TVI (teacher of students with visual impairments)
Last updated
A TVI is a certified special education teacher who specializes in teaching students who are blind or have low vision.
Topic: Vision and hearing
In plain terms
TVIs teach braille and Nemeth code, use of low vision devices and assistive technology, and other expanded core curriculum skills. They conduct functional vision and learning media assessments, adapt materials and consult with classroom teachers. Many travel between schools and serve students across a district or region, so their schedules and minutes need careful planning.
How it shows up in an IEP
The TVI often writes goals for braille, technology and visual skills, recommends accommodations, and makes sure materials arrive in the student's format on time.
Example
A TVI meets a student three times a week for braille instruction and sends brailled worksheets to the classroom teacher a week before each unit begins.
Related terms
- BrailleBraille is a tactile system of reading and writing in which letters, numbers and symbols are formed by patterns of raised dots in cells of six.
- Expanded core curriculumThe expanded core curriculum is nine skill areas, beyond academics, that students who are blind or visually impaired need to learn directly.
- Learning media assessmentA learning media assessment is an evaluation that helps the team decide whether a student with a visual impairment should learn through print, braille or both.
- Orientation and mobilityOrientation and mobility is instruction that teaches students who are blind or visually impaired to travel safely and independently.
- Visual impairment including blindnessUnder IDEA, visual impairment including blindness is a vision loss that, even with correction, adversely affects a student's educational performance.
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