My name is Courtny Rearick and I am a special education teacher in Kansas City, Missouri. I serve students who have a wide variety of disabilities including vision issues. I am most excited about learning how to better work with my students.
Hi Rebecca,
I am jealous you work year around. I know a lot of people that work at year round schools and they love it. I am looking forward to working with you this summer.
Courtny
Hi Jennifer,
It looks like you have a lot of experience working with students who have visual impairments. I am new to this field and look forward to working with someone who has as much experience as you.
Thank you
Courtny
Hello name is Bethany Hooten. I am an Accessibility Specialist with the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind community. I also am a Certified Deaf /Protactile Interpreter. I am located in San Diego, CA. I am currently working on a new career in AT specialist, and I want to work with the DeafBlind community. I often work at the community college with the DeafBlind students. I am excited to learn and build new skills in tactile graphics. I want to produce tactile graphics for the DeafBlind students as they can improve their learning in the academic environment.
- Emily Guzzio
- TVI
- Mooresville, NC
- PK-12th
- Excited to learn more about tactual and literacy support for my students and coworkers
I was so happy to see that you registered, Lanna! 
Hello, my name is Shelley Smith. I am a TVI working in Ankeny, Iowa. I serve students birth-21 and students performing at functional levels. I currently have two students using braille, an 8th grader and a 4th grader. Last school year, the IEP team realized that my 4th grade student was struggling with understanding math concepts, especially those involving tactile graphics. I am hoping to learn more about tactile graphics and strategies that I can use to help her fill in the gaps of her learning. This summer I am leading a summer day camp and providing summer service to my 4th grader and one of the babies I see.
Hi Susan. I know how you feel saying you wear a lot of hats. One of my mentors when I was doing my student teaching said she was “a jack of all trades but master of none.” In working with such a diverse group of students, I would agree with what she said. The majority of my caseload is also students with CVI, with a couple of blind and low vision kids sprinkled in too.
I would love to learn more about how you teach students remotely. I did it for a while during COVID, but would be interested to hear what you do currently in a remote setting.
Shelley
Nice to see another Hoosier on here. I am up north in Lake County, but live in Porter County. I use to service Porter County.
Lorrie Willbergh Crockett, M.Ed. ATP
Tennessee - serving the state educators - not one classroom but consult to many 
Hi Jeannie,
I too am excited to learn about different strategies to support student engagement!
Tanya
Hello! My name is Lane Bucsi and I am a Teacher Consultant for the Visually Impaired in Kent County, MI. I serve students ages 3-26 with vision loss, CVI, multiple impairments, deafblind, and transition age. I am looking forward to learning how to begin braille/tactile learning with young students.
Hi Kelsey, fellow Michigander here! 
I look forward to learning how we may be able to collaborate in the future!
Hi Julie! This is Lane Bucsi from Kent, I’m happy to see you here and looking forward to learning more this summer!
Hi Courtny,
Thank you! Welcome to the field of visual impairment. It is an area of education that never gets old because no two students are the same. Even after many years, I still learn something new all the time.
One thing I have learned is that we all have to rely on each other. There will be students and situations that you have never encountered before, and it is impossible for one person to know everything. These discussion boards are a great place to meet people and build connections. When you run across something you are not sure how to handle, there is usually someone who has experienced it before and can help point you in the right direction. Are you in a larger district with support from other VI’s?
I wish you the best. It can be challenging at times, but it is also a very rewarding field.
Jennifer
Hi Hallie!
In Texas, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the state agency responsible for overseeing and regulating public education. The state is divided into 20 Education Service Centers (ESCs), which provide support to local school districts through training, resources, and technical assistance. Although ESCs work closely with TEA and help implement state initiatives, they are not part of TEA’s regulatory structure. Instead, they function as support organizations, and school districts have the flexibility to decide which ESC services best meet their needs.
My role will be working with districts across Region 6 to provide support, training, and technical assistance in the areas of Visual Impairment, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and Secondary Transition. I am very excited and know that I have a lot to learn!
Jennifer
Greetings Everyone,
My name is Ruth, I’m an ESE specialist specifically Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Visually Impaired students in Lee County, Florida. I’m excited for this Summer Cohort and learn from all the amazing resources.
1 Like
Hello Kelsey,
Amazing work. AT and AAC is foundation very needed for VI students.
Oh yes, I work with that team! You are right they are fabulous!