TSBVI Sponsored Workshops & Conferences 2008 - 2009

Cost: Varies depending on workshop. Links registration forms for individual workshops are part of that workshop's description.

Time: All workshops will start at 9 AM and end at 4:30 PM.

Place : see locations below.

Lunch: Will be on your own. A list of local restaurants will be available.

Campus map showing location of Conference Center ( 55k)
Campus map showing location of Conference Center ( 26k)

Participants will make their own hotel reservations. You may make reservations anywhere, however, these hotels are located near TSBVI and offer state rates.

Get the Hotels Near TSBVI Offering State Rates.

Sessions may be cancelled due to insufficient registrations. We will refund registration fees should this happen. Registration may be limited and is first - come, first - served.

For information about any of these workshops, contact:

Kate Moss, Statewide Staff Development Specialist
Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Outreach Department
512-206-9224
katehurst@tsbvi.edu

Introduction to the Intervener Team Model

September 26-27, 2008
Location:  DoubleTree Guest Suites Houston, 5353 Westheimer, Houston, TX
Presenters: Texas Deafblind Outreach Staff
Audience:  New interveners with a team member, families of children with a currently assigned intervener

Interveners have training in specialized skills related to deafblindness, in order to provide one-to-one instructional support (supervised by the IEP team) to students who are deafblind.  The Texas Deafblind Project at TSBVI is pleased to offer this workshop for those individuals who are newly assigned in the role as an intervener or for current interveners who have not yet had the opportunity to attend this introductory training. 

Interveners should attend this training with a professional from the educational team.  A family member is also welcome as a member of the team.

This workshop is free.  Limited funds are available, as needed, to assist districts with the costs of substitutes, travel, lodging and meals.  Each team member who plans to attend this training should complete a copy of the registration form at http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/NewIntervenerTeamModelRegistration.doc  

Deadline for registration is September 4, 2008.  Attendance is limited on a first come, first served basis.

For further information and registration, please contact:  Brian Sobeck at (512) 206-9225; BrianSobeck@tsbvi.edu.

Routines and Calendar Workshop                

October 24, 2008
Location: Conference Center – TSBVI, Austin
Presented by Sara Kitchen, VI Consultant, TSBVI Outreach and
Chris Montgomery, Deafblind Consultant, TSBVI Outreach
Audience:  TVI, COMS, Special and General Education Staff, Interveners, and Parents

Join Sara and Chris for an all day interactive workshop that will help you set up your classroom communication systems and develop fun and functional interactive routines!

Through calendars and routines a process is formed that helps establish meaning, memory, concept formation, and representation. Calendars, thought of as communications systems, can be used as vehicles for teaching time, self concept, interaction and conversation, and bonding and security.  Routines provide real, relevant experience through which students can learn skills and concepts about which they may communicate.

For more information please contact Carrie Keith at 512-206-9314 or CarrieKeith@tsbvi.edu.

Tactile Graphics: We All Have Room for Improvement

October 31, 2008
Location: Conference Center – TSBVI, Austin
Presented by Pat van Geem, Technology Specialist, TSBVI Outreach and Ann Adkins, VI Consultant, TSBVI Outreach
Audience:  VI Teachers and Braille Production Staff

This workshop targets teachers of the visually impaired and braille production professionals.  It will provide an overview of the range of tactile graphics needed by students.  Participants will learn strategies for teaching students to make and use tactile graphics.  The afternoon presentations will focus on computer generated tactile graphics and their production.

For more information please contact Carrie Keith at 512-206-9314 or CarrieKeith@tsbvi.edu.

2008 SWOMA Conference:  Orientation and Mobility Moving into the future

November 6-8, 2008
Location:  Radisson Downtown Market Square, 502 W. Durango, San Antonio, TX
Audience:  Orientation and Mobility Specialists (serving educational and rehabilitation agencies)

Each year TSBVI Outreach assists the South West Orientation and Mobility Association (SWOMA) in hosting a conference especially for Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists (COMS).  Participants from Texas and other states gather to share best practice strategies for providing instruction in O&M in both educational and rehabilitation settings.

The 2008 SWOMA Conference will include general and breakout sessions focusing on issues related to orientation and mobility instruction for individuals who are visually impaired including those with additional disabilities.  Speakers from Texas and other states will share information to help COMS in working with individuals of all ages.  This year a special SWOMA dinner-dance and style-show will take place on Friday evening. 

