Contact

Hello! I'm glad you would like to connect with me! I hope you've enjoyed reading some of the articles on my website. I enjoy hearing from fellow vision professionals as well as others passionate about educating students who are blind or visually impaired. 
If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, make suggestions for topics to cover, have a resource to share, or to let me know you have found errors in any articles (yikes!), please feel free to complete the form below to get in touch with me. You may also connect with me on LinkedIn. ​I also invite you to follow my Facebook page where I share about the latest resources available. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I joined the free membership, but can't access some of the pages.
A: While the majority of the pages within my website are available to anyone, the free membership provides access to the Free Printables page and the Goal Bank pages. Other pages within my website are unlocked when you make a purchase (e.g. purchase the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC Complete Set to access the ECC Complete Set Bonus section or purchase webinars to unlock the webinar pages.)

Q: How do I access the pdf digital download? 
A: A link to the pdf files is located on your receipt under "Download Information". If you didn't receive a receipt after you made your purchase, please check your spam folder.

Q: How do I access the webinars?
A: Once you purchase one or more of the webinars, you will have immediate access to the associated webinar page. The webinars are housed on the webinar pages and include the webinar and associated downloads. 

Q: Do you accept school Purchase Orders? What do I need to do?
A: YES! I accept purchase orders (P.O.'s). You will need to contact your school's treasurer's office, or other person in your organization that is in charge of ordering and setting up P.O.s. Have that person contact me and I will furnish them with a W-9 which is needed to establish Teaching Students with Visual Impairments as an approved vendor. Depending on your state and organization, you may need me to complete additional forms. Once I am approved, you will complete a purchase order and have them send it to me as an email attachment. 

If purchasing digital downloads, be sure to have that person include your name or the name of the person it is being purchased for and that person's email so I may contact them if there are any revisions or provide access to closed member pages when applicable. I will send an invoice and the pdf download to the individual and copy the treasure or finance officer so that the person sees that the materials have been received, allowing them to pay the invoice. If you have any questions, contact me, and I can help you with the process. 

Q: Am I able to print copies and save the files in multiple places?
A: Absolutely! Although you may not forward copies to others, you may print as many copies as you need for your use with students on your caseload. I simply ask that you purchase a separate book for each TVI. Each purchase allows you to make two downloads. I recommend using one on your phone or tablet for reference on the go and you may want to download the other to a flash drive. Should you accidentally download to an undesired location or have any other difficulty with the download, please contact me so I can help. 

Q: How do you use the ECC book resources?
A: I am biased but I love these ECC activities as I can adapt them to all age and developmental levels of the students I serve. I print a copy of the current unit along with enough copies of each of the Grab & Go sheets for each student depending on the student's goals. I love having all the activities I use in one place! 

Q: Are you developing more resources?
​A: YES! I continue to create worksheets and activities for the students I serve as well as other program resources to help the teams on which I serve. 
Q: I'm interested in becoming a vision professional. Where can I learn more?
A: How wonderful that you're thinking of joining the field of visual impairments! There is currently a nationwide shortage of vision professionals! You can learn more about the different careers in the vision field: Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, Orientation & Mobility Specialists, Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists, Low Vision Specialists, and braillists/paraprofessionals.  You can find a list of professional preparation programs here. Some universities offer online coursework, while others require you to attend traditional on-campus courses, while still others offer a combination. As university coursework changes, you will need to contact the universities directly. You can follow the link to their program sites to learn more detailed information. 

​Q: My child is blind or visually impaired. Where can I find support?
A: I hope that the pages throughout this website can provide you with the information to support your child and your child's educational team. If you aren't sure of resources in your state, the American Printing House for the Blind maintains an excellent listing of services that are available in each state and manages a Connect Center to support professionals, families, and consumers. For information about educational guidelines in your state, you may find it helpful to contact the vision specialist at the Department of Education in your state. Are you in need of a vision advocate? The American Council of the Blind may be able to help or point you in the right direction. Additionally, you may want to join a support network, such as Family Connect and/or a support network specific to your child's visual diagnosis.

Q: My adult family member (or friend) is blind or visually impaired. Where can I find help?
​A: The American Printing House for the Blind has an excellent listing of services that are available in each state. Additionally, VisionAware is specifically designed for adults who are losing their site. As a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments, my expertise is in the education of children ages birth through 22 who are blind or visually impaired. My expertise is not with serving adults, that being said, you may find information throughout this website that can provide you with strategies and suggestions in supporting your adult loved one. 

Q: Our program has a vacancy for a visual impairment professional. How can I post our vacancy?
​A: You can and should post your vacancy on your program's website, but how do you guarantee vision professionals find your posting? You could post your vacancy on traditional job posting boards that are available for all jobs, but I suggest you post on a website that is frequented by vision professionals. AER offers a job posting board that is known to and used by many vision professionals. I offer job postings here at a rate of $50 for the first month and a reduced price ($25) for subsequent months as I know that it can take longer than usual to fill vacancies in the field of visual impairments.  I charge a fee to ensure the postings are real and current as well as to recuperate the costs of maintaining this web resource. Additionally, you may want to reference the presentation I gave at the Council of Schools for the Blind on strategies for recruitment and career growth.

Q: Is Teaching Students with Visual Impairments an organization? 
​A: The web resource Teaching Students with Visual Impairments was created and continues to be maintained by Carmen Willings, a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments. The job postings, ads, and affiliate links throughout the website cover the cost of operation of the website. Thank you for your support! Although I am not an organization, my goal is to direct you to organizations and resources that can help you throughout the pages of this website. If there are vision specific programs or resources you know of that you feel should be listed within the pages, please let me know so I can add them! There are submissions forms throughout the website for your convenience. If you'd like to learn more about my background, visit the About page.

    Contact Me

History of vi
Visual Impairments
Vi organizations & Agencies
VI book resources
VI Professionals
Professionalism
Instructional Planning
Professional Publications
Educational Programming
Individual Learning Differences
referrals
Medical vision exams
fvlma
additional evaluations
service planning
writing goals
compensatory skills
Guiding Principles
​Functional Skills
Community Based Experiences  ​
​​Concepts to Teach ​
Organization & Study Skills ​​
Time Management  ​​
​​​​Virtual Instruction
​Movies & Assemblies
Lectures & Instruction
Board Work (Chalk, White, etc.)
​​Daily Schedule 
Morning Meeting 
Weather Check 
Dramatic Play 
Blocks 
Numbers & Counting
Cranmer Abacus Instruction
Algebra
Geometry & Spatial Sense
Measurement & Data ​
Early Literacy Experiences  ​
​Create Tactual Books
Reading Instruction
​Reading Efficiency ​​
Science Adaptations 
Social Studies Adaptations
​Accessible Educational Materials
​​Individual Schedules & Communication Cards
Adjust Lighting  
Large Print
Optical Devices for Near 
Optical Devices for Distance 
Optical Device Use ​​
​Photocopying
Font Legibility
Increase Contrast
Pictures & Worksheets 
Keyboarding ​Instruction
Word Processing and Shortcuts
​Navigate Computer w/o a Mouse
Braille Code
Braille Instruction 
​Braille Instruction Materials
Writing Braille  
​Summer Reading (braille)
Signature & Handwriting ​​
Nemeth Braille Code
​Tactile Graphics Guidelines
Creating Tactile Graphics
​Tactile Graphics Instruction
​Teacher Made Materials 
​Labeling System
assistive technology
sensory efficiency
independent living
orientation & Mobility
career education
social skills
recreation & Leisure
self determination