Hi Emily,
Where in NC? I’m in Asheville.
Hello, my name is Julia Arentz! I’m a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist from Pennsylvania. I am itinerant and I work with students from kindergarten through 12th grade, each with their own unique and diverse needs that continually keep me learning. Recently, I’ve seen an increasing number of students diagnosed with CVI, so I’m looking forward to increasing my understanding of how to best support them within their classrooms and during their Orientation and Mobility lessons.
1 Like
Hi Katie,
I understand the concern with the increase of CVI diagnosis within the 0-3 population. The majority of my background as a TVI is with birth to five. I first learned about CVI in 1998, and for years, it was an uphill battle to obtain a diagnosis for a child, as well as to help IFSP and IEP teams understand these students’ differences. Just as I am starting to retire (again), we are now seeing more ophthalmologists who are diagnosing CVI and recommending that families seek out TVIs who have experience with CVI. That said, I think the uptick in the diagnosis is due more to doctors having a better understanding of neurological visual impairment. Kudos to you and St. Joseph’s for wanting give these babies and their families what they need.
1 Like
Hi there! My name is Katherine Wolf. I am a speech-language pathologist at the Maryland School for the Blind in Nottingham, MD. I serve across the entire school from the early learning program (3-5 y.o.) all the way up to graduating seniors (age 21!). Most of my kiddos have multiple disabilities, including CP, CHARGE, and even some very rare disabilities that don’t even have a name yet. I’m also the primary SLP for our intensive program (students with significant interfering behaviors). I just started a Ph.D. in education with a focus on Learning, Instruction, and Innovation. I’d like to study our students with blindness/low vision and how to incorporate AAC with their visual and curricular needs in some way. I have so much to learn, and I am here to learn from all of you!
1 Like
Hi, friend! Glad to see a friendly face here. I did not know that you’ve worked with our kiddos for 28 years. You don’t look a day over 28. 
I can’t wait to chat in real life about everything we are learning!
1 Like
Hi Angela! I hope you are well. Did you intern at the Helen Keller National Center? I believe we met in New York. I look forward to hearing about what you have been up to lately as a TVI/COMS and learning more about your caseload. Take care, Lacey
1 Like
Hi Amy! So nice to meet you. I am also a dual certified TSVI and TOD. Many of the students that I support on the state’s DeafBlind child count have CVI. I am right next door in North Dakota. I enjoy connecting with teachers from Minnesota… I did my O&M internship in Duluth. Hope you’re having a good summer. ~Lacey
1 Like
Hello everyone! My name is Rebecca Scheibe. I am a Teacher for Students who are Blind/Visually Impaired (TBVI). Prior to that I have been an Occupational Therapist and Assistive Technology Professional. I have been a TBVI going on 4 years and I love it! I work for a large school district in Minnesota. My caseload ranges from birth to high school and my amazing students have a range of visual ability (totally blind to low vision, and CVI). I am excited for this opportunity to learn new information, strategies, and tools to support my students with CVI.
1 Like
Hello, fellow Minnesotan!
Hello from MN!
Hi, Robyn! I moved from Bakersfield, CA to Baltimore, MD last year. I didn’t know about O&M until I got my position at the MD School for the Blind last fall. I have absolutely treasured co-treating with a few O&Mers for my students in the community for functional speech/language practice!
1 Like
Hi Rebecca (also my daughter’s name, though spelled differently)! I love hearing history as extensive as yours. It’s incredible. The assessment coordinator at my school has recently begun moving away from the Roman-Lantzy rating scale for FVAs to using the Perkins rating system. I don’t know too much about either, but I’m curious your thoughts on the differences and (if you’ve used both) do you have a preference?
1 Like
Hi Katie,
It is so encouraging that you are looking into ways to support the students in your program. This cohort will be a great place to connect and collaborate with other professionals in the field!
Hi Katherine,
I’m familiar with both assessments. I was a Perkins-Roman CVI Endorsed Specialist back in the day. I feel that The Range only looks at a certain section of CVI students, and for this reason, I no longer use it. To me, it has become rather antiquated. My primary issue has always been that it was difficult to assess some students with it. I’m just delving into The Profile and have done a couple of assessments using its protocol. I’m taking the Perkins course on using the Profile this summer, as well as doing this Hive cohort. (What was I thinking…) I think the Profile is much more thorough and gives a better picture of the child. I’ve used it to assess two very different students with CVI. One who is non-verbal with severe global delays, and the other with right hemianopsia, but a more typical student in spite of this. I was able to use the Profile for both of them. But as I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, too. I would love to know what others think, as well. It’s one reason I wanted to be a part of this cohort. I’m not sure I answered your questions, but thank you for reaching out.
1 Like
Hello! I’m Leighann Patrick from Winston-Salem, NC. I am one of the the TVI’s for the Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools. I work with a variety of elementary and middle school students, but I primarily work with the few elementary school students who are learning braille.
There is so much being uncovered as we learn more and more about CVI. I am excited to learn new things that I can share with my fellow TVIs.
1 Like
Hi Emily! I am also from NC! Happy to see some NC representation!
Howdy APH Hive,
My name is Serena Garcia and I’m starting my fourth year as an Assistant Principal at The Maryland School for the Blind. My students come to MSB from across, and sometimes neighboring, states via an IEP decision. This year, my focus will be on elementary and middle school students.
While my background has been in special education, I’ve spent the last years learning as much as I can about visual impairments and how to support students with and teachers of VI including training on the Monarch, trying to navigate with the O&M Specialists on campus (which can be totally scary), to even ensuring IEP paperwork is very detailed to support our students if or when they head back to their home district. I joined the APH Hive training last year and now I’m just super happy now to continue learning and growing in this realm.
Look forward to getting to know y’all. Feel free to drop a line.
SMG
2 Likes
Hi Becky! Happy to see NC representation!
Hi Susan! I am from Greensboro! It’s nice to see someone from my “neck of the woods.”
1 Like
I am Yolanda Odom. I am a TSVI for one of the largest North Carolina School District in Eastern North Carolina. I serve students that are low vision and I work with several students who have CVI. I’m always excited to learn anything new that can help me grow and work more effectively with students. I’m open to learning whatever will help me better support their needs and navigate challenges more smoothly.
1 Like