Celebrating the support that our Vision Department provides

In British Columbia public schools, Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs) provide a vital link and learning opportunities for students with visual impairments or other exceptionalities such as deaf-blindness. TSVIs are guided by the Expanded Core Curriculum, which covers nine essential skill areas impacted by blindness and visual impairments. These include braille instruction, the use of low-vision devices and technology, and adapted skills for daily living, sports and recreation. TSVIs teach and support students within an itinerant service model providing direct instruction to the student and consultative service with the students’ school team. They make decisions cooperatively with classroom teachers around programming and IEP goals, as well as curriculum and educational adaptations necessary for students with visual impairments to be successful.

Our districts’ Vision Department has two TSVIs, two braillists, and support from an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialist. An O&M specialist provides instruction to students to navigate areas safely and efficiently in their school and community, increasing independence and self-confidence. They support the students’ development of concepts relating to their awareness of themselves and their surroundings and using mobility devices, such as a white cane. Braillists prepare classroom or teaching materials for students with visual impairments in the medium they require and support the direct instruction goals of the TSVI or O&M specialist.

One of our braillists, Tracey Klassen, shared in a celebration of growth this year regarding one of the students, Baaz. While working with Baaz in the gym, she noticed he was barely hanging on to his new walker, using his fingertips to guide it. He had been working on standing alone with no support and Tracey mentioned to his EA, Patricia Moore, that she had seen some videos where parents had given their young children, who weren’t quite walking, a ball in each hand and encouraged them to walk to the other adult. The videos were all successful, so Tracey and Patricia decided to try it with Baaz. With a ball in each hand and much cheering and verbal prompts, Baaz made his way down the hallway, getting stronger and more confident with every step for his first time walking at school! Baaz has developed greater independence and confidence in walking independently because of the support that he has received from the Vision Department.

Watch the video to see Baaz walking.

One of the pillars in our school district’s strategic plan is a progressive workforce, and the work that our Vision Department provides through consultative work to support students with visual impairments certainly speaks to this pillar.

KARI-ANN PEARCE, TEACHER OF STUDENTS WITH IMPAIRMENTS (TSVI)
PEGGY SZUCS, TEACHER OF STUDENTS WITH IMPAIRMENTS (TSVI)
TIFFANY BUTTE, BRAILLIST
TRACEY KLASSEN, BRAILLIST
THERESA WHYTE, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST(OMT)
GALEN SOON, ACTING DISTRICT PRINCIPAL
Learning Support Services