Visual Impairment
Program Coordinator: Angela deBlois
Visual Impairment (VI) Services support students with visual impairments through three primary models delivered or guided by a Certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI):
- Direct Services: Focuses on explicit, one-on-one or small-group instruction centered on the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). TVIs directly teach students essential skills such as Braille reading and writing, tactile graphics, low-vision media, specialized assistive technology, visual efficiency, and independent living skills to build autonomy and support access to grade-level standards (TEKS).
- Indirect (Consultative) Services: Focuses on accessibility, collaboration, and environmental adaptation. TVIs work alongside general and special education teachers to transcribe and adapt classroom materials into accessible formats (Braille, large print, tactile graphics), consult on visual accommodations and classroom setup, train campus staff, and monitor environmental factors like lighting and visual fatigue to ensure consistent academic access.
- VI Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Services: Offers family-centered, home-based support for infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) with identified visual impairments. Certified Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs) partner directly with parents and caregivers in their natural environments—such as the home or childcare setting—to develop customized visual access strategies, promote multi-sensory learning, and support early developmental milestones.
All 3 models rely on ongoing progress monitoring and collaboration to ensure educational environments and materials remain fully accessible to the student.
Shauna Abrego
Special Education Director for DHH/VI
210-407-0185
Angela deBlois
DHH/VI Program Coordinator
210-407-0266