The Teacher of the Year for Excellence in Braille Instruction award is an opportunity for all Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) to be recognized on a national level for the amazing work they do with students who are blind or visually impaired. Any Teacher of the Visually Impaired in the US or Canada can be nominated by peers, students, or others.
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The Teacher of the Year for Excellence in Braille
Every year, Braille Institute recognizes Teachers of the Visually Impaired for their hard work, dedication, and innovation. The Teacher of the Year for Excellence in Braille Instruction award is an opportunity for all Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVIs) to be recognized on a national level for the amazing work they do with students who are blind or visually impaired.
Any Teacher of the Visually Impaired in the US or Canada can be nominated by peers, students, or others. The Teacher of the Year is selected by The Braille Challenge National Advisory Committee!
Recent Honorees
Watch the videos of recent Teachers of the Year learn more about the amazing work of Teachers of the Visually Impaired.
Would you like to become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?
Here’s a list of universities who offer TVI and other Vision Professional Programs.
Teaching Students With Visual Impairments
In the United States, there is a shortage of certified Teachers of the Visually Impaired. If you enjoy collaborating with others, have strong report writing skills, are organized, have good time management skills, are willing to learn new technologies, like variety in your day, would like to work one-on-one with students ages birth to 21 and would like to make a difference in a student’s life, this may be the career for you! As a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI), you will have the opportunity to improve the lives of students who are blind and visually impaired by providing specialized instruction and supportive services. The specialized instruction you provide to students will help prepare the student for each stage of life.
The TVI is a teacher first but has taken additional coursework to be specialized in visual impairments. To become a TVI, you must hold a teaching degree in general education or special education. Certification to be a TVI is an “Add-On” to your teaching license. Each state has different requirements but generally, you will be required to take approximately six courses specific to visual impairments.
Coursework usually includes:
- Foundations of educating students with visual impairments;
- Braille reading and writing;
- Structure and function (or anatomy and physiology) of the eye;
- Educational implications of low vision;
- Instructional strategies; and
- Basic O&M skills.
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