15 Team of Professionals Working with Blind and Low Vision Students
Educational and other support team members
Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI)
The TVI provides direct or consultative services to students with blind and low vision students and their educational teams. Most of the direct instruction with students is in the areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) given TVI’s expertise in adaptive knowledge, skills, and tools for blind and low vision students. The TVI will also work collaboratively with families and community partner agencies to support ECC learning at home, school, and in the community.
Blind and low vision students also require meaningful, engaging, and equitable access to the core curriculum. The TVI will consult with classroom or subject-area teachers and support staff to ensure that the general education classroom’s instructional programming and learning materials are accessible for blind and low vision students. For educator-focused strategies to make digital format learning materials more accessible, see the Accessible Resource Centre – British Columbia’s Universal Design for Learning Materials portal (n.d.).
In addition to providing direct and consultative services, the TVI conducts specialized assessments to assist the educational team in understanding the functional implications of the student’s visual condition and sensory profile. These assessments include the functional vision assessment and learning media assessment. Ideally, these assessments also address other areas of need in the ECC. The Review Special Reports and Documentation chapter contains more information about these assessments.
Review the position paper from the Division on Visual Impairments and Deafblindness of the Council for Exceptional Children to learn more about the TVI’s roles (Spungin et al., 2017).
Orientation and Mobility Specialists (O&M)
O&M Specialists (also called O&M Instructors) teach blind and low vision students the skills, knowledge, and tools they need to travel safely and efficiently at home, school, and in the community. O&M Instructors are specially credentialed professionals. Some TVIs are dually qualified as TVI and O&M Specialists – but each is qualified/credentialed separately. APH ConnectCenter provides an overview of O&M (n.d.).
Adaptive Physical Education Specialist (APE)
The APE Specialist is a specially licensed PE teacher who can develop modifications and accommodations so children with disabilities can fully participate in PE safely.
The National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities provides additional information about APE (n.d.). Explore Camp Abilities for videos, books, tip sheets, and other resources about APE for blind and low vision students (n.d.).
Braillist or braille transcriber
A braillist or braille transcriber is a paraprofessional with extensive knowledge of braille transcription and the creation of alternate format learning materials for students who read and write in braille. The braillist adapts day-to-day materials to braille and other formats. CareerExplorer describes the duties and responsibilities of this role (n.d.).
Intervenor
The intervenor (Canadian term) or intervener (term used in the USA) is a paraprofessional with training to provide access to information, communication, and instruction to deafblind individuals. An intervener facilitates the participation and interaction of the deafblind person with other people and the environment. Intervenors support the development of social-emotional and independent living skills. The National Center on Deaf-Blindness’s fact sheet reviews interveners’ roles and training (2021).
Other specialists
- Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)
- Occupational Therapist (OT)
- Physiotherapist or Physical Therapist (PT)
- Behavioral Specialist
- Augmentative or Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Assistive Technology (AT) Specialist
- Inclusion Specialist
- Special Education Teacher or Resource Teacher
References
Accessible Resource Centre – British Columbia. (n.d.). Universal design for learning materials. https://www.arc-bc.org/universal-design
APH ConnectCenter. (n.d.). What is orientation and mobility? https://aphconnectcenter.org/visionaware/living-with-blindness-or-low-vision/getting-around/an-introduction-to-orientation-and-mobility-skills/
Camp Abilities. (n.d.). Instructional materials. https://www.campabilities.org/instructional-materials.html
CareerExplorer. (n.d.). What does a braille transcriber do? https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/braille-transcriber/
National Center on Deafblindness. (2021). Intervener services and interveners in educational settings: Definition. https://www.nationaldb.org/media/doc/NCDB_Intervener_Services_Definition.pdf
National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities. (n.d.). What is adapted physical education? https://www.ncpeid.org/what-is-ape-
Spungin, S. J., Ferrell, K. A., & Monson, M. (2017). The role and function of the teacher of students with visual impairments [Position paper]. Division on Visual Impairments and Deafblindness, Council for Exceptional Children. https://dvidb.exceptionalchildren.org/sites/default/files/2021-03/_The_Role_and_Function_of_the_Teacher_of_Students_with_Visual_Impairments_.doc
