People with Visual Impairments Need Teachers!
You Can Make a Difference
by Choosing the Rewarding Career
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Who are the professionals who teach people with visual impairments?
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They include:
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Teachers of Children with Visual Impairments
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TVIs are specially certified teachers who assist children and
adolescents who are blind or who have low vision (birth – 22 years old)
to achieve their educational goals and prepare for the future. They work
as part of the educational team providing instruction in skills that are
unique to individuals with visual impairment. Their goal is to help
students achieve independence. |
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TVIs work with children and adolescents with visual impairments (low
vision & blind), their parents, other educators, O&M Specialists,
and community agencies.
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Why Become a TVI?
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All in a day's work, you could teach a child to use a monocular to read
signs, about everyday objects, and how to fix a favorite snack.
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Not too many people have heard about teaching children who are
blind or who have low vision...
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Results from a recent study indicated that there is a need for
5,000 new TVIs across the U.S. Every year in Florida, jobs go unfilled, and students unserved, because
so few people know about this rewarding and satisfying field of education.
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For more information, contact us at blindness@coe.fsu.edu or (850) 644-8409
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Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (VRT)
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VRTs (formerly called Rehabilitation Teachers) prepare adults of
all ages to become self-sufficient at home, on the job, and in
the community, using adaptive skills and devices unique to
people with little or no vision.
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VRTs work as members of a rehabilitation team in many
environments, including for state and private agencies serving
adults with visual impairments, at Veteran’s Administration
hospitals, in assisted living facilities, or as private
contractors.
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What types of skills do VRTs teach?
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VRTs assist adults to learn computer skills for work.
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VRTs teach kitchen skills to allow clients to continue cooking. |
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VRTs teach braille skills.
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Although individuals have served in the field of vision rehabilitation
for more than a hundred years…
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Limited knowledge about this interesting and rewarding
profession has created a national shortage of qualified
specialists. The need for these professionals continues to
increase due to the natural aging process of a growing
population of older adults. Every year in Florida and across the
nation, jobs go unfilled because of the shortage of trained
personnel.
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For more information, contact us at blindness@coe.fsu.edu or (850) 644-8409.
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Orientation and Mobility Specialists
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O&M Specialists typically take courses concentrating on either
children or adult populations.
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O&M Specialists prepare students to travel
independently, safely, and efficiently in their home,
school, and community.
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As part of the educational or rehabilitation team, O&M
Specialists help students know where they are in space, where they want to go, and how to get there.
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Similar to VRTs, the need for O&M specialists who work with
adults continues to increase due to the natural aging process and a growing population of older adults.
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Results from a recent study indicated that there is a need for
10,000 O&M Specialists to work with children with visual impairments across the U.S. Every year in
Florida, jobs go unfilled, and students unserved, because so few people know about this rewarding and
satisfying field.
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For more information, contact us at blindness@coe.fsu.edu or (850) 644-8409
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