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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 are free to students, their families, and their school districts. They include but are not limited to: assessments, direct services, consultations, 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, two each in 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). 

The TSB Outreach Program makes every effort to meet the service needs of students across Tennessee. However, not all requests can be accommodated. For more information please 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 trainings.
  • 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.

Procedures and Requirements for Requesting Outreach Services

LEAs may request Outreach services at any time, though requests received after mid-April each year will be held until the following school year. LEAs should submit the following to [email protected]:

  1. Initial Request for Outreach Services form (linked below)
    • Should clearly state reason for request (e.g., FVLMA requested for potential new VI eligibility) 
  2. Additional documentation that should also be submitted: 
    • Current eye report (within 1 year)
      • REQUIRED for consideration of FVLMA evaluation requests
      • Highly recommended for all other requests 
    • IEP / SPED eligibility report (if available)
    • Functional Vision & Learning Media Assessment (if available)

Outreach Forms and Documents