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Red ball on black background
Posted by Jaime Brown
After students with CVI (Cortical Visual Impairment) have learned to view and identify real objects, they are ready to learn to identify two-dimensional pictures.  It is essential to recognize the differences in a student’s visual skill set before...



Two girls writing on paper
Posted by Marnee Loftin
Determining the presence of a specific learning disability is a complex process.  Most parents and Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs) have a general idea of the procedure, but it is important to know several things about the process...



Tactile graphic organizer of pumpkin
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam is a first grader in a mainstream classroom and he happens to be deafblind.  I was inspired recently by a classroom letter that was sent home in his backpack.  The children were expected to write stories that had a beginning, middle,...



little girl with bow in her hair
Posted by Laurie Hudson
THE BIG PICTURE In my iBook “Introducing Braille,” I largely used videotaped examples of bright, enthusiastic young students to show ways to “Make It Fun,” “Make it Developmental,” and “Make It Meaningful...



UEB Curriculum Crop
Posted by Catherine Summ
  Catherine Summ and Suzanne Cappiello, who both work as Education Consultants for the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DORS-BESB) in CT, have created this curriculum.     We wrote these lesson plans...



Collage of easy to create story box for students with visual impairment
Posted by Jaime Brown
Story boxes have been around for years.  When I taught Head Start they were called "prop boxes". As a Head Start teacher, I used my prop boxes to make the story more fun, engaging and interactive. When I became a TVI I realized that story...



little girl
Posted by Laurie Hudson
How do we introduce braille literacy through assistive technology for young children with visual impairments? We make it fun, developmental, and meaningful, as described in the lesson segment below and paired with a short video. (Many thanks to my...



Girl with her hand resting on teacher's hand
Posted by Liz Eagan
I have been asked repeatedly how I come up with goals and how I document progress or regression on them. Good questions! In coming up with goals, it all starts with some form of assessment. I don’t pull goals out of midair. Texas School for the Blind...



A girl uses an abacus and a braille writer.
Posted by Marnee Loftin
Jonathan has been receiving educational services since the age of thirteen months.  His family has been an active participant in this process always ensuring that Jonathan has been surrounded by braille in his home and with books available for reading...



student with multicolored parachute
Posted by Jaime Brown
Typically when we think of pre-literacy activities, we think of increasing tactual and print awareness, object and letter identification, and book handling skills.  Learning literacy skills begins even before students learn to recognize and identify...



Student using tactile symbols with braille
Posted by Megan Mogan
Whether you are raring to go and have your materials all organized, or your vacation flight arrives home the night before your first day back, it’s time. Here are just a few things I like to remind myself this back-to-school time of year. ...



school supply labels
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam, who is deafblind, will be starting first grade in a couple of weeks in a mainstream classroom. Last year, I bought all of Liam's supplies and labeled them myself.  This year I wanted Liam to be part of the process. And of course I wanted...



Pages of accessible book showing a toothbrush
Posted by Liamsmom
My son Liam attends a mainstream public school. He just finished Kindergarten last year, where he would get these little mini-books that his classmates were reading. I have taken some of them and modified them so that they would be accessible for Liam, as...



Teacher sitting on floor with a young boy looking at a braille book
Posted by Gwyn McCormack
Sighted children develop and gain knowledge and experience through incidental learning. During their first few years of life they have exposure to a vast range of visual symbols that convey meaning. They observe children and adults looking atprint and gaining...



Collage of academic apps
Posted by Linda Mamer
New apps (applications) for iOS devices are frequently released, and the following is list compiled of the apps which were most highly rated by students who are blind or visually impaired.  Many of these help to support various areas of the Expanded...



Boy using tactile sign with his mother
Posted by Liamsmom
There are many reasons I tell stories to my child, Liam, who is deafblind. Storytelling is fun and motivating; stories can open up a whole new world to children in general, but especially to children who are deafblind. Storytelling can encourage conversation...



Student reading with teacher
Posted by Marnee Loftin
Marnee Loftin is a psychologist, who recently retired from Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  She is the author of Making Evaluations Meaningful and has presented widely about learning disabilities in students with visual...



Puzzle pieces fitting together in model of collaboration
Posted by Liz Eagan
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word collaborate means “to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something”. The student with a visual impairment has many needs that can be best met through collaborating...



bird nest page with braille
Posted by Liamsmom
I wanted to create some "science" books for my son Liam (he just turned 6 years old and is deafblind) for him to use for the next school year.  I looked up first grade standards and noticed a focus on animals and their habitats, life cycles,...



Student looking at real objects in reading notebook
Posted by Roz Rowley
Mary McCarthy and Justine Rines are co-authors of this post. This is the third of three posts on the Wilson Reading System® and Struggling Braille Readers. See also Why We Love Using the Wilson Reading System® with Struggling Braille Readers...



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