PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
revised May 17, 2017

Taking initial coursework to become a vision professional is not enough to become or remain an effective vision professional. Part of professional practice is to remain a lifelong learner and stay current with developments in the field of visual impairments and also stay on top of current trends. This includes engaging in ongoing professional development to expand and develop your professional knowledge and skills. 

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FREE VI Program Templates

Become a member for FREE to access the Printable VI Program Templates  to support your district's vision program. Simply click on Log In|Register in the navigation bar at the top of the page and follow the directions to register and create your password. ​

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Sign up for the Newsletter

Receive the latest news, notification of recent articles, current job postings, be the first to know about new forms and templates, and receive notifications of training opportunities.

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Post a Job 

Due to the nationwide shortage of vision professionals, it can be challenging to locate personnel. Announce a job vacancy on the Job Exchange of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, an online listing of jobs specific to the visual impairment field.

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About

Hi! I'm Carmen Willings. Welcome to my website! I developed this web resource to support fellow TVI's and to educate those new to the field of visual impairments in how to best support students who are blind or visually impaired.  ​Read More

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Professional Development Activities 

If you don't work at a school for the blind or in a larger city with a large VI program, it can be difficult to find professional development opportunities specific to teaching students with visual impairments.The following is a list of activities to help you continue to develop your professional skills and knowledge:

• Attend local, state, regional and/or international conferences on the unique needs of students who are blind or visually impaired. 
• Become a member of a professional organization such as the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Division on Visual Impairments of the Council for Exceptional Children. 
• Subscribe to sources of current information such as professional journals (ex. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness) *Note that the electronic copy of this journal is included in an AERBVI membership.
• Subscribe to professional list-serves on the internet to interact with colleagues.
• Participate in workshops or webinars to maintain proficiency in braille and technology updates as well as to stay current on best practice.  
• Ongoing research of best practice and strategies through the internet, professional resource books, and professional journals.

AER Chapters 

​Even if you are not a member of AER, you can still attend meetings and conferences. Visit their webpages to view online resources and sometimes even handouts and PowerPoints from conferences.

• Alabama Chapter 
• Arizona Chapter
• Arkansas Chapter
• Colorado
• DC-Maryland
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana​
• Kentucky

• ​Michigan
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• New York​
• North Carolina
• Northeast 
• Northern California
• Northern Rockies 
• Ohio

• ​Oregon
• Pennsylvania/Delaware
• Puerto Rico
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Pacific Northwest 
• Wisconsin

I find that a great part of the information I have was acquired by looking up something and finding something else on the way."
​ ~Franklin P. Jones