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Project: VISTA
SECTION 1:
What does a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
(TVIs) do?
Most TVIs work on an itinerant basis, traveling from school to school throughout the day. A typical caseload for a TVI includes children with a wide range of ages and disabilities. TVIs serve children birth to 22 years of age. Some students have only a single disability and read braille or large print, and some students have multiple impairments (e. g. cognitive challenges, motor problems, or deafness) in addition to their visual limitations.
The professional life of a TVI is hardly ever monotonous and almost always challengingOn any given day, a TVI might:
- Teach the parents of a blind baby how to provide essential sensory stimulation to their child.
- Consult with a Life Skills teacher to help with planning a new activity based routine for a student who has visual and multiple impairments.
- Teach a totally blind third grader how to use a speech access computer system
How does the VI training program work?
The Texas Education Agency certificate as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI)is what is known as a "supplemental" certificate. That means that it must be added on to another certificate. So in order to be certified as a TVI you must have a certificate in some other area. Most of our students choose to get this certificate in either special education or deaf and hard of hearing education.
When I finish the program, what will I be qualified to teach?
Depending on the certification program that you choose to pursue, you will be qualified to teach special education or deaf/hard of hearing students aged 0-22 years as well as children with visual impairments aged 0-22.
What courses should I have before I enter the program?
Students will be admitted to Project VISTA upon completion of the core courses. The primary teaching certificate (either Deaf and Hard of Hearing or Special Education) that the student chooses to pursue will determine exactly which courses should be taken. However, in general, students should have completed approximately 50 hours of English, math, political science, history, fine arts, etc. These classes may be transferred in to SFA from a community college or another university. To view specific core course requirements click the certificate that you intend to pursue.
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Special Education
What courses in visual impairment (VI) will I take?
- Braille
- Structure and Function of the Visual System
- Foundations in Visual Impairment (Educational emphasis)
- Teaching Students Whose Only Disability is Vision
- Teaching Students with Multiple Impairments
- Basic Orientation and Mobility
In addition, students will be required to complete a practicum and student teaching in visual impairment.
Is there any financial assistance for students in the program?
Yes! Thanks to a grant from the US Department of Education, stipends will be available for students on a competitive basis. These stipends will be $6000 annually for two years. These funds may be used to pay for tuition, fees, books, and housing costs.
Will I have to pay back the money I am given?
No. These funds are distributed as stipends not loans. You WILL, however, be required to work with children who have visual impairments in either public or private school. The federal government requires a 2 to 1 service payback. If you receive $12,000 for 2 years of funding, you will be required to work with students who have visual impairments for 4 years.
What are the requirements for admission into the program?
In order to qualify, you must:
- Have completed the Core Curriculum.
- Have a 2.5 overall GPA
- Be able to demonstrate a proficiency in reading and writing.
- Demonstrate that you have access to computer technology and are proficient at using it.
How do I go about applying for the program?
In order to consider your application for Project VISTA, we will need the following:
- A fully completed Project VISTA application.
- Three letters of reference, at least one of which should come from an instructor who has worked with you in either a university or community college class. Other letters may come from employers, previous teachers, administrators, counselors, etc.
- A written statement (approximately two pages double spaced) which explains your philosophy of education and why you have decided to pursue a career as a vision professional.
- An official transcript showing all work at colleges and universities. If you are an SFA student and have not attended another university, no transcript is needed.
- If you are not already an SFA student, you need to go to https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/commonapp.WBX and fill in the application for admission to the University. You may also need to fill in the Residence Hall Application form if you intend to live on campus.