Teachers supported their students with distance learning, which may or may not be a change from the student’s previous services. Special Education teachers adapted services for students. TSVIs or TVIs, Teachers for Students with Visual Impairments or Teachers for the Visually Impaired, pursued the education of their students with resources.
https://www.perkins.org/learning-during-the-pandemic/
Professionals supported other teachers with resources. The Impact on Special Education Evaluations and SLD Identification has been discussed by the NASP, National Association of School Psychologists. Please cut-and-paste the link for the NASP resource.
https://www.nasponline.org/covid-19-webinar-series
The challenges of teaching a tactile skills such as learning Braille were met with communication and technology both old and new.
What does the research suggest?
What does the research suggest about the impact of school closures? What new research will highlight the experience of the visually impaired? According to Kuhfeld, M., Soland, J., Tarasawa, B., Johnson, A., Ruzek, E. & Jing Liu. (2020), it may take up to two years to regain losses in academics due to school closures, as observed during closures in weather events and emergencies. It should be noted that some advances were measured as well as losses, in this article from Educational Researcher. Note: you may need a membership to the library to access this article.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0013189X20965918
The best outcomes are meeting goals; it’s important to have goals in order to establish confidence and purpose in a time of uncertainties. As educators, let’s make it our goal to self-improve and share the growth of knowledge. For more information on learning Braille with distance learning, check out these resources:
https://www.perkinselearning.org/earn-credits/online-class
For more information on supporting individuals with low vision or blindness, check out these resources:
Department of Rehabilitation Blind Field Services
CAPVI in California
to join, you email the Northern Co-Chair Anne Ward directly and join the Google group. The information is posted on California School for the Blind website:
https://www.csb-cde.ca.gov/about/organizations/capvi.aspx
If you want to join CAPVI, email your name, name of your child(ren) and their ages plus diagnosis to: Co-Chair, Anne Ward at inland2wards@gmail.com.
This is more helpful than typing “CAPVI” in a search engine, which may lead to websites that are no longer supported. For example, the link posted on APH directory for CAPVI needs to be updated. familyconnect.org/directory/profile/capvi/12/
spedjourney.com 