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. 

The FIMC-VI Online System provides access to textbook orders.  In order to receive access to this system, new teachers and agency staff must be authorized by their administrator using the New Teacher Authorization form.  

Perkins Brailler Request and Repair

If a student needs a new Perkins brailler, or has a brailler that needs to be repaired, use our Brailler Repair/Request form.  Please be sure to enter your correct email address. 

When you submit a brailler repair request, an auto-generated email will be sent to you, which should be printed out and placed in the box with the brailler to be repaired.  

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

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If you have a FIMC-VI provided APH SMART brailler or electric brailler that needs to be repaired, complete the SMART Brailler and Electric Brailler Repair Request form.

Student and Family Events

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

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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.  

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Refer to the Loan Library List to see available items.  Please utilize your resources and/or check with others in your district prior to ordering from this list. You can ship items to your students via Free Matter for the Blind. Items from the Loan Library may be sent to a student or teacher’s home.

Use the following form to complete your request: Loan Library Request form. 

If you have any questions, please contact Colleen Mulcahey or Andrea Wallace.

Annual Census

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

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The FIMC-VI Online System provides access to student registration and Annual Census.  In order to receive access to this system, new teachers and agency staff must be authorized by their administrator using the New Teacher Authorization form. 

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 our APH Order form.

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 school districts in Florida. To learn more about the process visit the QPVI website.

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Current Florida School districts: Alachua, Brevard, Citrus, DeSoto, Hendry, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Nassau, Orange, Pasco, Polk, Sumter, Volusia.

Past Participants: Broward, Duval, Miami-Dade, Pinellas

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If your school district is interested in participating in the Quality Programs for Students with Visual Impairments Self Study, please email Cheri Hart.

Scholastic Books

The Scholastic Book Program is geared toward emergent braille readers and provides up to 10 free “twin-vision” (print with braille overlay) books per month.  You may submit orders in advance for every month of the year, or submit orders each month.  We process orders monthly (by the 10th of each month).  There is about a 6-8 week turn-around time on these books.  Some books may be on back order; you will receive them as they become available.  Email Diana Przeslawski if you have any questions.

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Please remember that these books are for emergent and early readers in Florida only.  We cannot provide chapter books at this time through the Scholastic Book Program. 

View the list of Scholastic books.  The books that are in red are Spanish titles.  The Lexile site has information on Lexile levels.  When you are ready to order books, use the Scholastic Ordering form. 

FIMC-VI's Canvas Resource Site

Using the Canvas Learning Management System platform, FIMC-VI has created a resource site and several courses for TVIs and other professionals serving students with visual impairments in Florida.  To be added to this site and/or sign up for courses, complete the Canvas Resource Site and Courses Sign-Up form. 

An invitation will be emailed to you from Canvas Free for Teachers. Follow the FIMC-VI Canvas directions to accept the invitation and register.  Once you have registered, you may reach this site by visiting Canvas.