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Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Professional Division

Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Professional Division

Statement of Purpose

The AER Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI) Professional Division exists to support the specific and distinctive needs of TSVIs working in educational settings.

Vision is the primary means by which humans gather information and make sense of the world. For a child with a visual impairment, navigating that world and reaching their full potential requires specialized support from well-prepared, skilled TSVIs and a strong professional community to support those teachers.

The TSVI Professional Division is a community of dedicated educators committed to access and high expectations for students who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities, multiple disabilities, and deafblindness. We advance evidence-informed practice, strengthen professional identity, and ensure that the voices of TSVIs are represented in advocacy and in matters that impact our work and the individuals and families we serve. Together, we support one another across every mile and every setting, so that no TSVI feels like an island.

To fulfill this mission, the Division is committed to providing ongoing, high-quality professional development rooted in effective practices in visual impairment education; cultivating collaboration among TSVIs across settings, disciplines, and experience levels; advocating for the students we serve and for the policies, resources, and working conditions that enable us to serve them well; encouraging universities to offer and sustain comprehensive TSVI preparation programs; and elevating the TSVI profession so that every child who is blind or visually impaired receives services from a qualified, supported educator.

 

Statement of Goals and Objectives

Goal 1: Advance Evidence-Informed Practice

  • Promote the development and dissemination of strategies that strengthen teaching effectiveness across all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum.
  • Gather and share resources grounded in current research and effective practice in visual impairment education
  • Develop professional learning opportunities addressing the full range of student needs across age groups and settings

Goal 2: Strengthen Professional Identity and Visibility

  • Elevate the TSVI profession and communicate its distinct and essential value to students, families, school systems, community stakeholders, and the broader Association.
  • Ensure current, clear, compelling messaging about the scope of practice and unique contributions of TSVIs to support recruitment and retention of professionals within the field
  • Recognize professional contributions and share practitioners’ stories
  • Promote continued awareness of the TSVI role among administrators, policymakers, and the public

Goal 3: Build a Supportive Professional Community

  • Ensure that every TSVI across the career span has connection, belonging, and peer support.
  • Maintain welcoming systems to support new members and early-career TSVIs
  • Support a mentorship program that pairs experienced TSVIs with those newer to the field
  • Cultivate cohorts of peer learning networks and communities of practice across broad geographic areas
  • Engage retired TSVIs as mentors, advisors, and contributors to the Division’s work

Goal 4: Develop Leadership and Expand Representation

  • Cultivate the next generation of TSVI leaders and ensure TSVIs have a clear, strong voice within AER.
  • Offer opportunities for members to take on leadership roles within the Division and the broader Association
  • Provide leadership development opportunities including training, mentoring, and conference participation
  • Ensure TSVI perspectives are represented in AER advocacy, policy work, and governance
  • Support members in presenting, publishing, and contributing to the professional knowledge base

Goal 5: Improve Outcomes for Students

  • Keep the focus of all Division activities on the students we serve.
  • Promote high expectations and effective practices that lead to improved outcomes in school participation, employment, postsecondary education, and independent living
  • Advocate for adequate TSVI caseloads, resources, and working conditions that enable quality services
  • Elevate family partnership as a cornerstone of effective TSVI practice

 

Membership Criteria and Acceptable Documentation

The TSVI Professional Division offers two categories of membership: Professional “Fellow” (voting) and Associate (non-voting). All members must hold a current AER membership in good standing.

To become a Professional Fellow of the AER Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Professional Division, an individual must hold full state or recognized jurisdiction licensure or certification as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments.

Associate membership is open to individuals who support the mission of the Division but who do not meet the criteria for Professional membership. Associate members may participate fully in Division activities, committees, and professional development but do not hold voting privileges in Division elections or on matters of Division governance.

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Students currently enrolled in an accredited Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments preparation program
  • Retired TSVIs who no longer maintain an active professional licensure or certification
  • Individuals currently functioning in a teaching role with students who are blind or visually impaired but who do not hold a state teaching credential
  • Individuals serving students who are blind or visually impaired under an emergency, provisional, or temporary teaching certificate or authorization while actively pursuing full licensure or certification as a TSVI
  • Orientation and Mobility specialists, paraprofessionals, interveners, braillists, braille transcribers, material specialists, and other allied professionals working with students who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Researchers, administrators, and university faculty, currently employed in TSVI preparation programs but are not currently employed/practicing as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and whose TSVI license or certificate has expired/lapsed.
  • Family members of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Individuals who are blind or visually impaired and are currently working within a field related to visual impairment education.

 

Members may participate in this Professional Division as either a Fellow or an Associate Member.

  • Fellow: Fellows are voting members of the Professional Division. To be considered for Fellow status, members must submit acceptable documentation showing that they meet the approved membership criteria for this division.
  • Associate Member: Associate Members are non-voting members of the Professional Division. Documentation is not required. Associate Members will receive division-specific communications and may be invited to division webinars, meetings, and events.

To join the Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments Professional Division, please email [email protected] and clearly indicate whether you are requesting to participate as a Fellow or as an Associate Member.

If requesting Fellow status, please attach acceptable documentation for review. Notification of review status will be provided within one week of email receipt.