25
VIDBE-Q Volume 63 Issue 3
Figure 1. Teachers
participating in a make and
take workshop.
extensive database. Processing times have dropped quite a bit too; for the
approximately 6,000 orders received in 2017-2018, 99 percent of large print orders were
delivered within 60 days of receiving the order, and 90 percent of braille books were
delivered within 60 days or less.
FIMC-VI has approximately 3,000 students from birth
through age 22 registered for our services. There are nearly
280 teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs) and orientation
and mobility (O&M) instructors serving students in Florida
public schools and at the Florida School for the Deaf and the
Blind. However, just like many other states across this
country, Florida is experiencing a critical teacher shortage of
TVIs and O&M instructors. (Shameless plug … call us if you
are interested in teaching in Florida and being a part of this awesome network!)
FIMC-VI provides extensive professional development to all teachers, family
members, agency personnel, and district staff who are involved in the education of
students with visual impairments. Staff at FIMC-VI have provided training specifically for
families and parents at various workshops and conferences, on topics such as
facilitating independence and the role of the teacher of the visually impaired. We have
implemented the Quality Programs for Students with Visual Impairments (QPVI) with 15
school districts in Florida. In order to provide all TVIs with the foundations of QPVI,
FIMC-VI created a QPVI-Building Local Capacity workshop. This mini-QPVI trains
teachers on how to establish a data system of students; conduct rigorous assessments
of functional vision, learning media, and expanded core curriculum; and use data-driven