Introduction to FIMC-VI for New Teachers and New Program Supervisors

1:00 Welcome 1:10 Overview of FIMC-VI Accessible Instructional Materials APH Professional learning 1:30 Florida State Board Rule and Technical Assistance Paper Eligibility requirements Assessments to meet those requirements 2:00 Essential Assessments for Students with Visual Impairments 2:20 Follow-up and questions 2:30 Adjourn

To provide new teachers of the visually impaired and new program supervisors: Timely information in a cost-effective manner Overview of FIMC-VI, APH, and upcoming events National and State Initiatives related to students with visual impairments Statewide and local resources

ENHANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACHIEVEMENT FOR FLORIDAS STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS. Provide free, appropriate, high-quality instructional materials in a timely fashion. Advance competencies of teachers, administrators, and families through professional learning, resources, and support.

Statewide resource center for the K-12 students who are visually impaired and enrolled in public or private educational program Operates under the Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS) on an annual grant. Leanne Grillot is our DOE Program Specialist Hillsborough County School District is the fiscal agent of the Center

1. Procurement or productions and distribution of accessible instructional materials 2. Professional Learning a)Working with the Experts b)Quality Programs for Students with Visual Impairments (QPVI) c)QPVI- Building Local Capacity 3. Braille FCAT development 4. Volunteer services for braille and audio 5. Professional Loan Library 6. NIMAS Florida 7. Braille Challenge

Over 30,000 braille, large print and audio books in inventory Over 6,000 books and materials provided to students annually Full-scale production facility for braille, large print materials Shipping and receiving departments to manage distribution and warehousing

BRAILLE, DIGITAL, LARGE PRINT AND AUDIO MATERIALS Textbooks Supplemental classroom materials Assessments: FCAT, End of Course Exams, Stanford Library books and recreational reading materials

Most Florida textbooks are not available through American Printing House for the Blind (APH) Braille Textbooks – for initial transcriptions an Ink Print (copy of the book) is often required Outside Vendors Volunteer Braille Groups Large Print – Perform a Learning Media Assessment to determine if it is educationally necessary!

Braille books ordered in April % shipped complete* Braille books ordered in May 2011 – 87% shipped complete Braille books ordered in June 2011 – 75% shipped complete Braille books ordered in July % shipped complete Braille books ordered in AUGUST – 49% shipped complete * New transcriptions are shipped in volumes as they are completed. These numbers represent the complete books that have been shipped and does not include partial shipments

Large print books ordered in April, May, or June – 100% shipped complete Large print books ordered in July - 95% shipped complete Large print books ordered in August - 72% shipped complete

In 1879 the Congress of the United States passed the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind. This act designates APH as the official supplier of educational materials to all students in the U.S. who meet the definition of blindness and are working at less than college level. States have Trustees that manage the Federal Quota Accounts. Floridas Trustees are Suzanne Dalton (Supervisor) from FIMC-VI and Superintendent from FSDB.

FIMC-VI receives approximately $300 in federal funds for each student who is Legally Blind and has not graduated from high school. We receive no federal funds for students 20/70 to 20/200. Students must be registered each year with FIMC- VI and APH for FIMC-VI to be eligible for these funds. These funds are a small percentage of actual equipment and textbooks provided.

Who is eligible? Meet the definition of blindness -20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction or a peripheral field of vision no greater than 20 degrees OR function at the definition of blindness when visual performance is reduced by a brain injury or dysfunction. Be enrolled in a formally organized public or private, nonprofit educational program of less than college level. Have an eye medical exam within the last three years Be enrolled with the registering school or agency on the first Monday in January. (Only one school or agency can register a child.)

