Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Teachers for the Visually Impaired (TVIs) (self.Blind)
submitted by MostSeries5112
I am interested in a career as a Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI). I'm trying to get a sense for what exactly TVIs do. I've read numerous websites about what they do, but I'm having trouble getting an idea of what they do on a day-to-day basis. I'd love to hear from the community what your experience was like as the student of a TVI.
In school, how often (every week? every day?) and for how long did you work with a TVI (an hour at random times? a few hours per week? all day every day?)? What kinds of activities do you remember doing with a TVI? (What were the most meaningful activities you did together? What were the most boring or monotonous activities you did together?) Did you feel that this person made a positive or negative difference in your education? Did you have a positive or negative relationship with your TVI? Thanks so much in advance for your response; I'm so thankful to read anything and/or everything that you have to share!
In school, how often (every week? every day?) and for how long did you work with a TVI (an hour at random times? a few hours per week? all day every day?)? What kinds of activities do you remember doing with a TVI? (What were the most meaningful activities you did together? What were the most boring or monotonous activities you did together?) Did you feel that this person made a positive or negative difference in your education? Did you have a positive or negative relationship with your TVI? Thanks so much in advance for your response; I'm so thankful to read anything and/or everything that you have to share!
changeneverhappens 2 points 1y ago
I'm a sighted CTVI. The acronym changes but the job doesn't. I'm happy to answer any questions you have about the job. There's a few of us in here, as well as some COMS.
I'm fully certified as a CTVI and finishing up my O&M cert. Dual certification can be a double edged sword depending on your job location but I've found it to make for a fantastic tool kit
I'm fully certified as a CTVI and finishing up my O&M cert. Dual certification can be a double edged sword depending on your job location but I've found it to make for a fantastic tool kit
WorldlyLingonberry40 3 points 1y ago
Hi, could you inform me how much you get paid as a teacher of students with visual impairments? ? How many years have you been working? A private responce would be alright.
changeneverhappens 3 points 1y ago
We love public salary information!
TVIs are paid on their district's teacher scale, which is usually based on experience and education.
Some districts give their TVIs a the special ed stipend, some did not. Mine did and it was 2k a year. Some districts pay miles, others pay a gas stipend.
I work in Texas and with my ISD, I made about 57,000 a year. Other TVIs in other districts near me range from 51,000- 60
,000 a year.
Contract TVIs can make anywhere from $50 -$90 an hour, but a big chunk of that goes towards taxes and benefits.
I now work outside of the public school system for an agency year round in a salary TVI position and make around $34 an hour.
I've been a TVI for three years and a teacher for six.
There are also a few funding opportunities for people in certain states who are fully certified special educators and would like to become TVIs. Reach Across Texas and Project Invite are two of them. Reach is Texas specific but the professors who manage it write grants to support funding for educators in a variety of states. Illinois also recently started offering funding for TVIs.
TVIs are paid on their district's teacher scale, which is usually based on experience and education.
Some districts give their TVIs a the special ed stipend, some did not. Mine did and it was 2k a year. Some districts pay miles, others pay a gas stipend.
I work in Texas and with my ISD, I made about 57,000 a year. Other TVIs in other districts near me range from 51,000- 60
,000 a year.
Contract TVIs can make anywhere from $50 -$90 an hour, but a big chunk of that goes towards taxes and benefits.
I now work outside of the public school system for an agency year round in a salary TVI position and make around $34 an hour.
I've been a TVI for three years and a teacher for six.
There are also a few funding opportunities for people in certain states who are fully certified special educators and would like to become TVIs. Reach Across Texas and Project Invite are two of them. Reach is Texas specific but the professors who manage it write grants to support funding for educators in a variety of states. Illinois also recently started offering funding for TVIs.
WorldlyLingonberry40 5 points 1y ago
Thank you for the responce. Its great that you are going for the duel certification.
blind_cowboy 4 points 1y ago
Off topic and just out of curiosity, do you work through one of the regions? For those of you not in Texas, our school districts are in different regions. My TVI and O&M instructor both came from Region 10. Things may have changed since I graduated 20 years ago.
changeneverhappens 2 points 1y ago
I do not- my region stopped offering direct VI services.
I work for a local non profit and fill a unique role supporting educators, private and homeschool families, and other non-profits.
I'm no longer a TVI of record- as far as i know I'm the only one in my area doing what I do, so I don't want to post my exact agency because I'm already pretty identifiable.
I work for a local non profit and fill a unique role supporting educators, private and homeschool families, and other non-profits.
I'm no longer a TVI of record- as far as i know I'm the only one in my area doing what I do, so I don't want to post my exact agency because I'm already pretty identifiable.
MostSeries5112 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
You said the dual certification... do you mean COMS? How is it a double-edged sword - do they give you extra work? How much higher is the pay?
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Do you know if it's worth it to get the master's in SPED TVI? I had heard pay increases if you get that, was wondering how much higher the jump in pay is
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Do you know if it's worth it to get the master's in SPED TVI? I had heard pay increases if you get that, was wondering how much higher the jump in pay is
changeneverhappens 1 points 1y ago
Yes, COMS. And yes, more work for the same pay for many people.
A masters degree in general can be a pay increase. Each district has its own scale. Mine was about a 500 a year difference. It wasn't anything amazing.
Having a masters can be helpful in general, but an increase in salary specifically from a masters from a TVI prep program is entirely district dependent
A masters degree in general can be a pay increase. Each district has its own scale. Mine was about a 500 a year difference. It wasn't anything amazing.
Having a masters can be helpful in general, but an increase in salary specifically from a masters from a TVI prep program is entirely district dependent
Mamamagpie 2 points 1y ago
Never. But I’m only missing all of peripheral vision on one side. Imagine covering half of both lenses in glasses with black paper.
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