[Pibe-division] TVI Training

Fri Feb 21 22:40:33 UTC 2014

Yes! I will gladly share my experiences.
I did have to set up my own practicum placement. This proved to be  a
little challenging due to the fact that it was near the Christmas
holidays and I had a hard time getting phone calls returned. I have
worked out transportation to the office for Exceptional Children where
we start and end each day and I travel with my cooperating teacher to
each school. I send in assignments through a program called Drop Box.
I am responsible for completing the assignments and uploading them to
Drop Box and then sharing them with my supervisor at UNCO. I have 3
videotaped lessons that I will have to complete as observations. At
some point we will probably participate in a phone conference or
something similar to discuss the lessons. (This hasn't happened yet.)
I have to complete a minimum of 350 hours and this can be full days or
part time.
So far it has been very interesting. I have been very happy with the
reaction of the professionals I am working with at the school
district. If they have questions or concerns, they haven't voiced them
to me!
Doing a practicum at a distance has been interesting but really the
only difference has been interactions between myself and the
supervisor at the school.

Denise

On 2/21/14, Heather Field <missheather at comcast.net> wrote:
> Hello Denise,
> Could you please tell us about how your practicum teaching time was
> organised? Did you have to organise it yourself? Did the university organise
>
> it? Did you do several practicums at the one school or at several different
>
> schools? Did you work at the Georgia academy For the Blind, a unit attached
>
> to an elementary school etc. It would be very informative for those
> comparing programmes to hear about how this part of the programme was
> handled by the course supervisors, what there requirements were etc. Do the
>
> lecturers from the university visit all their students who are park.
> teaching or do they have some other method for assessing student teachers'
> classroom performance. Thank you so much for sharing with us.
> Warmly,
> Heather Field
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: denise millette
> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 8:10 AM
> To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>
> I am completing my TVI program from the University of Northern
> Colorado and have done it all online. In this sense it was the only
> option for me, living in South Georgia. Commuting was not an option. I
> have enjoyed the classes, almost all of the professors have been very
> supportive and have never once even suggested any hesitation about my
> abilities to teach and do my job. There were portions of courses that
> may have been difficult or inaccessible using JAWS but my professors
> have been very flexible in working with me to make sure I was included
> in each aspect of the class. I never once felt that my situation was
> any different than other students who may be having difficulty with
> technology!
>
> As was said earlier, no program will be perfect. You find what works
> best for you and do what you need to do to accomplish the task and
> possibly work with the problems that arise to make the program better
> for those who follow you.
> I am also concerned as others are, regarding my possiblity for
> employment after I graduate. It is encouraging to hear the advice and
> suggestions that others provide from their experiences.
> Thanks to all of you for providing this network of support!
> Denise Millette
>
> On 2/20/14, Cortney osolinski <cortney.o at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Mikayla,
>> I too, do not usually post to this list but being as you mentioned The
>> College of NJ as a potential candidate for getting TVI training, I
>> felt compelled to offer my experiences. I am a former graduate from
>> their master's program.
>> I was one of 3 other students participating in the program, and got
>> the sense that the program itself was being developed as we worked our
>> way through the courses. There were several instances where I was
>> required to take classes which I had already taken at my undergraduate
>> college, as well as classes completely unrelated to the TBVI or even
>> special education field. I found that Very few of the classes provided
>> as part of the program were helpful to me in preparing or teaching me
>> anything useful for entering into a career as a TBVI. I further was
>> not provided accommodations from the Disabilities service at the
>> college and was forced to commute at least six hours three  days a
>> week from Atlantic County by paratransit to attend classes because the
>> college would not offer me campus housing. Furthermore, one professor
>> working in the program was exceptionally rude and clearly did not hold
>> a positive attitude towards the abilities of people who are blind or
>> VI, and I was forced to take a year leave because the director of
>> student teaching placement was unable to place me with a student for
>> my practicum, resulting in me losing financial aid.
>> I suggest you consider all the other options carefully, if I were
>> given the chance to do it over again, I would have attended a
>> different college myself. But, it has been several months since my
>> graduation, perhaps things have changed for the better, I certainly
>> would not want anyone else to experience what I had when I attended
>> there.
>> Good luck in your search, and if you'd like any further information
>> about my experiences, please e/mail me.
>> Cortney O.
>>
>> On 2/20/14, I. C. Bray <i.c.bray at win.net> wrote:
>>> Hi, Allison,
>>>
>>> I am already a member of that listserv.
>>>
>>> Thanks!