Explore the APH Catalog at

Perkins Braille Writer - $650 Light Box – $460 Math Builders Kits – $250 Graphic Aid for Mathematics - $172 On the Way to Literacy – early print/braille books $408 Sensory Learning Kit - $499 Book Port Plus $399 Braille version of the Woodcock Johnson Test of Achievement - $300 Squid Magazine - $50

APH MATERIALS Braille writers, abacus, slate and stylus Tangible graphics – maps, charts, and graphs Digital players Light boxes, toys, concept development materials Transition, vocational, daily living materials Pre-Braille and emergent literacy materials

APH FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE! Order what you need by September 15 …. (Excessive orders are subject to review by FIMC-VI, You will be asked to fill out forms to justify the expenditure. )

Student Registration – EVERY student EVERY year Current eye medical is mandatory to register student to see catalog online or to order print catalogs Tangible order form is found on our website at: All orders go through Kathee Cagle – you can her the form or contact her at

Enhancing competencies of teachers, administrators, and families of students with visual impairments

WORKING WITH THE EXPERTS Seminars for teachers and parents for techniques and methods for teaching students with visual impairments Held at least once annually for 32 years Over 100 seminars since 1980 Average 200 participants a year Nationally known presenters from US and Canada

District program review of quality indicators Current eye medicals Functional Vision Assessments Learning Media Assessments Expanded Core Curriculum Assessments Number of consult to direct services Scope and intensity of services Role of TVI, O&M, paraprofessionals, etc. Establishing a consistency of practice to a research-based standard

Two models being implemented in Florida QPVI: Local districts, in depth, 3-year self-study QPVI - Building Local Capacity: Workshop series that provides foundations of QPVI while helping districts and TVIs meet the requirements of the Florida State Board Rule. To date: Eight districts involved in full QPVI and 24 districts have participated in QPVI-Building Local Capacity

Affiliated with the National Braille Challenge sponsored by Braille Institute of America

FIMC-VI contracts with Sue Glaser to manage all aspects of the Florida Braille Challenge Grown from one event with 19 students in 2008 to three events with over 80 students participating in will offer four events Tallahassee Ft. Lauderdale Orlando Tampa Data analysis shows improvement in braille reading fluency and comprehension for students participating for more than two consecutive years

PROFESSIONAL LIBRARY Approx. 400 items checked-out annually THE VISUAL FIELD E-NEWSLETTER Training opportunities/current events to over 600 teachers and families quarterly

September 20 – Ushers Screening Training in Ft. Myers September 26 – Webinar - Power Point for the TVI (part 1 of 2) October 24 – Power Point for the TVI (part 2) October 31 – November 1: QPVI Facilitator Training in Tampa November 2 - 3: QPVI - Building Local Capacity in Lake Placid (Session 1 of 3) November 4: QPVI - Building Local Capacity in Sanford

November 17: Ushers Screening Training at FIMC-VI November 28: Excel for the TVI Webinar (part 1) December 1 – 2: Working with the Experts - Math Strategies (But Im not the math teacher. Oh, but you are the ECC – Nemeth code, abacus, math concepts, manipulatives, assistive technology and math access – teacher. ) in Daytona Beach. December 7 -10: Getting In Touch With Literacy Conference in Louisville, Kentucky

January 10: QPVI Building Local Capacity in Miami January 11-12: QPVI Building Local Capacity (session 2 of 3) Lake Placid January 13: QPVI Building Local Capacity in Sanford January 20: Braille Challenge - Tallahassee January 30: New Teacher Orientation Webinar (part 2) February 2: Braille Challenge - Orlando February 20: Excel for TVIs (part 2) February 24: Braille Challenge - Ft. Lauderdale March 2: Braille Challenge - Tampa

April 3 and 4: Working with the Experts – Intensive Reading Strategies (But Im not the reading teacher. Oh, but you are the ECC – braille, assistive technology, concepts, and access to reading – teacher.) in Tampa April 5 - New Teacher Orientation and Vision Contact Meeting at FIMC-VI - Tampa April 10-11: QPVI Building Local Capacity (part 3) Lake Placid May 3-5 FAER and Jo Taylor Leadership Institute in St. Pete May 11 – New Teacher Orientation Webinar (part 3)

