CLINICAL LOW VISION SPECIALISTBy: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com Once a person has been diagnosed as having low vision by a primary eye care provider, he or she should be referred for a clinical low vision evaluation, as part of the overall multidisciplinary rehabilitation services, to review what, if any, optical and non-optical devices would be beneficial. Unlike the role of the medical eye care provider whose role is to maximize a person’s visual capabilities through all available medical, surgical, and optical means, the role of the clinical low vision specialist is to maximize a person’s functional vision capabilities. Students typically see this specialist when someone determines that a low vision device (optical or non-optical) might be helpful. If the student’s vision or educational needs or performance have changed, then they may be referred for a visit (or follow-up visit) to the clinical low vision specialist. Services vary, but many low vision specialists will also instruct the student in the use of the prescribed devices and may also loan devices for a trial period and offer a follow-up visit to review the results of the trial.
Who is a Low Vision Specialist?A clinical low vision specialist may be an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, or a university-trained professional with special knowledge of low vision and optical devices. They specialize in helping children with limited visual ability optimize their remaining vision. They are specialized in low vision testing, diagnosis, and treatment and is trained to conduct low vision eye examinations and prescribe special low vision devices. The clinical low vision specialist will work with the student to find the best way to enhance their vision – whether through hand-held magnifiers, monoculars (telescopes), special high-powered glasses for reading, or closed circuit televisions which enlarge print onto a TV screen. The clinical low vision evaluation differs from the evaluation of the eye care specialist in many ways:
The Low Vision Specialist uses special charts and materials for the assessment of distance and near visual acuity that are not routinely used in general eye examinations. It goes beyond the prescription of standard spectacles to provide optical, non-optical, and/or non-visual devices to help individuals meet their specific visual needs for distance, intermediate, and near activities. It includes the gathering of information about the individual’s functional use of vision by a clinical low vision specialist, even when optical devices may not be beneficial, to provide techniques for maximizing the functional use of vision. The Code of Federal Regulations |
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TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC: An Activities Based Curriculum for Teaching Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
$50.00
Written specifically for fellow itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI’s), this book consists of over 400 activities and topic areas of discussion for instructing students in the Expanded Core Curriculum. The activities are age-neutral and multi-sensory and therefore can meet the needs of the broad range of students served on an itinerant caseload serving. The activities can be individualized to the students various learning modalities and scaffold in order to challenge students but ensure success. Select those activities that align with the student’s learning objects based on the student’s unique visual needs and academic and developmental level. The core activities listed in the Activity section can be adapted to each thematic unit. These include:
In addition to the core activity areas, each of the 32 Thematic Units incorporates additional unique ECC concepts and skills providing you with a years’ worth of activities. These units are cyclical and can be used repeatedly to help students build on prior knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of concepts. Each unit includes suggestions for activity adaptation associated with the unit. These include lists of objects, possible community based experiences, environmental print, poems, children & young reader books, children's songs, pop culture songs, movies, and websites. Unique Concepts within the Units include:
Although the intended audience of this resource is fellow Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, special education teachers may find these activities beneficial to the students in their classrooms as the activities are multisensory and include life skills and concepts needed by all students. This resource, however, is not intended to take the place of a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI). Readers are advised to consult their own TVI’s regarding instruction in the ECC and the unique visual needs of the student’s served in their programs. Note: This curriculum is a digital pdf download. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page where you will find the download link. This download will also be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. Each download is intended for single instructor use per copyright. Thank you for helping me preserve the content and not distributing copies to third parties. Product details Digital pdf download: 364 pages (11 pt font) Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English 
Visual Efficiency & Magnifier Fluency Grab & Go ECC Supplements
$25.00
This workbook is a pdf download that can be printed on demand for use with students. It contains five different types of worksheets for developing visual motor skills and near magnifier fluency skills particularly with the use of a video magnifier. As a supplement to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to each of the 32 ECC Thematic units. The worksheets, along with a list of environmental print for each thematic unit, are designed to help students refine their visual motor skills while reinforcing ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheet Details: Digital pdf download: 210 pages Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English 
TVI's Guide Complete Set Bundle + BONUS Resources
$100.00
