Teaching Blind Students
An Opportunity to Make a Difference is Knocking…
Will You Answer?
Become a Teacher of Blind Students!
Why you should consider this career:
Making a Difference
Working with blind students gives you a chance to touch so many lives—the lives of your students, the lives of their families, and the lives of the entire school community.
The Students
Blind students are like all other kids; they just need fun and creative teachers to present information in ways they can learn.
Fighting Illiteracy
Today, only about one in ten students is being taught how to read and write braille. Without committed and enthusiastic teachers who recognize the importance of literacy for all learners, these students will struggle to fulfill their dreams and to meet their true potential.
The Job
Countless nationwide job options, flexible schedules, a lot of one-on-one time with your students, competitive pay, and much more!
There is a dire shortage of Teachers of Blind Students across the nation!
The Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University is recruiting students for our master’s and graduate certificate programs in Teaching Blind Students.
All you need is a bachelor’s degree, and most courses are offered online.
No experience is needed with blindness or blind people – our program will give you everything you need to know to go out and change the world for blind children and adults.
If you are looking for an exciting career where you can really make a difference, please come talk with us!
About the Program
Teachers of Blind Students (TBSs) are special educators who provide access to the general curriculum for students with visual impairments, through direct service and accommodations and modifications. They must possess specialized knowledge and skills in addition to those required by regular classroom teachers. TVIs are called upon to assess functional vision, interpret eye reports, determine appropriate learning media, use and teach adaptive technology, adapt classroom materials, teach braille, work effectively with related service special education teams and administrators, teach students a wide variety of daily living skills, and refer and transition students to appropriate adult rehabilitation and low vision services.
We at the Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University have made it our top priority to ensure our TBS programs are inclusive and appropriate for both blind and sighted teacher candidates from any background. There are two ways to enroll in our TBS programs:
- Graduate Certificate Program
The Graduate Certificate (GC) program requires seven core blindness-specific courses and a one-quarter internship (24 total credit hours). The graduate certificate program is for candidates who already have a teaching certification and wish to add on a certification in Visual Impairments. - Master of Arts in Teaching Program
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program requires seven core blindness-specific courses, five non-blindness-specific education courses, and one quarter of student teaching OR a three-quarter internship (45 total credit hours). The MAT program is for candidates who do not have a teaching certification. It is an alternative certification program. Graduates earn a master's degree and will be certified to teach children with Visual Impairments.
We at the Institute are happy to help you find the best education plan for you.
You don’t have to live in Louisiana to enroll. Our Master of Arts in Teaching and Graduate Certificate programs are almost entirely online, so we can reach as many teachers as possible. We have, however, maintained the unique hands-on elements and high expectations of our program despite the online forum. Several classes, including Braille I, Braille II, and Assistive Technology, are conducted weekly via a live video-conferencing platform so instructors can provide students with real-time feedback.
We also schedule two campus visits for TBS candidates to receive hands-on training: a long-weekend in the Winter quarter for assistive technology and advanced braille training, and a week in the Summer quarter focused on orientation and mobility. Students receive cane travel instruction under learning shades to gain a better understanding of the non-visual skills blind people use to be independent.
Courses
The seven courses listed below are the core blindness-specific courses required in the Louisiana Tech University TBS graduate programs:
- EDCI 436/Braille I (UEB), 3 credit hours
- EDCI 582/Educational and Functional Implications of Low Vision and Blindness, 3 credit hours
- EDCI 466/Adapted Technology for the Visually Impaired, 3 credit hours
- EDCI 578/Braille II, 3 credit hours
- EDCI 499/Instructional Strategies and Materials for Teaching Blind Students, 3 credit hours
- EDCI 579/Developmental Aspects of Blindness, Assessment and Evaluation, 3 credit hours
- EDCI 584/Orientation & Mobility for Teachers of Blind Students, 3 credit hours
Note: EDUC 530C/Internship in Education can be taken in the fall, winter, or spring quarters. It CANNOT be taken in the summer quarter.
Contact
For more information about any of our TBS programs, please Contact us for more information.