Resources
Disclaimer:
The following resources are listed as recommendations for your consideration, curated by Allen Huang, Director of the TN RCVI. However, they are not explicit endorsements of the Tennessee School for the Blind or Tennessee Department of Education.
Professional Development and General Learning Resources for TVIs and COMS
- APH - https://www.aph.org/
- APH Newsletter - https://www.aph.org/contact-us/newsroom/newsletters/
- APH Hive - https://www.aphhive.org/#/home
- AER - https://www.aerbvi.org/
- Perkins eLearning - https://www.perkinselearning.org/
- Paths to Literacy - https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/
- Paths to Technology - https://www.perkinselearning.org/technology
- Project Inspire - Increasing the STEM Potential of Individuals who Read Braille - Free, on-demand, self-paced courses available to anyone https://www.uscupstate.edu/project-inspire and https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/resources/project-inspire-free-self-paced-courses-increase-stem-potential-individuals-who-read
- IRIS Center - https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center - https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/
- Foundation for Blind Children - Webinars (Recordings and Upcoming Live) - https://seeitourway.org/resources/webinars/
- Described and Captioned Media Project - https://dcmp.org/
Transition Resources
- TN Department of Human Services Blind & Visually Impaired Services - Be sure your transition age (14+) students are connected with a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor or transition service provider! https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/ds/blind-visually-impaired-services.html
- Tennessee Disability Pathfinder - TN-specific disability resources from the beginning on! - https://www.tnpathfinder.org/
- Transition TN - Training and resources on preparing students with disabilities for life after high school - https://transitiontn.org/
- APH ConnectCenter Transition Hub - https://aphconnectcenter.org/transitionhub/
- National Technical Assistance Center on Blindness and Low Vision - Organization Dedicated to improving employment outcomes for individuals with blindness or low vision - https://www.ntac.blind.msstate.edu/
- Computers for the Blind - Highly affordable computers for individuals who are blind or visually impaired - https://www.computersfortheblind.org/
Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources
- New APH Tactile Graphic Image Library - https://imagelibrary.aph.org/portals/aphb/#login
- Screen Reader Lesson Plans - Many documents for skills involving screen readers - https://www.perkinselearning.org/technology/blog/lesson-plans-jaws-and-ios
- Tactile Graphics - https://www.tactilegraphics.org/
Accessible Books
- Bookshare - https://www.bookshare.org/cms/
- Learning Ally - https://learningally.org/
- National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped - https://www.loc.gov/nls/
- TN Library for Accessible Books and Media - https://sos.tn.gov/tsla/labm
- NLS BARD - https://nlsbard.loc.gov/login//NLS
- Braille Tales - https://www.aph.org/braille-tales/ - FREE print/braille books for children who are blind or visually impaired (up to 6th birthday), provided by APH in partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
Useful Websites
- Webinar from APH on Conducting Collaborative PsychoEducational Assessments - Highly recommended for TVI's to share with their districts' school psychologists - https://youtu.be/HeECTzgO588
- ParentConnect - Weekly, recurring parent support group - https://aphconnectcenter.org/event/parentconnect-a-family-support-group-offered-in-partnership-with-the-virtual-parent-support-group-chicago-lighthouse-for-the-blind-ongoing/#content
Miscellaneous Resources
- Braillewriter 3D-Printed finger guide - https://www.youmagine.com/designs/braille-writer-finger-guide
- (VENDOR) Freedom Scientific Webinars on Demand - https://www.freedomscientific.com/training/freewebinars/archivedwebinars/
- (VENDOR) Humanware Live Webinar Series - https://support.humanware.com/en-usa/support/humanware_live_webinar_series
- (VENDOR) HIMS Webinars and Training Videos - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgyB7qzqD1kXLTyDgN4YMdg/videos
Organizations to Know About
- American Printing House for the Blind (APH) - https://www.aph.org
- Tennessee Association for Assistive Technology (TAAT) - https://www.taat.org/
- Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) - https://www.aerbvi.org/
- Center for Assistive Technology Training (CATT) - https://www.aidb.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=3825