For more information visit www.tsbvi.edu or contact Beth Bible at BethBible@tsbvi.edu or 512-206-9103.

Game of Life                     

• January 16-17, 2009 – Introduction to the Game of Life: A Face-to-face Workshop at AFB in Dallas
• May 16, 2009 – The Final Challenge to Independence: a Face-to-Face Workshop at AFB in Dallas

Presented by TSBVI Outreach Staff, AFB Staff, and Adult Mentors
Audience:  Students ages 14-22 who are college or trade school bound, their parents and educational staff members.

This is a special by-invitation-only training for transition-aged students, their parents, and VI staff.  In this special training series participants will attend two face-to-face workshops at the American Foundation of the Blind Center for Low Vision in Dallas and participate in various distance learning training activities.  Students ages 14-22 will participate in “reality challenges” focused on career skills, daily living skills, and skills needed to apply for and attend college.  Some of these challenges will be “virtual” challenges utilizing the web, blogs, email and online discussion.  Other challenges take place in the “real world” during the face-to-face workshops and in the student’s local community.   Each student will be paired with a mentor and connected to peers for sharing and support, primarily through use of their computers and other technology.  Parents and educators will receive information and training to learn how to support their student’s pursuit of adult independence.

The goals of this workshop are (1) to help students have opportunities to learn and practice skills of independence in safe and supportive environments, and (2) to give parents and teachers tools and support to more comfortably move into the role of “doing with, NOT for” the young adult who is learning to become independent.

Participants must commit to attending all four training events in order to participate.  If you are interested in receiving more detailed information about this event or would like to request an invitation to participate, please contact Kate Hurst at 512-206-9224 or KateHurst@tsbvi.edu.

Collaboration Skills and the Role of the Itinerant VI Teacher

January 23, 2009
Location: Conference Center – TSBVI, Austin
Presenters:  Ann Adkins & TSBVI staff
Audience:  VI Teachers and General Education Staff

Effective collaboration between TVIs and general education teachers can assure “access to the general curriculum” for Visually impaired students and promote greater success in core curriculum subjects. 

In this workshop we will examine the roles of TVIs and general education teachers to identify effective strategies for supporting Visually impaired students in inclusive settings.

For more information contact Carrie Keith at 512-206-9314 or CarrieKeith@tsbvi.edu.

Hands-On Learning Stations for Teaching Math to Visually Impaired Students    

February 27, 2009
Location:  TSBVI Conference Center, Austin, Texas
Presenters:  Susan Osterhaus and TSBVI Outreach Staff
Audience:  VI Teachers, General Education Math Teachers, and Parents

Want to learn some great strategies and tools for teaching math to students with visual impairments?  In this workshop participants will learn to identify and use a variety of adaptive math tools and technology, which will allow their students to draw, construct, measure, and graph independently.  They will also learn to identify and perform basic functions on an accessible scientific calculator, an accessible graphing calculator, and other math technology software and hardware.

This workshop is designed to be a very “hands-on” event.  Participants will rotate through learning stations and have ample opportunities to ask questions and practice using the tools and strategies that are shared. This is ideal for a TVI and math teacher to attend as a team.

For more information please contact Carrie Keith at 512-206-9314 or CarrieKeith@tsbvi.edu.

Appropriate Communication Assessment for Babies with Deafblindness
(A Special Parent/Child workshop)

June 5-7, 2009
Location:  TSBVI Conference Center, Austin, Texas
Presenters:  Gigi Newton and Texas Deafblind Outreach Staff
Audience:  Parents/Caregivers and Children birth-three with combined vision and hearing loss or deafblindness

This training is intended to help parents of children birth-three who have combined vision and hearing loss or deafblindness understand and assess their child's communication skills.  This workshop will help parents take a look at the ways their child is currently communicating and help them to build on their child’s strengths based on his/her developmental needs. Through discussion and modeling participants will learn strategies and techniques for improving communication both in the home setting and the school/day care setting.  Enrollment limited to 12 families.

For further information and registration, please contact Brian Sobeck at (512) 206-9225; briansobeck@tsbvi.edu.

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Last Revision: August 27, 2008