VIDBE-Q
Volume 62 Issue 1
History of the Program:
Nestled in a valley between several mountain ranges in Tucson, Arizona, the UA houses the only
program in Arizona to prepare TVIs. Beginning in the 1960s, the VISP is now currently in the College of
Education, Department of Psychoeducational studies and Disability, one of 5 programs to prepare teachers
to work with special needs students. The program became a permanently funded through the UA in the early
1980s. Under the next two program coordinators (1980s – 2013), the VI program grew in student numbers
with support of federal and state grants to fund TVIs and O&M (1992 – 2012) programs. These funds provide
tuition and stipends (federal program) to master's students pursuing further education in both of these areas.
Dr. Sunggye Hong presently coordinates the UA VISP federally funded program for Tucson/summer only
students from all over the state and an AZ state funded program for a Phoenix cohort of students.
To attract students and outside funding to the VI program, collaboration between other universities,
program and funding agencies was established from the mid-1990s. This collaboration is widespread and
continues today. From 2003 – present, the Arizona State Department of Education (ADE) has awarded the
University of Arizona VI program monies to prepare students in the Phoenix and other outlying areas of
Arizona where TVIs are much needed. Faculty and staff funded under the state program have prepared over
100 TVIs to work with VI students all over the state of Arizona. Federal funds have supported the
specialization program in vision for over 30 years.
Projects and Research:
The faculty members at the UA VISP have been engaged in numerous research and curriculum
activities in the state as well as throughout the nation. A number of research and training grants have also
been awarded to the department. For example, Drs. Hong and Rosenblum have received new grant funding
to help improve Animal Watch, a tutoring system designed to improve students' algebra readiness that was
developed at the UA. The collaborative grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education
Sciences led by Dr. Beal, a University of Florida professor, is titled "Animal Watch Vi: Building Graphics
Literacy
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