>>> Ian
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Allison Hilliker" <AllisonH at benetech.org>
>>> To: "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List"
>>> <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 12:49 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>>>
>>>
>>> : Hi Ian,
>>> :
>>> : I'd recommend checking out the NFB's blind educator division. This
>>> group
>>> is made up of individuals who are blind and who teach either blind or
>>> sighted students at a variety of different grade levels. I've found it
>>> to
>>> be
>>>
>>> my best resource whenever I'm working in a teaching capassity. People on
>>> that list will be able to answer your questions about how to teach in
>>> whichever setting you think you might like to try. They have an NFBnet
>>> list
>>>
>>> much like this one. The link for it is
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nobe-l_nfbnet.org.
>>> :
>>> : Best,
>>> : Allison
>>> :
>>> :
>>> :
>>> : -----Original Message-----
>>> : From: Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> Of
>>>
>>> I. C. Bray
>>> : Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 9:22 AM
>>> : To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>>> : Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>>> :
>>> : Al, et al;
>>> :
>>> : I too follow this list, and rarely post.  I was on track to become a
>>> dual
>>>
>>> certified Math & Science Teacher for Middle & Junior High when I lost my
>>> sight.
>>> : I have been considering the plausibility & potential of that same
>>> career
>>> still.
>>> : I have also considered going the TVI Route with O&M Dual Certification
>>> too.
>>> : Having been a part of the Information Systems world, and Data
>>> Communications when I began having serious problems, I felt that my
>>> experience would be best used as a teacher.  I felt that I could not
>>> compete
>>>
>>> in the IS & IT
>>> : world.    I know lots of wonderful, much brighter & capable
>>> programmers
>>> &
>>>
>>> IT
>>> : professionals than I who are blind, and I raise them up for being able
>>> to
>>>
>>> continue in a field I long ago abandoned.
>>> : Now, hearing that once sighted AND never sighted are having continued
>>> challenges in the Blindness Education field, I am having to think yet
>>> again
>>>
>>> about my career possibilities.
>>> : I only recently ( a year ago ) went through Rehab & learned Braille &
>>> JAWS
>>>
>>> skills.
>>> : I have excellent mobility skills, because I think I learned & somehow
>>> memorized my environment, which is a boone!  I love Braille, and have
>>> seen,
>>>
>>> for myself, the necessity of learning it EARLY!!
>>> :
>>> : Is there any open-ended advise for me out there?
>>> :
>>> : Respectfully,
>>> :
>>> : Ian  C. Bray
>>> : Louisville, Kentucky
>>> :
>>> :
>>> :
>>> :
>>> : ----- Original Message -----
>>> : From: "Al Futty" <afutty at gmail.com>
>>> : To: "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List"
>>> : <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>>> : Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 10:20 AM
>>> : Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>>> :
>>> :
>>> :: Hello,
>>> ::
>>> :: I follow this list but don't often post.  This conversation has been
>>> very
>>> : interesting to me as I am entering a joint TVI and O&M graduate
>>> program
>>> in
>>> : the fall (most likely at Northern Illinois University, I have not
>>> officially
>>> : made up my mind yet so I would be interested in hearing thoughts on
>>> the
>>> : program).  I am visually impaired and aware of the discrimination in
>>> the
>>> : field.  This makes my blood boil, especially in relation to TVIs.  As
>>> : someone who has had a life long visual impairment I can only wish that
>>> I
>>> had
>>> : a blind TVI as a child,  my "TVI" was a sighted woman who would show
>>> up
>>> once
>>> : a year to do an IEP and to tell my parents not to expect too much from
>>> me.
>>> : Now, I am not saying that a sighted person cannot be a great TVI,
>>> there
>>> are
>>> : many, but I can only imagine how different my childhood would have
>>> been
>>> if
>>>
>>> I
>>> : had had access from an early age to an accomplished blind teacher.  I
>>> truly
>>> : believed I was stupid until I was in my teens and began to develop an
>>> : independent sense o!
>>> :: f self esteem.  I am tired of the absolute oppression many visually
>>> : impaired and blind students face at the hands of irresponsible
>>> educators
>>> who
>>> : are projecting their own assumptions about blindness onto other people
>>> with
>>> : no first hand experience.
>>> ::
>>> :: Allie
>>> ::
>>> :: Sent from my iPad
>>> ::
>>> :: > On Feb 18, 2014, at 10:45 AM, "Smith, Pauline L" <PSmith4 at dmc.org>
>>> : wrote:
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Good Morning,
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Thanks, Melissa for reminding us of the obstacles that are still
>>> too
>>> : numerous in getting blind teachers hired even in the TVI field.  One
>>> thing
>>> : that was and continues to be pointed out to me is that school
>>> districts
>>> are
>>> : hesitant to hire someone that may need a driver that the district
>>> would
>>> : possibly have to pay for.  The number of single school based programs
>>> : continues to diminish nationwide.  That's the kind of job I prefer.
