Fall has officially arrived and there signs of cooler temperatures ahead. Students and staff are in their school routines and hopefully everyone is making adjustments in this COVID era. Keeping the end in mind, all things are possible for our students. See the story of one man's breaking barriers as a sports commentator who happens to be blind.

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

This year's event will be virtual. If you are interested in attending, contact Blake Lindsay at: 214-420-9411 or blake.lindsay@envisionus.com. At 10:00am, there will be the Mayor’s Proclamation presented by Dallas Mayor, Eric Johnson. The next 45 minutes will explore several services supporting people with blindness. Some of the providers include Envision Dallas and Wichita, Blind services with Texas Workforce Commission, Mobility Management transportation Services, Computers for the blind, the Dallas Chapter of American Council of the Blind and good surprises you won’t want to miss!

Our second half we will divide our zoom room into five significant discussions benefiting people with partial and total blindness.

What is it? An annual count of all students with a visual impairment, includes all ages, students are DeafBlind and students who are receiving accommodations under 504.

How it assists you? The count generates State Supplement Visually Impaired funds and Federal funds to obtain educational materials from the Printing House for the Blind. The data collected assists in regional and statewide program planning.

Things that you will need to complete the registration process:

• Current eye report meaning that the report is either within 3 years or the ARD/504 committee has determined that it can be rolled over.

• Consent form signed by the parents. The consent form allows the registration information to be provided to other agencies. You still register students if you are not able to obtain the consent form.

Timelines and Communication

Email blasts-December to Administrators will announce that the count opens on January 4, 2022. A second one on January 4, 2022 will be sent out to let them know the site is open to begin the registration process. The registration process is open through the month of January.

Students are counted in your district if they are in attendance the first day in January when they return to school after the winter break.

For additional information, you can go to the TSBVI’s website.

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.

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.

November 15, 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

November 2, 2021 is the date for the first of two sessions which 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 offers a series of Coffee Hours generally on Mondays from 3-4pm. Here are the options for October 2021.

October 18, 2021 40338-TSBVI Coffee Hour: Nemeth in a Box

October 25, 2021b 40344-TSBVI Coffee Hour: But What Do I DO with a Toddler?!

Low Vision International is hosting a webinar on the MagniLink Air scheduled for Friday, November 12 at 10am. This new technology transmits an image from an external source to a computer. Click on the link to register for the webinar.

Texas Sensory Support Network is offering a "Reading Connections" Book Study Online Course 10/1/21-12/13/21 Through this study of "Reading Connections: Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual Impairments" by Kamei-Hannan and Ricci, participants will review components of reading instruction and best practices for teaching these components to students who read braille or large print. Participants must be a TVI. Register here.

AER Professional Development Opportunity-The Impact of the Need for Closure for Student and Youth who are Deafblind, October 21, 2021

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.

American Printing House for the Blind and the Chicago Lighthouse are offering a monthly opportunity for parents to connect with other parents to learn from each other. The next session is on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, 7:30 - 8:30 PM EST* or 6:30 to 7:30 PM CST. Click on the link below for more information. ParentConnect: A family support Group offered in partnership with the Virtual Parent Support Group Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind

CHARGE Syndrome Foundation-For parents who have a child with CHARGE Syndrome, there are a number of opportunities to participate in research. Click on the link for more information about these opportunities.

2021 SWOMA Conference-Zooming into the Future 2.1!

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

TAER 2022 Conference March 31- April 2, 2022 at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
​in Round Rock, TX! Do you have something you would like to share with your colleagues? Go to this link ​Call for presentations which closes on October 31, 2021.

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)

Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference is scheduled for January 26-29, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. The conference showcases the latest in Assistive Technology Development. The conference has both in-person and virtual options.

The Visual Aid Volunteers, Inc., who provides braille and accessible materials, has moved back into their location at 617 W State Street, Garland, TX 75040. Their office has been renovated.

Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind is a comprehensive, home delivery pharmacy service specializing in the needs of the blind and low vision community. They were founded by blind and sighted experts in the areas of accessibility and medicine and the only provider of its kind.

Looking for resources to support at home learning? The Texas Education Agency has a publication entitled At Home Learning Resources for Students with Disabilities which features a section on sensory impairments and orientation and mobility.

Golfing after Vision Loss - Want to learn more about this subject? Click here.

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

Region 10 Low Incidence Disability September 2021 newsletter.

TX SenseAbilities - A publication about visual impairment and DeafBlindness for families and professionals.

Helen Keller - HKNC South Central September Newsletter

Project INVITE is a collaborative engagement project with four states: Texas, Montana, Idaho and Wyoming that will train a total of 30 students (15 per cohort) in either visual impairment or orientation and mobility that includes a Master's Degree and special training in working with students with neurological visual impairment. Those accepted will begin coursework in summer of 2022.and complete their program in summer of 2024. To apply for this grant one will need to be new to the field of VI, so they would not be eligible if they already hold a VI or O&M certification. See the attached documents for more information.