VI Program Handbook

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
October 31, 2017

When I was a TVI with the Wake County School System in North Carolina, a colleague, Tricia Noe, and I would work together over the summer creating a VI Program Handbook to provide to fellow TVI’s when they returned from summer break. I found it to be a great resource and I maintained and carried it with me at all times, modifying it to each new work environment, over the years. Of course, I use a variety of other methods to keep myself organized and on top of everything, but this has been my “go to” over the years. I thought I would share the framework of that handbook with you if you haven’t yet created a similar one of your own.

Printable handbook cover, spine, table of contents and tabs

I have revised the contents many times over the years, trying to consolidate the information and include only items I need to refer to  regularly. As schools have transitioned to storing information online, I have taken advantage of those systems (as well as storing information on my flash drive) and only include the items that I need to refer to regularly in the handbook. I do make sure I have copies of important forms on hand for those inevitable times that the internet is down! I begin with a 1 ½" binder with a clear cover and at least two 8 tab dividers. As I stated, I used to carry around much more information, but for the sake of saving my back and shoulders, I’ve whittled my binder down to the following items that I find are “must haves”. You will want to include forms and information specific to your program, but many of the documents I use can be found on the Printable page and can be adapted to meet your needs. 

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Section 1: Employee Information.

• Basic Employee Information: This includes how to access the internet on the work issued computer at home, purchasing guidelines, professional development and leave procedures, and other pertinent information specific to the program.
• School district calendar that indicates work days.
• School calendars if you work with students in different schools that are following year-round, modified or traditional calendars.
• School bell schedules.
• Map of schools in the district/county.
• Mileage Chart. Some programs will provide a mileage chart while others don’t. For those that don’t, I find it helpful to create my chart for quick reference when I’m tallying up miles traveled in a day.

Section 2: Caseload

• Caseload Overview. See the Printables page for a template you may download.
• Service Intensity Scale. I prefer the TSBVI VISSIT tool but there are other tools available for determining service intensity. 

Section 3: VI Program Forms ​

I keep a single copy of each form I regularly use in this section. By keeping a copy in my folder, I know I will always have access to it and can make a quick copy as needed.

• Eye Report Form
• Permission to Evaluate I have created a form on the Printables page for programs that do not have a form
• Low Vision Evaluation forms
• Orientation & Mobility referral forms
• Exchange/Release of Information Form
• Medical Release Form
• Notarized Consent for state materials (Due to recent litigation, some states, if not all, now require a notarized consent to access instructional educational material from the state.)

Section 4: Print Comparisons

• Near-print comparisons with font size examples 
• Typometer pdf printed on clear acetate. This was a genius idea I picked up from Carson Cochran, Georgia's Instructional Material Center Program Manager (Thank you, Carson!). Print a copy on clear acetate, hole punch it and keep it in your binder for quick reference! By printing it on clear acetate, you can place the typometer overprint to determine the font size. You can find a number of these available on Pinterest. 

Section 5: Braille Reference

• UEB Braille Reference Chart.
• Braille Keyboard Reference. 
• Nemeth Code Reference. 

Section 6: Technology Reference

• Computer shortcut commands 
• iOS Guided Access instructions 
• Voice Over instructions
• Picture Tutorial on making large copies

Section 7: Professional Contacts

• VI Program Contacts
• SpEd Department Directory
• Other Professional Contacts

Section 8: Notes

Additional Sections

​I have additional tabbed dividers for each student that I serve directly and a separate tab for students I serve on a consulting basis. Within each student tab, I include data collection, a copy of the student's unique needs and corresponding school map. I keep a copy of my weekly schedule in the back cover of the binder for quick reference (Use only first names or abbreviations for confidentiality!). 

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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.

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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.

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