Resources

Low Vision and Medical Information

Instructional Resources

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired – VI Goals and Objectives
** These resources have been compiled from various schools and districts around the country and may not be formatted to conform to Texas State guidelines for IEP goals.

Teacher Training Programs

Northern Illinois University
Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Special Education
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
Training Programs Offered: O&M, RT, TVI
Degrees Offered: Certification, B.S., M.S.Ed
Contact Persons: Gaylen Kapperman, Coordinator (O&M, RT, TVI); Jodi Sticken (TVI, O&M); Connie Cretens (RT); Toni Heinze (TVI)
Email: Gaylen Kapperman gkapper@niu.edu;
Jodi Sticken jsticken@niu.edu
Toni Heinze theinze@niu.edu
Telephone: (815) 753-8459 (Gen. info), 815-753-8453 (Gen. info.), (815) 753-8456 (TVI, O&M), (815)753-8455 (RT)
Fax: (815) 753-8594

Portland State University
Department of Special Education
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Oregon 97207
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degree’s Offered: Master’s
Contact persons: Holly Lawson
Telephone: (503) 725-5495
Fax: (503) 725-5599

California State University, Los Angeles
Department of Special Education
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degree’s Offered: Master’s
Contact persons: Dr. Diane Fazzi (O&M), Dr. Jaime Dote-Kwan (VI)
Telephone: (213) 343-4411
Fax: (213) 343-4318

Hunter College
Department of Special Education
New York City, NY
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degree’s Offered: Master’s
Program: Blind and Visually Impaired: NYS Teacher Certification - Advanced Certificate - Hunter College - Acalog ACMS™ (cuny.edu)

Michigan State University
341 Erickson Hall
Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education
College of Education
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1034
Training Programs Offered: VI, DEAF-BLIND, O&M (elementary and secondary education)
Degrees Offered: VI certificate (Michigan), Deaf-Blind endorsement, O&M (AER certification,, VI bachelor and master degree programs, Doctoral special education program
Contact Persons: Tom T. Hwang; Lou Alonso; & Susan Bruce
Telephone: (517) 355-1838 (-35 OR -37)
Fax: (517) 353-6393

North Carolina Central University
Visual Impairment Training Program
1801 Fayetteville
Durham, NC 27707
Training Programs Offered: VI, O&M
Degrees Offered: Certification, M.Ed.
Contact Persons: Dr. Brad R. Walker, Director; Dr. Laura Bozeman (O&M)
Telephone: (919) 560-5179; (919) 715-4257
Fax: (919) 560-5279

San Francisco State University
Department of Special Education
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degrees Offered: Master of Arts in Special Education, Ph.D./Ed.D. in Special Education, California Teaching Specialists Credential in VI, California Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential in O&M
Contact Persons: Dr. Sandra Rosen (O&M), Amanda Lueck (VI)
Telephone: (415) 338-1245 (O&M), (415) 338-1080 (VI)
Fax: (415) 338-0566

Stephen F. Austin State University
Department of Counseling and Special Educational Programs
Box 13019
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
Training Program Offered: O&M
Degrees Offered: AER Cerfitication*, B.S. in Rehabilitation
Contact Persons: Bill Bryan, Bob Bryant, or Anna Bradfield
Phone: (409) 468-1036
Fax: (409) 468-1342*It is also possible for students with a bachelor’s degree to come to SFA and just add the needed courses for certification. A certified teacher of the visually impaired could add the O&M certification with about 18 hours of prescribed courses others would need to take about 33 hours.

