TVI checklist: classroom and itinerant
New teachers and veteran teachers alike need to stay organized. Use these ideas, lessons, and forms to make sure nothing is missed as you start a new school year.
20 Tips for New Itinerant TVIs & COMS: Tips for new vision professionals, including Teachers of the Visually Impaired and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists.
25 Back-to-School ideas from Paths to Literacy: This covers organization, documentation, parent and teacher support, and setting up a schedule.
Classroom Decorating for Visual and Sensory Needs: Classroom decorating has a major influence on students and can be a game changer for students who have visual and sensory needs. Find out how to make a classroom environment the best it can be.
Supporting IEP team and ESPECIALLY the NEW classroom teacher
As we support teachers, therapists, paraprofessionals, and families, take a look at each student’s IEP and make sure that needs are met not only for your student but the people who work with them.
New: A one page template to use for individual student information to give to their teachers and therapist. When IEPs can be overwhelming, give them a one-pager that shares quick reminders for everyday adaptations. Start here and make it your own by copying it into your own document.
Tips for TVIs Collaborating with Gen Ed: Tips for TVIs to ensure that they are providing access to the general education curriculum for braille students and others with visual impairments.
Creating a Resource Page for Paraprofessionals and Support Staff: A TVI created a valuable resource page for her support staff that she shared with us too.
Assessment forms and data collection
Assessments, including data collection, are a cornerstone for building goals and objectives that create success this school year.
Functional vision assessments: FVA available to use along with choices to include with a CVI (Cortical/Cerebral Vision) assessment.
Learning media assessment: Overview of learning media assessment
Assistive technology assessment: The Assessing Students Needs for Assistive Technology (ASNAT) resource manual is a FREE 525-page document that contains a wealth of information on a wide range of assistive technology topics. Many of the chapters use the SETT (Student, Environment, Task, and Tool) format to guide the decision making process.
Lessons and materials
Use these lessons and material suggestions as a starting point to make them your own as you teach and create adaptations. Paths to Literacy has many resources that are accessible for free!
- Braille: Lessons and Resources for learning Unified English Braille (UEB)
- Large print: Sources of Large Print Materials and Instructional Strategies for Students with Low Vision
- CVI: Back to school Google slides I’ve shared that can be used and adapted to in-service staff about individuals who have CVI (Cortical/Cerebral Vision Impairment). Updated July 2025
- Multiple disabilities: Top 10 Tips for Working with Students Who Have Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairments
- Deafblindness: Educational Service Guidelines
Technology
- Get all the latest information from Paths to Technology
- Assistive Technology to Support STEM Subjects for the Visually Impaired. Read this overview of assistive technology that is part of the Braille Brain site. It offers best practice ideas for teachers of students with visual impairments that is loaded with information and reliable resources.
- What is a SETT meeting? S: student E: environments T: tasks T: tools
As we start back to school, remember that we all feel overwhelmed in the beginning! Enjoy the new adventure and take time to enjoy your students!
