A Sense of Texas

The words we use to describe our work with students who are blind matter. Kathi Garza emphasizes the importance of prioritizing independence over empowerment to maximize the success of our students. Speaking to her own personal experiences as a person with low vision and an educator, she insists we must educate on choices leading to agency over our own lives. At the end, check out what our students think about independence and empowerment, too. Click here to read Kathi's article on Empowerment in TX SenseAbilities.

TSBVI DB Project member Brenna Brillhart shares her personal experience working with an RDSPD administrator, Christina Pinckney, who prioritized the needs of students who are deafblind. Christina shares tips and tricks from the administrator perspective related to funding, staffing, and putting students first.    A transcript for this episode can be found here.   

Every school district kicks off the year with a welcome message and often a keynote address. This year, Dr. Mika Baugh helped the TSBVI staff focus on a year of empowerment and new opportunities for students. Her keynote address was recorded to share her powerful message outside of our campus, too. Wishing everyone a great 2026-2027 school year!

TSBVI built a blind soccer pitch in the spring of 2026 in partnership with the Verde Pitch Alliance, which includes the 4ATX Foundation, Austin FC, and Soccer Assist along with PSCI. The ribbon cutting was held in early May with musical performances from the TSBVI Drumline and the McCallum Samba Knights. Austin FC players held a clinic along with members of the US Paralympic Blind Soccer Team. Austin FC also announced new haptic spectator devices to be rolled out later this year from Field of Vision.   USABA Blind Soccer Field of Vision 4ATX Foundation Soccer Assist PCSI

With thousands of years of history, dragonboat is a sport built on working together as a team to accomplish a common goal. At TSBVI this is a skill we strive to teach everyday. In 2017 Outreach consultant Scott Balitisberger decided to bring these two things together and founded the TSBVI Dragonboat Team. We're happy to have you this month to hear from the TSBVI dragonboat team and their lead up to the Austin Dragonboat Festival. 

Identifying babies who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision can take a trained individual and a neonatal screening tool like the NAVEG. TSBVI Outreach providers are training others on its use and expanding access to services for infants and toddlers. Listen in to learn more about the NAVEG and check out the additional resources below.   TSBVI Coffee Hour TSBVI Article in TX Senseabilities NAVEG Training Flier NAVEG Training Flier for Medical Professionals NAVEG Screening Materials and Prices Anchor Center

The newest advancement in braille and tactile graphic technology is the Monarch available from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). Thanks to significant grant funding from the Texas Education Agency, over three hundred students in Texas will be receiving their own Monarchs with roll-out training and support from TSBVI Outreach and partners. We're excited to share more about this device and how it's changing educational access for students. APH link: https://www.aph.org/product/monarch/

Creating a greater sense of community and involving everyone is huge here at TSBVI and nothing shows that more than TSBVI's Java Jam. This weekly event featuring music and hospitality from students and staff, and draws folks from across our campus to enjoy the festivities and grab a beverage to keep them going for the rest of the day. We get the feeling this newly created campus gem is here to stay. 

Braille literacy rates continue to be low and organizations like the ACB Braille Revival League and the Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities are working to increase awareness and ensure all students who are blind or have low vision have access to braille instruction. Larry Johnson and Neva Fairchild are staunch advocates for braille, know exactly why our students need braille, and are willing to lend us their expertise.

Better late than never, but in this episode we want to highlight the Haunted House at TSBVI, which has been resurrected this spooky season after taking a few years off. It's always a special opportunity to let the community create an inclusive fall event on our campus that we hope to keep going for years to come. Come along with Emily as she takes her turn through the haunted house and then hear from the students and staff who make the halloween magic happen.