Pop-Up IEP

10. "We can’t get a certified teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired/orientation and mobility specialist (TVI/O&M) to come way out here!” or “Since our TVI/O&M has a large caseload, we can only provide _____ hours/minutes of services per week. "

Why is this statement problematic?

While there is a shortage of teachers and specialists certified in blindness and visual impairment, this does not relieve school districts of their legal requirement to provide highly qualified teachers who are certified to teach specialized skills, such as braille, mobility, or assistive technology. By law, both the type and amount of services provided to children who are blind or visually impaired must be based on individual needs, not staff availability. Since it is crucial for children who are blind or visually impaired to learn the specialized skills and tools that will enable them to participate fully in school and community life, it is necessary for them to have teachers with expertise in these areas. These children have unique learning needs and must be taught by someone with an understanding of how vision loss affects learning and the strategies necessary to address their needs. Teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) are key to the overall functioning of school programming for students who are blind or visually impaired. Additionally, TVI’s perform assessment and evaluation. Therefore it is important that a TVI be included in the planning and implementation of opthamological reports and discussion of functional vision abilities of students.

Possible Responses for Parents/Advocates

“We are sure as educators and professionals that you understand the necessity of having certified instructors. We realize that there is a shortage in the field of blindness and visual impairment, and that locating staff may require extra effort. We have heard that other districts have found teachers through job fairs and by offering attractive compensation. Felipe has already lost _____ hours of instruction that will need to be made up by a certified TVI*. We wouldn’t want to get any further behind.”
“We understand that it may take a few months of intensive effort to recruit someone due to the teacher shortage in this field. However, I’m sure we also all agree that Richard’s education can’t be put on hold for that length of time. Let’s work together to brainstorm temporary solutions. Perhaps we could contract with a certified TVI* from another district, join with another district and share a TVI, or encourage a current district employee to obtain certification as a TVI.”

*Teacher of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Read the Law

Additional Information

Collabortive effort between the
National Center on Severe and Sensory Disabilities
and the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children