years of experience. Attendees will be given a bag with evaluation tools and other products to give them a good start. This series is offered over three days.

September 29, 2021 New Teacher Series 101To register, use this link. https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2639552

October 25, 2021 New Teacher Series 201 To register, use this link.

https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2639553

December 6, 2021 New Teacher Series 301 To register, use this link.

https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2639554

This first of two sessions will focus on the legal requirements of the evaluation process, selecting appropriate assessment tools, interpretation of results and components of an FIE for a student who is visually impaired. Case studies, practical tools and sample write ups that can be used by evaluation teams will be shared during this session. VI teachers, educational diagnosticians, and LSSPs are encouraged to attend as a team if possible. The second session will be held on November 16, 2021 to continue the conversation. ACVREP credit will be available for this training. Register for this Region 10 event at: https://txr10.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=2640857

TSBVI is featuring a special 3 part series with Dr. Judy Cameron on the topic of The Impact of Stress on Brain Development and Brain Resiliancy. See the following link for registration.

https://txtsbvi.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=40333

TSBVI is also offering a series of other Coffee Hours. For more information go to the following link Coffee Hour Listings (tsbvi.edu)

September, 10, 2021, 12:00 – 1:30 PM EST
-Babies with CVI: Nurturing Visual Abilities and Development in Early Childhood

September 10, 2021, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST
-Triple Threat: JAWS + ZoomText = Fusion

September 14, 2021, 4:00 – 5:30 PM EST
-Teaching Screen Readers the Fun Way with Cody Laplante: Part 4 of 4

September 15, 2021, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM EST

-Join us for an overview of the WIOA legislation and Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).

September 17, 2021, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST

-Go Back to School with MATT Connect

ACVREP Credit will be available for these webinars

https://mailchi.mp/828bda3c3843/aph-webinars-september-happenings?e=d2441103e7

Scheduled for November 4-6, 2021, The Southwest Orientation & Mobility Conference is going virtual again this year. For conference and registration information go to http://swoma.org/conference.html

The Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association (OMSA) in partnership with researchers, through Western Michigan University, North Carolina Central University, and the Orientation and Mobility Division of AER, are gathering information about contracting rates and requirements being applied for O&M contracting work performed in the United States. If you perform O&M services for a school, government agency, private agency, non-profit, or as an individual contractor, please consider taking about 5 minutes to complete the anonymous survey by following the link. https://wmich.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eDKIM2SC8NBHE6q

Please share this information with O&M contractors.

Call for LEA Presentations for Region 10/11 ICE Symposium - 3/22/2022

If you are interested in submitting a proposal for a poster or mini skills session for the Region 10/11 Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Evaluations (ICE) Symposium on March 22nd, 2022, please complete the following form.

Sessions should be designed to showcase your LEAs practices and provide skills and information that will be applicable for practitioners (“tools to use on Monday morning”). Topics should be centered around ways to improve collaboration and cooperation among members of the multidisciplinary team. Each proposal will be for a 90-minute presentation with a maximum of 4 presenters. Please send in your submissions by November 30th, 2021.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTxh1kuOf1BUIPti2hbrXRjQRi9pODQEq7HJawcw5I-w1hiQ/viewform

STAAR Release test update from Jose - The 2021 STAAR release in Braille will be available soon. The ordering process will be similar as in the past. Information will be shared as soon as the test is available.

The 22nd Annual Sports Extravaganza has something for everyone. This event gives athletes opportunities to compete with their peers on a level-playing field in a variety of events. Both competitive and non-competitive events are available for school-aged children 5-22 with vision impairments and complex needs. Families have time to network with other families and agencies with a vision focus throughout the day. As an added bonus, a free lunch is included! Please plan to attend Sports Extravaganza where memories are created and kids excel. See video about the event by following the link

Goalball Tournament (Friday, October 22, 2021)

Cancelled

Sports Extravaganza (Saturday, October 23, 2021)

Nimitz High School
100 W. Oakdale
Irving, TX 75060

For more information and video, please follow this link:

https://www.region10.org/programs/sports-extravaganza/overview/

Questions?

Need more information?

Email: sportsextravaganza@region10.org

TSBVI offers a range of both on-campus and online courses. Check out their offerings at:

STP 2021-22 School Year Course List

Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) is hosting a Virtual Fall Youth Peer Learning Group for students who are deafblind (ages 16-22) for the south central region which includes Texas. The purpose of the peer learning group is to provide a socialization platform for Deafblind youth to engage with peers virtually to discuss various Pre-Employment Transitional related topics.

HKNC contacts are Natasha Aymami (Natasha.Aymami@hknc.org) and Aaron Waheed (Aaron.Waheed@hknc.org) if you have additional questions. The registration deadline is September 9th.

The Impact of the Need for Closure for Student and Youth who are Deafblind

Register here: https://aerelearning.org/courses/32835

Maurice Belote will share his thoughts on the basic human need for closure, the impact of lack of closure on individuals who are deafblind, and ways that service providers might reduce stress, identify motivators, and increase active engagement. A panel discussion featuring David Brown, Mary Gyori, Adam Graves, and Linda Mamer, and a member of the deafblind community will follow.

We invite you and your child to come to a Saturday class designed to improve braille skills and support the expanded core curriculum. This class will be provided virtually over zoom. If COVID-19 permits, we will also be hosting a quarterly in person lesson for hybrid learning.

All lessons are taught by qualified blind adults and supervised by a certified teacher of visual impairments.

Designed for blind children ages 4-12

Register at rebrand.ly/NFBTBEST