What are the Responsibilities of a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?

TVIs have a wide range of responsibilities aimed at supporting students with visual impairments. These responsibilities include: assessing students’ level of visual impairment and individual education needs, developing and implementing individualized education plans (IEPs) tailored to each student’s needs, teaching Braille, orientation and mobility, and the use of assistive technology, adapting instructional material and class environments to make them accessible to students with visual impairments, collaborating with general education teachers, parents, and other specialists to support student inclusion, and continuously monitoring and evaluating student progress, adjusting strategies as needed.

What are the Benefits of Being a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?

People who pursue careers as TVIs experience a wide range of benefits, including making a significant impact on the lives of visually impaired students by enhancing their independence and educational success, developing specialized expertise in unique skills such as Braille and assistive technology, working closely alongside a team of dedicated educators, specialists, and families to facilitate student development, experiencing a high level of job satisfaction from helping students overcome challenges, and ongoing opportunities for professional development and specialization within the field.

What are the Challenges Faced by Teachers of the Visually Impaired?

While a career as a TVI can be extremely rewarding, there can be challenges to the role. Some challenges include limited access to specialized materials and technology required for effective teaching, difficulties addressing the wide range of abilities and needs of different students with visual impairments, staying up to date with advancements in technology and maintaining the necessary specialized skills, coordinating and facilitating collaboration between teachers, parents, and other invested parties, and managing the emotional and physical demands of supporting students with visual impairments.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?

The qualifications for becoming a TVI include earning a bachelor’s degree in education, special education, or a related field, enrolling in and completing a specialized certification or master’s program in visual impairment education, gaining the necessary teaching experience, preferably with students who have special needs or disabilities, obtaining the required state licensure where you live, and pursuing continuing education to stay up to date with the latest technologies in visual impairment education.

What Skills Are Needed to Become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?

To become a TVI, candidates should possess the following skills: knowledge of visual impairments, Braille proficiency, understanding of assistive technology, skill in developing individualized instruction, strong communication and collaboration abilities, adaptability, and patience and empathy.

What is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?

Q: What is a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?

A Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) is a specialized educator who works with students with visual impairments, such as blindness and low vision. TVIs provide tailored instruction and support to help visually impaired students access the curriculum, develop independence, and achieve their educational goals. They adapt teaching materials, employ assistive technology, and teach specific skills like Braille, orientation and mobility, and daily living skills to help students participate fully in their education.

By: VocoVision

A young woman with visual impairments is getting help from a tutor on her schoolwork and homework.

Do you like working with students and helping them to overcome obstacles to reach their full potential? If so, a career as a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) might be right for you. In this blog, we’ll explore everything you need to know about being a TVI, including what the role entails, the benefits and challenges, and how to become one.

A TVI is a specialized educator who works with students with visual impairments, such as blindness and low vision. TVIs provide tailored instruction and support to help visually impaired students access the curriculum, develop independence, and achieve their educational goals. TVIs adapt teaching materials, employ assistive technology, and teach specific skills like Braille, orientation and mobility, and daily living skills to help students participate fully in their education.

What is the Difference Between a School-Based and Remote Teacher of the Visually Impaired?

Historically, TVIs primarily worked with students in person in the school setting. However, with the assistance of advanced communication technology and a growing need for TVIs around the country, opportunities for remote TVIs have increased.

Remote TVIs provide the exact same care as school-based or in-person TVIs. However, they have adapted their techniques for assisting students to be performed virtually. Virtual TVI opportunities enable TVIs to assist more students around the country as they are not limited to working with students in one location and do not have to travel to assist students outside of their immediate area.

Can a General Education Teacher Provide Support to Students with Visual Impairments?

TVIs often work in conjunction with general education teachers to develop lesson plans and teaching strategies for students with visual impairments. However, to obtain a TVI job, candidates must have additional accreditation and training that are not necessary for general education teachers. Therefore, while general education teachers may support students with visual impairments by working alongside TVIs, they cannot work as a TVI in an official capacity without obtaining the necessary requirements.

Teacher of the Visually Impaired Responsibilities

TVIs have a wide range of responsibilities aimed at supporting students with visual impairments. These responsibilities include:

Assess students’ level of visual impairment and individual education needs.
Develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs) tailored to each student’s needs.
Teach Braille, orientation and mobility, and the use of assistive technology.
Adapt instructional material and class environments to make them accessible to students with visual impairments.
Collaborate with general education teachers, parents, and other specialists to support student inclusion.
Continuously monitor and evaluate student progress, adjusting strategies as needed.

Benefits of Being a Teacher of the Visually Impaired

People who pursue careers as TVIs experience a wide range of benefits, including:

Making a significant impact on the lives of visually impaired students by enhancing their independence and educational success.
Developing specialized expertise in unique skills such as Braille and assistive technology.
Working closely alongside a team of dedicated educators, specialists, and families to facilitate student development.
Experiencing a high level of job satisfaction from helping students overcome challenges.
Ongoing opportunities for professional development and specialization within the field.

Challenges Faced by Teachers of the Visually Impaired

While a career as a TVI can be extremely rewarding, there can be challenges to the role. Some challenges include:

Limited access to specialized materials and technology required for effective teaching.
Difficulties addressing the wide range of abilities and needs of different students with visual impairments.
Staying up to date with advancements in technology and maintaining the necessary specialized skills.
Coordinating and facilitating collaboration between teachers, parents, and other invested parties.
Managing the emotional and physical demands of supporting students with visual impairments.

How to Become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a TVI, there are several steps you must first complete to be considered for open roles. These include both educational and certification requirements.

Qualifications for Becoming a Teacher of the Visually Impaired

The qualifications for becoming a TVI are:

Earn a bachelor’s degree in education, special education, or a related field.
Enroll in and complete a specialized certification or master’s program in visual impairment education.
Gain the necessary teaching experience, preferably with students who have special needs or disabilities.
Obtain the required state licensure where you live. Required licenses and certifications vary by state.
Pursue continuing education to stay up to date with the latest technologies in visual impairment education.

Skills Needed to Become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired

To become a TVI, candidates should possess the following skills:

Knowledge of visual impairments
Braille proficiency
Understanding of assistive technology
Skilled in developing individualized instruction
Strong communication and collaboration abilities
Adaptability
Patience and empathy

How Much Do Teachers of the Visually Impaired Make?

The salary range for TVIs can vary greatly depending on factors such as the location of the job, the candidate’s level of experience, and the school district in which the job is based.

TVIs in the US typically make anywhere between $40,000 and $90,000. Entry-level TVIs usually make towards the lower end of the spectrum, while those with high experience levels can earn a salary towards the upper end.

How to Get a Job as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired

If a career as a TVI sounds like something you’re interested in pursuing, please explore our TVI jobs page to get a better understanding of the opportunities available.