Buy together at a reduced price and get BONUS resources! TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC: An Activities Based Curriculum for Teaching Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired The TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC is a digital pdf available for download. It is designed specifically for fellow itinerant Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI’s), and consists of over 400 activities and topic areas of discussion for instructing students in the Expanded Core Curriculum. The activities are age-neutral and multi-sensory and therefore can meet the needs of the broad range of students served on an itinerant caseload serving. The activities can be individualized to the students various learning modalities and scaffold in order to challenge students but ensure success. Select those activities that align with the student’s learning objects based on the student’s unique visual needs and academic and developmental level. In addition to the core activity areas, each of the 32 Thematic Units incorporates additional unique ECC concepts and skills providing you with a years’ worth of activities. These units are cyclical and can be used repeatedly to help students build on prior knowledge and develop a deeper understanding of concepts. Each unit includes suggestions for activity adaptation associated with the unit. These include lists of objects, possible community-based experiences, environmental print, poems, children & young reader books, children's songs, pop culture songs, movies, and websites. In addition to the book, the following two supplements are included: · TVI’s Guide to the ECC Concept Checklist · TVI’s Guide to the ECC Activities Checklist For complete product details and additional images, visit the TVI's Guide product page. TVI's Guide to the ECC Product details · Digital pdf download: 346 pages (11 pt font) · Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments · Author: Carmen Willings · Language: English Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets: TVI's Guide to the ECC Grab and Go Supplements The Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheets is a Grab and Go supplement to the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC. This workbook is a pdf download that can be printed on demand for use with students. It contains five different types of worksheets for developing visual motor skills and near magnifier fluency skills particularly with the use of a video magnifier. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to each of the 32 ECC Thematic units. The worksheets, along with a list of environmental print for each thematic unit, are designed to help students refine their visual motor skills while reinforcing ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. For complete product details and additional images, visit the Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Product Page. Visual Efficiency & Near Magnifier Fluency Worksheet Details: · Digital pdf download: 210 pages · Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments · Author: Carmen Willings · Language: English Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Worksheets: A TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC Grab & go Supplement The Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Grab and Go ECC worksheet packet is a print on demand workbook that contains worksheets in print and simulated braille to use for data collection. Present the student with a hard braille copy and use the worksheets to document accuracy and fluency in reading braille. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. These word lists and sentences will help the student refine their keyboarding or braille reading skills while bridging ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Although the lists and passages can be produced using a manual braillewriter, you may also copy and paste the passages into any braille translation software for quick production on an embosser. They may also be entered into a typing program such as APH’s Talking Typer to build keyboarding fluency. For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency & Maintenance Product Page Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency Worksheet Details: · Digital pdf download: 338-page print and simulated braille worksheets · Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments · Author: Carmen Willings · Language: English Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists: Grab & Go ECC Supplement The Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Grab and Go ECC supplement is a 446 page pdf downloadable print on demand workbook that includes 2940 vocabulary card on 3 1/2" x 2" templates divided by each of the 32 Thematic Units along with a checklist of each unit words in print and simulated braille. As a companion to the TVI's Guide to the ECC, the vocabulary cards correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. Additional Use: Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments can have a extremely varied caseloads. It is possible to go several years without having a student on your caseload who requires braille instruction. Like other skills, if you do not practice your braille regularly, it is easy to lose those skills. Use these checklists and cards to maintain your braille skills. Fold the checklist along the line dividing the print from the braille. Choose to either read the print and produce the word in braille using a braillewriter or read the simulated braille and decode it. Finally, these vocabulary cards and checklists may be used with family members or peers who are interested in learning and practicing the braille code. For complete product details and additional images, visit the Thematic Vocabulary Cards & Checklists Product Page Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Details: · Digital pdf download: 446-page print on demand resource · Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments · Author: Carmen Willings · Language: English BONUS! Lotto Cards The LOTTO Cards Grab and Go Supplement includes 37 theme related unit cards along with activity suggestions that support activities within the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC. On My Way File Folder Cards Print and use these cards to represent locations the student may visit that are related to the current thematic unit. Use these with the On My Way File Folder Game outlined in the TVI's Guide to Teaching the ECC p. 27. Note: All products are digital pdf downloads. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page where you will find the download link. This download will also be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. If you encounter any difficulty, please let me know and I can assist you. 
Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Worksheets
$25.00
The Thematic Keyboarding & Braille Fluency and Maintenance Grab and Go ECC worksheet packet is a print on demand workbook that contains worksheets in print and simulated braille to use for data collection. This newly revised edition provides an easy means for copying and pasting into braille translation software programs such as Duxbury or APH’s Braille Blaster for embossing. Present the student with a hard braille copy and use the worksheets to document accuracy and fluency in reading braille. As a companion to the TVI’s Guide to the ECC, the worksheets correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. These fun activities will help the student refine their keyboarding or braille reading skills while bridging ECC concepts presented in the thematic units. Although these word lists and passages were specifically created to document and increase braille reading and writing fluency, they may also be entered into a typing program such as APH’s Talking Typer to build keyboarding fluency. Finally, these worksheets can be used by print readers (e.g. peers, caregivers, TVI's who need to maintain braille skills, ect.) who are wanting to learn or maintain braille skills. Simply fold the worksheet in half to "decode" the braille, or read the print, produce it in braille, and check your accuracy. Note: This resource book is a digital pdf download. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page. The download will be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. *Single Instructor Use but may be copied for use with as many students on instructor's caseload Product details Digital pdf download: 338-page print and simulated braille worksheets Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English 
Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists: Grab & Go ECC Supplement
$25.00
The Thematic Vocabulary Cards and Checklists Grab and Go ECC supplement is a 446 page pdf downloadable print on demand workbook that includes 2940 vocabulary card on 3 1/2" x 2" templates divided by each of the 32 Thematic Units along with a checklist of each unit words in print and simulated braille. As a companion to the TVI's Guide to the ECC, the vocabulary cards correspond to the ECC Thematic activities presented in the curriculum guide. Tips for Use • Print a copy of this digital book. • Copy the vocabulary cards on cardstock or Manila Braille Transcribing Paper available from the American Printing House for the Blind or other cardstock. • It can be helpful to braille the cards prior to cutting them. If placing braille on the back of the card, however, it is easier to braille after cutting the cards out. • When placing braille on the front of the card, center it below the print. This way teachers, peers, or caregivers can see the print while the student reads the braille. • If brailling on both sides of the card, place braille below print on the front of the card and on the back, braille on the top of the card so as to not “smoosh” the braille on the opposite side. • Cut out the cards and cut an angled notch in the top corner to assist students in properly orienting the card. • If you are instructing a student that has residual vision, place the braille on the back or both sides of the vocabulary card. Encourage the student to read the word in braille and then flip the card over to check for accuracy. • Copy the checklist that corresponds to the current unit of instruction. • Use the checklists to document which vocabulary words have been introduced and student success. • The simulated braille is UEB contracted braille andcan act as a reference for brailling on the cards. • As the student writes or reads the words, use the opportunity to discuss ECC concepts and pare with ECC activities outlined in the TVI’s Guide to Teaching the ECC. Additional Use: Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments can have a extremely varied caseloads. It is possible to go several years without having a student on your caseload who requires braille instruction. Like other skills, if you do not practice your braille regularly, it is easy to lose those skills. Use these checklists and cards to maintain your braille skills. Fold the checklist along the line dividing the print from the braille. Choose to either read the print and produce the word in braille using a braillewriter or read the simulated braille and decode it. Finally, these vocabulary cards and checklists may be used with family members or peers who are interested in learning and practicing the braille code. Note: This resource book is a digital pdf download. Once you make your purchase you will be directed to an order confirmation page. The download will be included on the receipt sent to the email address you provide. The pdf download can be found directly under the order number. *Single Instructor Use but may be copied for use with as many students on instructor's caseload Product details: Digital pdf download: 446-page print on demand resource Publisher: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments Author: Carmen Willings Language: English |
