This marks the end of January and the end of the VI registration process. Congratulations and please know you are appreciated for completing this huge task. This accomplishment ensures that we have quota money available to our students and information about the students we serve for planning.

DO YOU HAVE A YOUNG CHILD WHO IS LIKELY TO BECOME A BRAILLE READER?

This series is a wonderful opportunity to learn and engage with families to build skills necessary for literacy. Register for this series by clicking this link. Register Today for this Incredible Opportunity! Our first in person will be on February 23, 2022 at Region 10.

Would you like to learn a little more before signing up? See this introductory session.

Thanks so much for your attendance at the VI Professional Regional meeting. A resource list was developed for you to have easy access to the content discussed at the meeting. Please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions for future meetings. Our hope is that you found the information useful and identified "Who you Gonna Call" for other questions.

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

February 7, 2022 Ensuring Meaningful Access for Students with CVI- Use this link to register.

February 14, 2022 Rubrics 101: How to get started, develop, and rock your teaching skills with rubrics- Use this link to register.

February 28, 2022 Learning Management Systems: What TVIs Need to Know- Use this link to register.

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.

For Spanish-speaking families

The American Foundation for the Blind is looking for Spanish-speaking family members of children with visual impairments!

As you reflect over the 2020-2021 school year, do you want to share your experiences? We want to learn from YOU!!!

Researchers with the American Foundation for the Blind are conducting focus groups and a short survey to learn about your family’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will receive a $20 gift card for participating in a focus group. If you complete the survey, you will enter a drawing to win a $50 gift card.

Learn More & Sign Up Here

Technology Olympics is coming on February 18, 2022 at Region 10

Thanks to all who have signed up for the Technology Olympics! We look forward to seeing you soon. Any last minute questions, please contact Alexa Poynor at alexa.poynor@region10.org

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

Did you know you have a local resource for obtaining accessible computers for your students for home use? Computers for the Blind currently offers a grant that allow a family to purchase a desktop for under $100 and a laptop for $140 for their child with a visual impairment. In addition, your student may be eligible for a free device through a new grant initiative! For more information, contact Christy Householter at chouseholter@computersfortheblind.org

To speak to a customer service representative, call 214-340-6328 or order online at https://www.computersfortheblind.org/ We will have additional information on the free grant coming soon!

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.

The Texas School for the Blind is offering classes for high school students.

City Travel Plus

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

April 21-24, 2022

Grades 7-12

In the Driver's Seat

An Introduction to Safe Driving with Low Vision In this weekend workshop, students in grades 9-12 and families will explore the topic of driving with low vision. This short-term course will be held in-person at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired on March 4-6. 2022. Referrals are due by January 21, 2022.

Summer Programs for TSBVI

Application for 2022 Summer Programs (January 5 - February 14, 2022)

• Elementary Summer Enrichment (ages 6-12): This program is designed to be fun and engaging for our younger students while offering an opportunity for social interaction with peers from across the state.
• Secondary Enrichment (ages 12-22): This program is for students who are enrolled in middle or high school during this school year.
• Summer Work Experience in Austin Texas (SWEAT) (ages 17-22): Work program for students who are on or close to grade level. The program is on-campus June 12th-July 8th.
• Working And Living In The Community (WALIC) (ages 16-22): Work program for students using curriculum 3 or more years below grade level. The program is on-campus June 12th-July 8th.

Opportunities for Professionals and Students in Spring 2022

For Professionals

The first is for a 5-week free, self-paced online course for TVIs, paraprofessionals, braillists, and others who want information on Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts and strategies for supporting middle school students in STEM courses. The course runs Monday, February 14 to Friday, March 18. Anyone interested in the course must register at https://uofsc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5zg0VblKOwaxRFY

For Students

Nemeth in a Box is a 6-week online, fun program for middle school braille readers to reinforce and teach Nemeth Code within UEB Contexts. The sessions will take place on Saturday morning and will last 90 minutes (11:30-1:00 Eastern/10:30-12:00 Central/9:30-11:00 Mountain/8:30-10:00 Pacific), beginning on February 12. More information is available in the attached flyer. Please share it with your students and families. The link to the registration form for Nemeth in a Box is https://uofsc.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6fzn2AIEss9bx3w

Texas Focus Virtual - February 10-12, 2022 Registration is open now. Join us for Texas Focus 2022 to explore tools and strategies to empower all children with visual impairments. As noted in this year's title, sessions will largely focus on evaluation and implementation. As always, the end goal of this conference is to provide children with greater voice, meaningful options, and increased participation in their lives!

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)

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

Assistive Technology Newsletter-Region 10

Progress Monitoring for Students who are Visually Impaired link