The Wisconsin School for the Blind and Visually Impaired made the difficult decision to continue to offer virtual instruction through the second quarter, which ends January 29, 2021. Once again, this was a very hard decision to make since we want our schools open fully for in‐person instruction. However, the safety of our students, staff and families must continue to be our first priority.
Learning and using a dedicated braille notetaker can be very challenging, especially during times when contact with a TVI or AT Specialist is inconsistent. This Google Slide presentation contains orientation information to the unit, key command lists, and links to various outside resources.
This Fall, our Short Course team will be offering a Girls’ Group program, Book Clubs, and more! Check out our Short Course webpage at www.wcbvi.k12.wi.us/outreach/short-courses/ for more information. All Short Courses will be held via Google Meet. Limited spaces available! Contact Meghan Fredel at (608) 758-4926 or email meghan.fredel@wcbvi.k12.wi.us with questions.
Wondering about how your students will get access to textbooks virtually? WCBVI’s got you covered! Join us for our annual PST meeting, where Amy Snow will be presenting on the various ways you and your students can access electronic texts. You will also be provided with a copy of the presentation, containing resources from the appropriate agencies where you can find more information.
The WSBVI has made the decision to offer virtual instruction four days a week, Mondays through Thursdays through the first quarter, which ends October 30. On the fifth day, students will work independently and/or online and staff will use the time for planning and preparation. This is very important to make sure the school is ready to switch to some type of in-person learning when area health officials support that move.
Due to the COVID-19 situation, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (WCBVI) has rescheduled its Adult Summer Program for the week of August 3-7, 2020. To maintain the health and safety of all concerned, we will be holding this program virtually, so there will be no need to travel to our Janesville campus, or to stay in the dormitory.
WCBVI has produced two video tutorials on using Google Meet for screen reader users.
These videos provide a step-by-step walkthrough of using Google Meet with Chrome on a Windows 10 PC and with VoiceOver on iOS.
The 17-member State Superintendent’s Blind and Visual Impairment Education Council advises the state superintendent on statewide activities that will benefit students who are blind or visually impaired; makes recommendations for improvements in services provided by the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired; and proposes ways to improve the preparation of teachers and staff and coordination between the department and other agencies that offer services to the visually impaired.
Microsoft has been steadily improving their commitment to accessibility in the past few years. For example, Microsoft’s Accessibility Team has made major upgrades to low vision support in recent Windows 10 updates. Additionally, Microsoft Narrator has also received significant upgrades to make it more functional for individuals relying on screen readers.
Did you know that there are literally thousands of apps added to the App Store every day? That means there are countless opportunities to download and try a variety of new apps and find new favorites. However, a large percentage of apps added to the App Store do not work for blind and visually impaired individuals who depend on VoiceOver. There are sources to check for new and VoiceOver friendly apps, but like anything else, word of mouth is probably the most efficient way to find out about useful and interesting new apps.