>>> The
>>> : stress of finding and keeping up with drivers was a discouraging
>>> factor
>>> in
>>> : my pursuing itinerant jobs, particularly in areas outside my home
>>> base.
>>> It
>>> : can and is done by countless teachers.  However, I had the same
>>> experience
>>> : Melissa had.  I had a hard time finding successful blind teachers to
>>> network
>>> : with.  The one person I did find didn't keep in touch on a regular
>>> basis
>>> to
>>> : be of much help.
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Good luck to all those pursuing this profession.  Good teachers are
>>> : sorely needed everywhere.
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Pauline
>>> :: >
>>> :: > P.S., Those of you who have quotes at the end of your emails, how
>>> do
>>> you
>>> : find them?  How do you incorporate them into your messages?
>>> :: >
>>> :: > -----Original Message-----
>>> :: > From: Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> : Of melissa R green
>>> :: > Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 8:06 PM
>>> :: > To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>>> :: > Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Allison.
>>> :: > thank you for giving your opinion and your insight.
>>> :: > I have always heard the good things, and one of them is that the
>>> program
>>> : had the NFB philosopy.
>>> :: > I went through the University of northern colorado program for
>>> teaching
>>> : blind students.
>>> :: > I would just say that it isn't perfect, and that there are many
>>> other
>>> : university programs that aren't perfect either.
>>> :: > Even if you do get the degree and complete the program.
>>> :: > There is still lots of obstacles that face bind teachers of blind
>>> : students.
>>> :: > We are told about the shortage.  But noone considers the things
>>> that
>>> : blind teachers have to go through and the idea that a blind teacher
>>> still
>>> : has a hard time to land and keep their jobs.
>>> :: > those who are successful don't or won't help others.
>>> :: > I am being honest as well.
>>> :: > JMO!
>>> :: > Best,
>>> :: > Melissa R Green
>>> :: > Hold fast to dreams,
>>> :: > For if dreams die
>>> :: > Life is a broken-winged bird,
>>> :: > That cannot fly.
>>> :: > Langston Hughes
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: > ----- Original Message -----
>>> :: > From: "Allison Hilliker" <AllisonH at benetech.org>
>>> :: > To: "Professionals in Blindness Education Division List"
>>> :: > <pibe-division at nfbnet.org>
>>> :: > Sent: Monday, February 17, 2014 8:04 AM
>>> :: > Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Hi All,
>>> :: >
>>> :: > I went to Louisiana Tech for the TBS program for about 6 months in
>>> 2007.
>>> : It
>>> :: > absolutely has the best blindness philosophy and beliefs in the
>>> : capability
>>> :: > of blind people around. You'll definitely get the best teacher
>>> education
>>> :: > there.
>>> :: >
>>> :: > That said, Jewel is right, it is located in the middle of nowhere.
>>> I
>>> : didn't
>>> :: > care for Ruston at all and that's why I left the program. I loved
>>> my
>>> :: > instructors and my classes, but they only lasted for about 12 hours
>>> a
>>> : week
>>> :: > and the rest of the week I was still stuck living in the small town
>>> : south.
>>> :: > And the lack of transportation is a huge problem when trying to do
>>> your
>>> :: > field work as most blind students do not live in Ruston and you'll
>>> need
>>> : to
>>> :: > hire drivers to get to neighboring towns. I was able to get rides
>>> with
>>> :: > friends sometimes, but when a quarter's worth of classes require
>>> more
>>> : than
>>> :: > 30 hours of field work then depending on friends is not necessarily
>>> :: > practical. I was spending a lot of money on drivers to do field
>>> work.
>>> : Also,
>>> :: > I was the only blind student in the program, and most of my
>>> instructors
>>> : were
>>> :: > also sighted, so  I didn't necessarily feel like I was getting many
>>> :: > alternative technique suggestions for how to be an effective blind
>>> : teacher.
>>> :: > While The Louisiana Center does have many blind instructors,
>>> Louisiana
>>> : Tech
>>> :: > did not and those were the people I was working with in my grad
>>> program.
>>> : And
>>> :: > most of all, I just did not like the small town culture. Many
>>> people
>>> may
>>> :: > love it, but I'm not one of them.
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Sorry fellow NFB members. I realize this post won't be popular, but
>>> I
>>> : felt
>>> :: > moved to be honest. I've been in the NFB for years, consider myself
>>> a
>>> :: > philosophical purest, and am  a Louisiana Center graduate. Even so,
>>> I
>>> : have
>>> :: > to be honest about Ruston. It's not the greatest place to spend two
>>> : years of
>>> :: > one's life. We desperately need more than one NFB-focused graduate
>>> : program
>>> :: > in this country because Ruston is not an option for everyone. It
>>> has
>>> : many
>>> :: > limitations that I feel we need to be real about.
