A Sense of Texas

Before Emily transitioned from outreach director to superintendent, she attended the 2019 COSB Outreach Forum, which brings together professionals from all over the country to discuss the current state and future of outreach in blind education.  She rounded up eight of her colleagues to join her in this roundtable discussion of the challenges and joys of the job.  Joining Emily are: Adrian Amandi,...

Many difficulties arise when teaching a student who is hard of hearing or who has a visual impairment. When you combine the two it brings up a whole new set of challenges that not many of us are trained to deal with. Chris Montgomery, DeafBlind Consultant from TSBVI Outreach, joins us today to discuss how the Teacher of Students who are DeafBlind (TDB) Pilot program could help create more positive...

Welcome to A Sense of Kates!  This episode features a conversation with Kate Borg, who has pulled up stakes in Utah to come to Austin to serve as the new outreach director at TSBVI-- the seat formerly held by our host, Emily Coleman.  Afterwards, longtime TSBVI Outreach team member Kate Hurst joins us in the expert seat to share some insights into how the Texas department works, the kind of people...

A Sense of Texas began as a way for TSBVI's new Outreach Director to learn more about her new home and position.  Now a plot twist has changed the game going forward.  Join us as Guest Host and TSBVI Board Member Michael Garrett sits down to discuss the future with the school's new superintendent, Ms. Emily Coleman.

With the new school year not quite here but rapidly approaching we bring you another summer episode. Today we hear from George Stern and Andrew Cohen, two DeafBlind individuals who presented at the Texas DeafBlind Symposium in 2017. George discussed the importance of activity in his growth as a person who is DeafBlind and how we as educators can use activity to help our students feel involved both...

While a critical part of the ECC, recreation and leisure often get put on the back burner to make more room for life and academic skills.  But as Mickey Damelio, formerly of Florida State University, shared with us at Texas Focus 2016, it is incredibly important to instill knowledge about one's body and making that body move if our students are going to truly enjoy a long, healthy life. This is ou...

As we move from the hustle and bustle of the school year into the summer time we will be taking a break from our regular format to bring you some special episodes. Emily came to us from Washington state and was the keynote speaker at the Pacific Northwest AER Conference in March this year. So grab your chaise lounge and enjoy excerpts from the address from our own Emily Coleman. 

Very little is more critical than finding the route our students can use to move from the world of learning to the world of doing.  Helping them discover the ways and means of how they will spend the rest of their lives is a singular and all-important task.  TSBVI Outreach's David Wiley joins Emily to discuss what he's learned in over 30 years in the field and shares an exercise many have found he...

Being a member of a professional organization is important for many reasons and Dr. Amy Parker is going to explain why. She is the current lead for the Division on Visual Impairments and DeafBlindness (DVIDB) with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).  Another DVIDB Board member, TSBVI's own Adam Graves, joins us at the end to share his take on this important organization.

As the school year winds down, many of us start working on the pile of books we want to work through over the summer.  Renee Toy, TSBVI's Learning Resource Director, joins Emily to discuss some of the exciting literacy programs the school has introduced and hands out plenty of recommendations to populate those reading lists.  Afterwards, TSBVI Outreach Consultant Scott Baltisberger announces the p...

Matt Schultz from TSBVI Outreach joins the podcast to discuss interaction and the importance of building relationships and creating space for communication initiated by our students. Edgenie Bellah chimes in as our expert at the end to focus on the family perspective and the important, irreplaceable role they play in their child's life.

Perhaps one of the most overlooked and least understood members of the blind population, low vision students face particular challenges as they navigate their lives.  Dr. Bachofer, part of the TSBVI Outreach staff, has dedicated her life and education to the field, as well as being a person with low vision herself.  Join Emily as she and Cindy take a deep dive into this fascinating subject.  Our e...

The on-the-go lifestyle of an itinerant teacher is a large reason behind the creation of this podcast. In this episode we learn about Quality Programs for the Visually Impaired (QPVI). A program review process created by Nancy Toelle to ultimately improve student outcomes. This is an episode you won't want to miss, and besides, you probably need something to listen to on the way to your next schoo...

In our first two-parter, Craig Meador returns to tell us more about APH's expanded ambitions, how his personal leadership story developed, and some of the lessons his life's plot twists have taught him.  TSBVI Superintendent Bill Daugherty drops by later to give us his observations on leadership.

The curriculum is the backbone of every successful classroom especially when teaching blind and visually impaired students. Debra Sewell, head of the Curriculum department at TSBVI, joins the podcast to discuss upcoming releases, bestsellers, and some hidden gems you may not know about, including a great collaboration with Chris Montgomery and Matt Schultz from the Outreach Department for students...

EXIT Programs provides the critical bridge between academic education and making a space for our students and children in the real world.  In this episode, we learn from both sides of the equation.  Tad Doezema serves as an assistant principal for TSBVI EXIT Programs and Alexis Lugo is in her second year in the program.

Formed in 1984 AERBVI (Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired), more commonly known as AER, is THE professional organization for educators and rehabilitation counselors who work with individuals who are blind and visually impaired. Recently retired AER Executive Director Lou Tutt joins the podcast with newly elected AER President, our very own Emily Coleman...

One of the greatest resources for students who are blind or have visual impairment and those that teach them has been in operation since Congress mandated it before the Civil War.  Dr. Craig Meador is the new president of the organization and is in the process of implementing new strategies and attitudes that will help APH reach those who need its services well into its next century of service. 

Being a parent of a DeafBlind child can be challenging so having the opportunity to communicate and learn from other parents in a similar situation can make all the difference for your child. This week on the podcast Vivecca Hartman, president of DBMAT (the DeafBlind Multi-Handicap Association of Texas), joins us to explain the goals of DBMAT as well as discuss how the organization helped her fami...

Often times our visually impaired and DeafBlind students just need the slightest little push to lead them to success in their home districts. Sara Merritt and Kathi Garza join the podcast this week to describe how Short Term Programs at TSBVI can provide the skills and confidence to help students in the home, classroom, and in everyday life. 

It's easy to forget sometimes that with all of the activities and programs TSBVI develops and runs every year, in the end it's a public school with students showing up every day for an education.  TSBVI Principal Miles Fain joins Emily to discuss the challenges and rewards of running a school for special needs students.

One outreach director to another. Emily interviews Cyral Miller, who created and ran the Outreach Department at TSBVI from its inception through her (semi) retirement this fall.