Hi Jen! I am a TVI and currently working through the NLS literary braille transcriber license. Were you a TVI prior to being a transcriber?
I’m Tarin. I am from Central Washington. I have been providing Birth-graduation services to students/districts for many years. I am an itinerant provider who also provides O&M services. Current caseload includes low vision to braille students. These student vary from VI category to MD category and everything else in between.
I am always excited to learn new content, new ideas, and collaborate with others in the field.
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Mackinzie Kempton
I am currently a special education teacher, but I am working on getting my licensure for TVI. I am in Elkhart, IN. I work with students who have an IEP, and I have worked with two students who have visual impairments. I am just looking to learn more about working with students who have visual impairments.
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What are VI and MD? I think it is almost that you are also a O&M service provider.
Is your job to translate material into Braille? What made you want to be a transcriber? What do you like most about your job?
My current student caseload includes Visually Impaired category to students with Multiple Disabilities category. I have any/all students as I am at a regional service agency with varying needs is what I meant. I am also dual with O&M.
Maddie
Youth Services Librarian for the Library of Accessible Media for Pennsylvanians
Philadelphia, PA
My library serves all youth in PA that are visually impaired or have a print disability. We are a network library of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled.
I’m excited to learn anything and everything!
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Thank you for the clarification. I am still learning all the acronyms.
Hi everyone! My name is Jennifer Reed.
I have over 26 years of experience in education and over 20 years of experience in the field of visual impairment. I have also served as a member of my district’s Assistive Technology Team. This summer, I will be transitioning into a new role as the Secondary Transition and Visual Impairment Specialist with Region 6 Education Service Center in Texas.
Throughout my career I have served students with visual impairments across a wide range of ages, abilities, and educational settings.
This summer, I am excited to expand my knowledge of tactile literacy and learn from the experiences of others in the cohort.
I look forward to connecting with everyone!
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Hi Patty,
Your background in accessibility, instructional materials, and visual impairment services brings such a valuable perspective to this cohort. I really appreciate your reflection on the importance of intentional literacy instruction.
Throughout my career, I have seen too many students who are blind struggle with reading and writing skills because they did not receive the level of literacy instruction they needed early on. As someone who is hoping to deepen my understanding of tactile literacy, I share your interest in finding evidence-based practices that lead to stronger literacy outcomes for students with visual impairments.
I look forward to learning alongside you this summer and hearing more about the work you’re doing in Pennsylvania!
Hi Patty! Do you ever do any work with LAMP Pittsburgh?
Hi Karla,
What part of Texas are you from? Your background in kindergarten, ECSE, and visual impairment provides a valuable perspective, especially when working with young children.
I appreciate your focus on continuing to grow in the field of VI. I look forward to learning from the experiences and insights you share throughout the cohort.
Jennifer Reed
Aloha! My name is Kira Swearingen, and I am the State Resource Teacher for the Blind and Low Vision Learner Programs here in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. I have the opportunity to support blind and low vision learners across the state by working alongside families, teachers, service providers, and school teams to provide resources, training, and consultation.
A big part of my work is helping connect people with information, tools, and supports that make learning and everyday experiences more accessible for students. I also travel to Kauaʻi several times each month to support students and educational teams there while we continue our search for a Teacher of the Blind and Low Vision to fill the current vacancy on the island.
This Summer I am excited to increase my knowledge and continue adding to my bags of tricks and resources from this course!
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Aloha Patricia! I am super intrigued about your role as an AIM coordinator. We do not have one in Hawai’i, but the need is absolutely there. I have also never heard of a materials support specialist. My weekend homework will be researching this! I’d love to know more 
Aloha Rebecca! I went through my grad program and cane class with a TVI in Minnesota. Her name is Maddie, but I believe she works mostly with adults and then supports the school systems here and there. I’m also from the midwest but have since moved to Hawai’i as a state-wide resource teacher of BLV. I’m also looking forward to learning more on tactile graphics interpretation.
My name is Carrie Lascano and I am a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments with the Kent School District in the greater Seattle area in Washington State. Also a WA state certified braillist and starting to work on COMS certification in the fall. I have a caseload of 20+ students (the + is for the 2+ students I’m currently evaluating and the students I’ll get when myself and the other TSVI I work with rework our caseloads to make them more even) with 2 blind braille learners and teaching braille to another. The rest are low vision or have CVI. My passion is teaching and working with students with CVI. Someday I hope to become certified in CVI.
I’m excited to expand my knowledge in teaching tactile literacy and learn more from others’ experiences.
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Hi all!
I’m Beth Button. The name of our role got recently changed to education support teacher - blind or low vision. I am in Saint John, New Brunswick. I live about an hour north of the Maine border for reference.
In our role we work with students from babies to high school graduation. I have inner city schools and all the way rural areas and even have a blind student on a remote island where I have to take a 2 hour ferry to get to. My caseload is a mix of all ages. I have quite a few deafblind students these days as well. Always interesting and never a dull moment.
I am excited to learn more about this topic. In my 15 year career in this field I have seen very little professional development in tactile graphicacy in particular
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Michelle Nocera
TVI, NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Itinerant Teacher serving students birth-21, ranging from low vision to totally blind, both academic and multiply disabled students.
I’m looking forward to update my knowledge and learn new and different ways to work on tactile literacy with my students.
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Introduction:
- Danielle Swangstue
- Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment
- Southwest Florida
- I serve students pre-k to age 22 who have varying degrees of visual impairments.
- I am excited to add new tips, tricks, strategies, and resources to my toolbox to support students with access to learning!
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- Katharine Wilson
- TVI/O&M Specialist
- Southern Maryland
- I surve student ages 0-21 for the local school district
- I am excited to learn skills that can make me a better resource for the district
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