>>> :: >
>>> :: > JMO,
>>> :: > Allison
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: > -----Original Message-----
>>> :: > From: Pibe-division [mailto:pibe-division-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> : Of
>>> :: > Jewel
>>> :: > Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2014 6:22 PM
>>> :: > To: Professionals in Blindness Education Division List
>>> :: > Subject: Re: [Pibe-division] TVI Training
>>> :: >
>>> :: > I looked into Louisiana Tech, too. I really liked the program
>>> : description,
>>> :: > and I really like their director, who took the time to speak to me.
>>> : However,
>>> :: > this school is in the middle of nowhere. There is no bus system.
>>> The
>>> : only
>>> :: > way to get to any good shopping is by Greyhound bus. And getting
>>> around
>>> : town
>>> :: > unless you're walking is difficult. You would have to bum rides
>>> from
>>> : fellow
>>> :: > students. That is the bad side of Louisiana Tech, but their program
>>> : looks
>>> :: > really good.
>>> :: > Jewel who went to Louisiana Tech last June to visit
>>> :: >
>>> :: > Sent from my iPhone
>>> :: >
>>> :: >> On Feb 16, 2014, at 8:07 PM, Mikayla Gephart
>>> <mikgephart at icloud.com>
>>> :: >> wrote:
>>> :: >>
>>> :: >> Hi,
>>> :: >>   As I have said, I want to be a TVI. I am looking at training
>>> : programs,
>>> :: >> and am leaning towards the College of New Jersey and Louisiana
>>> Tech,
>>> as
>>> : I
>>> :: >> live in New Jersey. What are your experiences with these and other
>>> :: >> programs.
>>> :: >>
>>> :: >> Sent from my iPad
>>> :: >> _______________________________________________
>>> :: >> Pibe-division mailing list
>>> :: >> Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> :: >> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> :: >> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> :: >> Pibe-division:
>>> :: >>
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/herekittykat2%40gmail.com
>>> :: >
>>> :: > _______________________________________________
>>> :: > Pibe-division mailing list
>>> :: > Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> :: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> :: > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> :: > Pibe-division:
>>> :: >
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/allisonh%40benetech.org
>>> :: >
>>> :: > _______________________________________________
>>> :: > Pibe-division mailing list
>>> :: > Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> :: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> :: > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> :: > Pibe-division:
>>> :: >
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/graduate56%40juno.com
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: > _______________________________________________
>>> :: > Pibe-division mailing list
>>> :: > Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> :: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> :: > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> : Pibe-division:
>>> :: >
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/psmith4%40dmc.org
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: > This message (including any attachments) is confidential and
>>> intended
>>> : solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is
>>> addressed,
>>> and
>>> : is protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, please
>>> delete
>>> : the message (including any attachments) and notify the originator that
>>> you
>>> : received the message in error. Any disclosure, copying, or
>>> distribution
>>> of
>>> : this message, or the taking of any action based on it, is strictly
>>> : prohibited. Any views expressed in this message are those of the
>>> individual
>>> : sender, except where the sender specifies and with authority, states
>>> them
>>>
>>> to
>>> : be the views of Tenet Healthcare Corporation.
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: >
>>> :: > _______________________________________________
>>> :: > Pibe-division mailing list
>>> :: > Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> :: > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> :: > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> : Pibe-division:
>>> :: >
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/afutty%40gmail.com
>>> ::
>>> :: _______________________________________________
>>> :: Pibe-division mailing list
>>> :: Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> :: http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> :: To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> : Pibe-division:
>>> ::
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/i.c.bray%40win.net
>>> :
>>> :
>>> : _______________________________________________
>>> : Pibe-division mailing list
>>> : Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> : http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> : To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Pibe-division:
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/allisonh%40benetech.org
>>> :
>>> : _______________________________________________
>>> : Pibe-division mailing list
>>> : Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> : http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> : To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Pibe-division:
>>> :
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/i.c.bray%40win.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Pibe-division mailing list
>>> Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Pibe-division:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/cortney.o%40gmail.com
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Pibe-division mailing list
>> Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Pibe-division:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/dlmillette%40friendlycity.net
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pibe-division mailing list
> Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Pibe-division:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/missheather%40comcast.net
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pibe-division mailing list
> Pibe-division at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/pibe-division_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Pibe-division:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/pibe-division_nfbnet.org/dlmillette%40friendlycity.net
>