April 21, 2022

Students with visual impairments including those who have additional/multiple disabilities often require the development of individualized, multimodal communication programs to support their expressive communication and access to information and interactions throughout the day. This workshop provides a holistic understanding of communication development, and knowledge of unique techniques and approaches that apply to the diverse group of students with visual impairments.

AAC: Unique Considerations for Students with Visual Impairments

October 23, 2020

Presenter(s): Gerald Abner, University of Kentucky; Jasamyn Nichols DeGrant, Clark County Public Schools
We are all familiar with students whose learning media is print and braille. What if your student’s learning media is symbols? This session will focus on hierarchy and progression of learning media from object to symbols to print or braille. Join in discussion as the presenters showcase examples for symbol assessment and implementation.

When Your Student’s Learning Media is Symbols

October 23, 2020

Presenter: Diane Wormsley
This one-and-a-half-hour presentation will provide an overview of I-M-ABLE.  Beginning with how the approach came to be, the presentation will move into the theoretical rationale for the approach, a description of each of the components of the approach and how they fit together, and for whom it would be appropriate to use to teach braille literacy.

I-M-ABLE: Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education

October 22, 2020

Presenter: Lucia Hasty, Rocky Mountain Braille Associates
Are you comfortable with creating tactile graphics but unsure of how to teach students to read tactile graphics? This session will address what skills and strategies students need to learn and use in order to interpret tactile graphics.

Teaching Tactile Graphics

October 22, 2020

Presenter: Tessa McCarthy, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
FIMC-VI staff participated in this session at Getting in Touch with Literacy and found the information so valuable, we’re bringing the session to you for free! This session will provide an overview of the results of an intensive study of the hand movements of 16 adult braille readers while reading different types of texts to evaluate the differing characteristics of highly efficient and slower braille readers. Implications for the classroom will be discussed.

More Than Meets the Eye: A Detailed Analysis of Braille Hand Movements

October 21, 2020

Fortunately, there are more choices than ever when it comes to refreshable braille displays and notetakers. Join us to learn about the different features of these devices to consider, including the number of cells, functions, flexibility, and future needs of students.

Refreshable Braille Devices: What to Choose?

October 21, 2020

This session will provide an overview of the new Lego Braille Bricks and how teachers can obtain these from FIMC-VI. Participation in this session or viewing the recording is mandatory for any TVIs who wish to order this product.

Lego Braille Bricks

October 21, 2020

Are you looking for some new tools in your toolbox for reinforcing braille literacy? This session will provide an overview of braille technology that can be used in conjunction with a traditional braille curriculum to reinforce braille literacy skills.

Buzzin’ About Braille

October 20, 2020

What is braille? Come see a variety of examples of real braille versus crafty braille. This session will reinforce the importance of appropriate instruction for beginning braille readers. Remember, teach literacy, not numeracy!

Keep it Real with Braille

October 20, 2020

Are you unsure of what to use when teaching students braille? Join us to learn about the braille curricula available to teach a variety of age and ability levels, including resources you can use to maintain your own braille skills.

Lotsa Dots: Overview of Braille Instructional Resources

October 19, 2020

Join Kay Ratzlaff, Supervisor; and Kathy Kremplewski, Braille and Accessible Assessments Specialist to get updates on the availability of UEB for Technical Materials, the results of various surveys related to braille, and BANA.

Brailling With the Experts Opening Session: The State of the Braille State

October 19, 2020

Learn about strategies for teaching literacy skills to young students, including the use of concept and experience books from Sue Glaser, Statewide Educational Specialist.

Early Braille Literacy

September 1, 2020

FIMC-VI has partnered with Steve Turner of Giving Tree Music (the drum circle guy!) to provide a series of short videos that use music to teach concept development, such as body awareness, environmental sounds, nature sounds and more. These videos can be used by teachers, parents, students, or anyone else who is interested, so share them far and wide! The videos can also be found on our YouTube page under the “Concept Development with Music” playlist. More videos will be coming, so be sure to subscribe to our YouTube page and get all the latest notifications. Happy jamming!

Concept Development with Music

Feb 26, 2019

An overview of strategies to use for young children with visual impairments who demonstrate over active or under active systems and how to bring them to a calm/alert state in order to benefit from educational and social settings.

Get Your Wiggles Out, Calming and Alerting the Child with Visual Impairment

Nov 3, 2016; Nov 4, 2016

Creator of the Geometro system, Aniceta Skowron, shares strategies for using this tool to teach various concepts in this two-part webinar series.

It's Not Just an Octagon! The Many Uses of the Geometro

December 8, 2015; December 15, 2015; January 4, 2016 

Need additional training in UEB? Join us for this three-part webinar series (aired in 2015-2016) addressing the transition to UEB, changes to the code, and instructional strategies.

UEB Instructional Practices