Texas Tech University
Department of Special Education
Box 4560
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Contact Person: Nora Griffin-Shirley, Ph.D.
Telephone: (806)742-2184
Fax: (806) 742-1331

The University of Arizona
Southwestern Orientation and Mobility Preparation Program (SWOMPP)
University of Arizona
Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation
Education Building
Tucson, AZ 85721
Training Programs Offered: O&M and VI
Degrees Offered: Certification, Master’s, Ed. Specialist, Doctoral
Contact Persons: Pam Almon or Jane Erin
Telephone: Dr. Almon: (520) 621-3887; Dr. Erin: (520) 621-0945
Fax: (520) 621-3821

University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Department of Rehabilitation
2801 S. University Ave
Little Rock, AR 72204
Training Programs Offered: O&M, RT, VI
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, state Certification (VI), Masters of Arts degree (O&M, RT), Masters of Education degree (VI)
Contact Persons: Dr. William H. Jacobson (O&M), Dr. Patricia Smith (RT)
Other Faculty: Judy Matsuoka (RT)
Telephone: (501) 569-3169
Fax: (501) 569-8694

University of Massachusetts at Boston
Graduate College of Education
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, Massachusetts 02125-3393
Training Programs Offered: O&M, RT
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, M.Ed.
Contact Persons: Bob McCulley, M.Ed.
Telephone: (617) 287-7623
Fax: (617) 287-7664

University of Pittsburgh
Department of Instruction and Learning
Vision Studies Program
4H32 Forbes Quadrangle
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Training Programs Offered: O&M, Vision Education
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Contact person: George J. Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Telephone Number: (412) 624-7247
Fax Number: (412) 648-7081

Western Michigan University
Department of Blind Rehabilitation
Western Michigan University
Sangren Hall
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008
Training Programs Offered: Standard Orientation and Mobility Program, Orientation and Mobility for the Elderly (Gerontology Certificate), Standard Rehabilitation Teaching Program, Rehabilitation Counseling/Rehabilitation Teaching (Dual Masters), Orientation and Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching (Dual Masters), Orientation and Mobility with Specialization in Low Vision, Rehabilitation Teaching with Specialization in Low Vision
Degrees Offered: Certification, M.Ed.
Contact Persons: Marv Weessies (O&M), Sue Ponchillia (RT), Bill Wiener (Rehab Counseling)
Telephone: (616) 387-3455
Fax: (616) 387-3567

Schools for the Blind in the United States

Accessible Tests

Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) [See especially Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Toolkit]
Council of Chief State School Officers
Council for Exceptional Children
Kentucky Dept. of Education’s (KDE) (search for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Initiative; CATS online; assessment and accountability)
National Assessment Governing Board
National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) (Universal Design in Assessment; testing accommodations; alternate assessment)
National Center on Education Statistics (NCES) (And National Assessment of Educational Progress [NAEP])
Test Access: Guidelines for Computer-Administered Testing. American Printing House for the Blind, 2002.
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (search for assessment)

Parents and Family

The Achromatopsia Network
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Information for Parents
Autism Today, latest news and resources for autism and autism related issues
Blindsided in WA (Facebook Page)
Pediatric CVI Society
CVI Hub Perkins eLearning
Perkins School for the Blind
Exceptional Resources your source for autism books and other autism resources
Family Connect FamilyConnect.org connects families of children with visual impairments to knowledge, resources, and support. It was created in partnership with the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments. FamilyConnect gives parents, grandparents and other caretakers a place to find comprehensive resources and support 24 hours a day, with access to message boards where they can talk to other parents, compelling videos featuring real-life families, parenting articles, parent-authored blogs, and links to local resources. The site also features sections dedicated to multiple disabilities, technology, education, and every age group from infants to teens. Visitors to FamilyConnect can also create a personal profile and receive information on news and events based on their child’s age, eye condition, and location. Articles are also available in Spanish.
Braille Superstore – produces hundreds of Braille, cassette and print/Braille books for all age categories
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA)
PHPV support group listserv
Prevent Blindness – Provide outreach regarding vision services and support along with training, advocacy and collaboration. We also have a training and certification program for volunteer vision screeners and a national agreement with Head Start.
Project PAVE: Providing Access to the Visual Environment
Sparkle
Three Days to See – 1933 article by Helen Keller
Vision Associates
Washington Parents of Blind Children – The Washington State Parents of Blind Students is a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
Wonder Baby