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Our Services

Overview of Services Provided

The TSB Outreach Program offers a variety of services to children with visual impairments in Tennessee who are enrolled in their local public school district. These services may be requested by school districts for their students with visual impairments and are provided free of charge. They include but are not limited to: consultations, assessments, direct services, in-service trainings, and parent support. Most services are provided in the school environment, but some activities and instruction like orientation and mobility instruction may take place in the local community. 

Outreach services are provided by six teachers based across Tennessee, collectively covering the regions of West, Middle, and East Tennessee. Every Outreach teacher is "dual-certified" as Certified Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) in Tennessee and ACVREP-certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists (COMS). 

Submitting a request does not guarantee the requested service will be provided, especially if a student's requested IEP level of service exceeds the program's service parameters for direct services. Furthermore, while efforts are taken to process requests in a timely manner, TSB Outreach does not guarantee the provision of services, particularly evaluations, within certain timeframes. This is due to factors such as existing service obligations, weather, and holidays. For more information see the policy document below regarding the role of the Outreach Program. 

Examples of Services Provided:

  • Provide in-service trainings to local school districts regarding best practices for supporting students with visual impairments.
  • Collaborate with district-employed TVIs regarding assessments, best practices, and professional development.
  • Educate and support families, from understanding eye reports to supporting their children outside of school.
  • Conduct functional vision/learning media assessments, orientation & mobility evaluations, and assistive technology evaluations.
  • Provide direct vision and orientation & mobility services to students.

TSB Outreach Service Parameters

CONSULTATIONS – May be requested for a variety of reasons but typically involve TSB Outreach personnel visiting a district and student in-person. We may observe a student, interview staff, collaborate with district TVIs, review documentation, and provide recommendations regarding accommodations, instructional priorities, and best practices.
 
EVALUATIONS – FVLMAs and O&M assessments may be requested for both students newly referred for special education vision services under IDEA, as well as those who have already been found eligible. TSB Outreach teachers will complete requested evaluations and produce a report that addresses eligibility for vision/O&M services, identifies appropriate accommodations and instructional priorities, and specifies a professional recommendation of the student’s recommended level of service (LOS) for vision or O&M. This report will be shared with the LEA and the student’s family, and its findings will be discussed in an IEP or other meeting.
 
DIRECT SERVICES – TSB Outreach offers direct Vision and O&M Services according to students’ IEP requirements, provided a student’s LOS needed is within the Outreach program’s service parameters. These parameters ensure TSB Outreach provides a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to every student on its direct service caseload. There may be cases in which a student’s LOS exceeds what TSB Outreach can offer, and LEAs will be supported in considering different solutions for providing this appropriate LOS.
  • Vision and O&M services can be provided up to a LOS of 2 visits per month and around 60 minutes per visit.
  • TSB Outreach is not intended to provide direct vision services for LEAs with large VI student caseloads, defined as 6+ students requiring direct vision services. O&M services is not factored into this count due to the severe lack of O&M instructors in Tennessee. LEAs will be contacted by TSB Outreach’s director if their VI caseloads, currently served by TSB Outreach, appear to be on track to reach or remain at a high or excessive level.
  • TSB Outreach is not intended to provide supplemental direct vision services for LEAs who already employ or contract with TVIs. LEAs are responsible for program planning and making TVI/O&M specialist hiring decisions according to their VI caseload levels and needs of individual students.
  • An individual TSB Outreach teacher’s entire caseload may reach a point where no additional students can be accepted for direct service. If this occurs, requests from LEAs in their regions will be placed on a waiting list; alternative recommendations for vision services will be shared and discussed.

Outreach Forms and Documents