What's Happening at…

What’s Happening at Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI) New website is under development Utilizing a new training registration system Online student registration system allows teachers of the visually impaired to update current students and register new students Continuing with FCAT development and proofreading Continuing to develop policies and procedures for statewide implementation of the National Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS) for students with visual impairments and students with print disabilities

FIMC-VI Weekends with the Experts 29 th Annual Seminar for Parents and Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments  January 16 and 17, 2009 – Hilton Orlando Altamonte Springs  Florida Low Vision Initiative Update with Kim Roberts and Alysa Crooke  Use of Low Vision Devices – Teaching Strategies  Functional Vision Assessments – Interpreting Results, Eye Medical Reports and Updates on Research with Darick Wright, Perkins School for the Blind Low Vision Clinic  February 6 and 7* - In Tampa (location not confirmed) Millie Smith on Using the APH Sensory Learning Kit for Learning Media Assessments for Students with Additional Disabilities (APH Partnership Event) *Pending DOE Approval

FIMC-VI Events Regional Trainings  North Florida Initiative (September and November)  FCAT Training ( South Florida in October, Central Florida in Feb.)  Technology Trainings (February) Quality Programs for Students With Visual Impairments (QPVI) VI Program continuous improvement model. FIMC-VI has trained 10 facilitators and is supporting districts to implement the program.  began self study: Hillsborough, Leon, Orange  began self-study: Palm Beach, Polk, Pasco, and Pinellas  slated to begin the self-study: Broward, Duval and St. Johns Technical Assistance and Local Workshops  Seminole County with Julie Durando on Using Calendar Box Communication Systems Braille Challenge  January 23 in Ft. Lauderdale  February 13 in Tallahassee  February 27 in Tampa