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FIMC-VI is a statewide resource center for K-12 students who are visually impaired and enrolled in a public school, private school, or students being homeschooled. FIMC-VI is located in Hillsborough County Public Schools.

FIMC-VI is an Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)-funded state project maintained by the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS).

FIMC-VI services include:

• Creation, procurement and distribution of accessible instructional materials (braille, large print, digital)
• Technical Assistance via telephone/email/virtual office
• Quality Programs for Students with Visual Impairments
• Professional Learning
• Management and distribution of APH Quota Funds
• Loan Library
• Student and Family Events
• Support the development and proofreading of the braille versions of statewide assessments/progress monitoring
• Moodle courses for Florida educators
• Perkins brailler request and repair
• FIMC-VI Newsletter
   

FIMC-VI services do not include: 

• Serving as members of the IEP development team
• Serving in the role of professional or parental advocate
• Participating in performance evaluations of school personnel
• Provision of direct services
• Independent educational evaluations
• Production and distribution of statewide assessments (EOC, FAST, BEST, FAA)

Eligibility

To learn about the eligibility criteria for students with visual impairments to access FIMC-VI services, including students in formal homeschool programs, visit our E​ligibility page.

Accessible Instructional Materials

FIMC-VI provides accessible instructional materials (AIM) to students with visual impairments in the state of Florida.  This includes both braille and large print textbooks and leisure reading materials.  If available, digital materials may be obtained directly through a student's Bookshare account.  Bookshare provides textbooks and leisure reading materials in several digital formats such as ePubs, MS Word, DAISY, and Braille Ready File (BRFs).  If the digital format you need is not available, please request it directly from Bookshare.

To learn more about ordering and returning materials visit our AIM page. If you need assistance sharing information regarding Free Matter for the Blind with your local post office, you may use this USPS letter.

The FIMC-VI Portal provides access to textbook orders.  In order to receive access to this system, new teachers and agency staff must register for an account and be authorized by their administrator within the Portal.  

Perkins Brailler Request and Repair

If a student needs a new Perkins brailler, or has a brailler that needs to be repaired, use the FIMC-VI Portal to submit a request.

Plastic Next Generation braillers cannot be repaired and should be scrapped at your location instead.

If you have an FIMC-VI provided APH SMART brailler or electric brailler that needs to be repaired, contact Colleen Mulcahey.

Student and Family Events

FIMC-VI is proud to host many events that support student achievement and family involvement. 

View the Student and Family events page to learn more about the yearly events offered and how you can help. 

Loan Library

A variety of materials are available for loan, including access technology, assessment tools, APH products, and professional literature. View the Loan Library page for more information.

Annual Census

To learn more about our Annual Census and student registration, visit our Annual Census page.

The FIMC-VI Portal provides access to student registration and Annual Census.  In order to receive access to this system, new teachers and agency staff must register be authorized by their administrator within the Portal. 

APH Orders

APH materials are provided to eligible students who are registered annually with FIMC-VI.  You may only order materials for students if you have been authorized by your ESE director or designee.  Visit the APH website to view available products.  Orders may be placed using the FIMC-VI Portal.

QPVI

Quality Programs for Students with Visual Impairments (QPVI) is a self-study process that takes teachers of students with visual impairments and their supervisor through a series of steps to improve outcomes for students with visual impairments. The team participates in a staff-driven, collaborative self-study to develop mutually-agreed-upon standards of practice that meet the Florida State Standards as well as current best practices and standards in the field of visual impairment. Setting standards of practice and using data for decision making supports improved outcomes for each child who is blind, visually impaired, or deaf-blind. This program is free to Local Educational Agencies in Florida.

Current Participants:  Martin and Seminole.

Past Participants: Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Duval, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Lake, Lee, Nassau, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sumter, and Volusia.

To learn more or to participate in the Quality Programs for Students with Visual Impairments Self Study, please email Cheri Hart.

FIMC-VI's Moodle Courses

FIMC-VI has created a variety of courses for TSVIs and other professionals serving students with visual impairments in Florida.  To sign up for courses, complete the Moodle Course Sign-Up form. 

A self-enrollment link for the course or site you sign up for will be emailed to you. Once you have self-enrolled, you may reach your course(s) by visiting Moodle.

FIMC-VI's mission is to promote the success of Florida's students with visual impairments by providing free, high-quality accessible instructional materials in a timely manner and providing teachers, administrators, families, agency personnel, and others with resources and opportunities for training and professional learning.  

FIMC-VI's vision is striving for access and success at the highest levels for ALL students with visual impairments.