1. The Critical Shortage of Personnel: We Need a Solution!
Eileen Bischof, Ph.D.
Specialized Education Associates, LLC
Sandra Lewis, Ed.D.
Florida State University

2. How do we ensure that students have successful outcomes in an age of serious personnel shortages?
What is the Problem?

3. To ensure that students and clients with visual impairments are provided quality services by professionals who have the knowledge and skills to identify and meet their immediate and long-term education and rehabilitation needs.
What is our goal?

4. Factors Leading to Current Shortages
Specialized knowledge and skills needed to address student/client needs
Retirements
Fewer people choosing education careers
Increased rigor on FTCE
Limited awareness of field
Factors Leading to Current Shortages

5. Factors Leading to Current Shortages
FSU’s requirements for entry to teacher education
Based on increased rigor demanded by accreditation agencies
Limited PhD types to teach at universities
Limited or inaccurate data on district/agency needs
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Factors Leading to Current Shortages

6. Additional Factors to Impact Shortages
Increased responsibilities of TVIs
Changes in eligibility requirements
Paperwork demands
Increased focus on academic performance, graduation rates, statewide testing, etc.
DBS requirement that agencies hire TVIs for Blind Babies, Children’s, and Transition programs and certified O&M specialists to work at CRPs
Additional Factors to Impact Shortages

7. Graduation from state-approved teacher education program (FSU)
Must pass all parts of FTCE
Must pass 15 specific courses in teaching children with visual impairments
Must pass internship
Bachelor’s degree in any field and pass all parts of the FTCE
Paths to Providing Instruction of Students with Visual Impairments in Florida

8. Bring certification from another state (reciprocity)
Teach out of field with district approval
Other state’s approaches:
RESA/district level training (Alternative Certification Programs (ACPs))
Paths to Providing Instruction of Students with Visual Impairments in Florida

9. Professional Preparation in Florida
TVI
Junior/Senior/Master’s Degree program at Tallahassee and Pinellas County
Stand alone Master’s Degree
O&M
Add on at graduate level (3 courses plus internship)
Professional Preparation in Florida

10. Professional Preparation in Florida
VRT
Has not been offered at FSU since 2010
Out of state preparation options
Portland State University, UMass Boston, Salus University
Professional Preparation in Florida

11. How is your district/agency solving the problem of shortages?

12. How Will Districts Cope?
Increase the caseloads of TVIs to unmanageable numbers
Decrease the services that some students are receiving (i.e., students with low vision, students with cognitive impairments)
Eliminate services or reduce IEP time
Hire unprepared teachers and support their acquisition of TVI skills
How Will Districts Cope?

13. How Will Districts Cope?
Contract with service providers
Health-based staffing agencies
Professional-based corporations
Hire retired TVIs part time or for limited activities (i.e., assessment, teaching technology, braille instruction)
Hire, train, and carefully oversee/monitor TVI assistants
How Will Districts Cope?

14. Possible Preparation Solutions
Online/Hybrid preparation of TVIs, VRTs, and O&M specialists
Online/Hybrid preparation of individuals preparing to take TVI test
Online/Hybrid preparation of individuals who have passed the TVI test
Develop a program to prepare assistants who could support TVIs in their work and who might be able to continue education toward certification (with or without on-the-job training)
Possible Preparation Solutions

15. Possible Recruitment Strategies
Replace yourself!
Identify local high school students to mentor into the profession
Shadowing, discussions with guidance counselors, peer teachers and reading buddies, VI clubs
Possible Recruitment Strategies