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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Hi all,</SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix
= o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I would <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>appreciate the response from fellow tvis
who reside in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">new york</st1:place></st1:State> state and have received their initial
certification as teacher of the blind and visually impaired <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>in 2005 to present, and ultimately work
as a professional certified <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>teacher
of the blind and visually impaired. I would need encouragement of fellow
certified teachers of the blind and visually impaired, who work in new York
state, that graduated after 2004 and initially worked as an initial teacher of
the blind and received professional certification as teacher of the blind, <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to give me encouragement regarding either
recertifying myself as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired or applying
for a professional certificate as teacher of the blind and visually impaired in
new York state. I have tried calling nonstop the <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> state education department and have
not been able to get to a human being. I also faxed the <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> state education
department a letter where I outlined my work experience as a special education
teacher and as a teacher of the blind. I have not gotten a response from this
department. I contacted one of the boces and was told to call tomorrow to speak
with the certification officer. I do hope this organization will help me with my
certification questions and assist me as to which certification to apply for. I
need to have this certification situation, resolved prior to September 2012. I
am unsure if I will be approved to teach my students that I provide vision
education services to as an independent related service provider in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York City</st1:place></st1:City> if this
issue is not resolved. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How have
<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>other tvis who were initially
certified as teachers of the blind and visually impaired after 2005, met the
professional requirement to have 3 years full time paid experience as classroom
teacher as teacher of the blind and mentored experience? In this hard economic
time, no public schools in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York
City</st1:place></st1:City> are hiring certified teachers of the blind and
visually impaired. Neither are residential schools hiring teachers of the blind
in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York
City</st1:place></st1:City>. If there is a job post at a residential school for
the blind in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York
City</st1:place></st1:City>, certified teachers of the blind are hired only if
the applicant meets specific criteria. I would appreciate suggestions of tvis
who have worked after 2004, to understand how they have met the professional
requirements to become a professional certified teacher of the blind and
visually impaired. Please forgive me for sounding frustrated. Who knows if I
will be working next year? My only regret will be not using my degree to benefit
children who are blind and visually impaired. I enjoy working as a professional
in this field a lot and cannot see myself going back into special education
teaching children with learning disabilities. Besides, this field is so flooded
with special education teachers in this area. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sara Rooz </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">certified teacher of the blind and
visually impaired</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">independent related service provider
vision education services in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">new york
city</st1:City></st1:place></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
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