Suzanne Dalton – Supervisor Kay Ratzlaff – Coordinator Donna Ross – District Resource Teacher Cynthia Cookson – Secretary and NIMAS Florida Kathee Cagle – Order Processing and APH Census Cathy Babbitt – Clerk Diana Moyer- Large Print Production Vernon Underwood – Braille Production Siew Ng – Braillist Denise Battle – Shipping Curtis Nelson - Receiving

What you need to know

Criteria for eligibility: A student is eligible for a special program for the visually impaired if the following medical and educational criteria are met: (a) Medical. There is a documented eye impairment as manifested by at least one of the following:

1. A visual acuity of 20/70 or less in the better eye after best possible correction; 2. A peripheral field so constricted that it affects the student's ability to function in an educational setting; 3. A progressive loss of vision which may affect the student's ability to function in an academic setting or,

4. For children birth to five (5) years of age OR STUDENTS WHO ARE OTHERWISE UNABLE TO BE ASSESSED: bilateral lack of central, steady, or maintained fixation of vision with an estimated visual acuity of 20/70 or less after best possible correction; bilateral central scotoma involving the perimacula area (20/80- 20/200); bilateral grade III, IV, or V Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP); or documented eye impairment as stated in paragraph (3)(a) of this rule.

(b) If a medical criterion listed in SB 6A is met, then a comprehensive assessment of skills known to be impacted by a visual impairment, shall include, but is not limited to: functional vision evaluation, learning media assessment, and if appropriate, orientation and mobility.

Excludes students who have learning problems that are primarily the result of visual perceptual and/or visual motor difficulties. Mandates functional vision evaluations and learning media assessments Students with visual impairments must have a three-year reevaluation because of the requirement to have a current medical eye exam

Expanded Core Curriculum Can you name the areas???

Assistive Technology Compensatory Skills (abacus, manipulatives, Communication skills: braille, Nemeth Code, writing, etc. Recreation and Leisure Orientation and Mobility Social Skills Self-Determination Visual / Sensory Efficiency Independent Living Skills

Of those skills known to be impacted by a visual impairment (ECC) how many of those are being assessed for three-year evaluations? What assessment instruments are you using? Could a DOE monitor team identify the assessments? Are the assessments standards and research based and/or published? Are those skills reflected in the IEP Present Level of Performance?

In the case of a student who is blind or visually impaired, provision of instruction in braille and the use of braille unless the IEP team determines, after an evaluation of the students reading and writing skills, needs, including future needs, and appropriate reading and writing media, that instruction in braille or the use of braille is not appropriate for the student.

Braille is the default learning media. We have to demonstrate and document that braille is not needed. This includes a reasonable expectation braille will not be needed in the future.

B-2 Districts responsibility to obtain medical documentation, B-9 Eye medical for child who is totally blind B-10 No consent to test C-3 Patching C-5 Visual Perceptual or visual motor problems (vision therapy) Posted on FIMC-VI Website:

Functional Vision Learning Media ECC Assessment Priority Needs Goal and Objectives IEP Time Intensity Skills Taught Services

Created by American Foundation for the Blind and Vanderbilt University Provides criteria for functional vision and learning media assessments Has built-in resources and video support Integrated into the QPVI workshops and self-study Can be found at (new website is in development) Nancy Toelle (QPVI) and I have developed Rubrics for administrators and teachers to evaluate current functional vision and learning media assessments

Florida Low Vision Initiative (Kim Roberts and Alysa Crooke) Florida Outreach Project for Children and Young Adults with Deaf-Blindness (Emily Taylor-Snell) Florida Outreach Services for Blind/Visually Impaired and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (Diana Deacon) FSU Teacher Prep Programs – Undergraduate and Graduate Tallahassee (Dr. Sandra Lewis) St. Petersburg/Tampa (Sue Glaser) Miami-Dade/ Broward (Jennifer Breitinger)

You will be ed evaluation questions, please reply (we need this information for our grant.) Next session is January 30 at 2:00 p.m. Suggestions for other topics or Webinars? This PowerPoint will be posted at