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Visual Impairment: Statewide Activities / Education Careers
COVID-19 and Special Education
View information for educators and parents to support students with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Statewide Activities
Regional Low Vision Evaluation Clinics
Five regional clinics are sponsored, through IDEA funds, in the western, southern, metro, and northern areas of the state. These clinics are available to Colorado public school students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) who qualify under the eligibility category of “visual impairment, including blindness.”
Paperwork for the LVE Clinic include:
- LVEC Welcome Letter
- Purchase Policy for Low Vision Devices
- Eye Doctor Form (PDF)
- Parent and TVI Form
- Site Coordinator Checklist (PDF)
To help students and their parents prepare for a Colorado Low Vision Clinic, the CSDB Outreach Program has created a video entitled An Introduction to a Colorado Low Vision Evaluation Clinic.
Keeping in Touch (KIT) Newsletter
2021-2022 Issues
- August - September 2021 (PDF)
- October 2021 (PDF)
- November - December 2021 (PDF)
- January - February 2022 (PDF)
- April - May 2022 (PDF)
- October - December 2020 (PDF)
- January - February 2021 (PDF)
- March - April 2021 (PDF)
- May 2021 (PDF)
Professional Learning (Blindness/Visual Impairment)
2022 CDE Seminar on Orientation and Mobility
This year’s seminar will feature four online seminar sessions on April 21, 2022. Participants can attend any number of sessions. The sessions will not be recorded and are only available at the offered times. Registration is limited to Colorado O&M Specialists or O&M Specialists-in-university training who reside in Colorado.
Session One from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Culturally Responsive O&M Career, College, and Community Readiness Standards (O&M CCCRS) in Practice: This session articulates the need for standards-based instruction in a 21st century educational system, in which the field of O&M has not kept up, until now. Presenters: Mary Tellefson, and Bill Koehler
Session Two from 10:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
O&M Risk Assessment, Safety Supervision and Liability (RASSL): This session presents the results of a Liability in Telepractice Workgroup Report and associated research into the need for a risk assessment process in the field of O&M. A comprehensive and practical process (Risk Assessment Matrix) guides an instructor’s thinking and choices regarding safety supervision and instructional practices. High and low risk factors in environment, learner characteristics, levels of safety supervision, scope of practice and IEP integrity help to clarify and subsequently decrease the potential risk of injury and, therefore, potential claims of instructor negligence. Presenters: Mary Tellefson, Bill Koehler, Sarah Moreau.
Session Three from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Determining Instructional Minutes, a research-based range that aligns with the O&M CCCRS: A review of research that provides O&M instructors an alternative approach to determining an appropriate level of instruction (amount and frequency) for progress toward the O&M CCCR Standards’ age/grade level performance targets (skill sets) and corrects misconceptions regarding the IEP team’s role in the determination of instructional minutes. Presenter: Bill Koehler
Session Four from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Using the Internet to Your Advantage as a COMS: The session will review how Orientation and Mobility Specialists can take advantage of resources they have at their fingertips! The session will review ways to use social media websites to gather information, and also use google programs to stay organized and keep on top of clients and case notes. Presenter: Kristen Shapeless
Registration
When registering please indicate if you require any accommodation(s). All accommodations must be requested no later than two weeks prior to the event. Requests made after this time cannot be guaranteed.
Education Careers Working with Students
Braillist
- Paraeducator of Students with Visual Impairments (PDF)
- CDE-Certified Braillist (PDF)
- Nationally Certified Braillist (PDF)
Braille Textbook Transcriber
Licensed and Endorsed Special Education Specialist: Visually Impaired/Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI)
Licensed and Endorsed School Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Licensure information in Colorado
- For information about the endorsement requirements for the Special Education Specialist: Visually Impaired Ages Birth-21 (9.02), go to the Endorsement Requirements page
- For information about the endorsement requirements for the School Orientation and Mobility Specialist Ages 0-21 (11.03), go to the Endorsement Requirements page
University
- University of Northern Colorado Teacher Training Program in Orientation and Mobility
- UNC Masters Program: Special Education - Visual Impairment
For more information on state-wide activities, Education Careers or Professional Development for Visual Impairment including Blindness, please contact:
Tanni Anthony, Blindness/Low Vision Specialist
Phone: 303-866-6681
Email Tanni Anthony
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