Tennessee Visual Impairments Virtual Academy (TN VIVA)
Formerly known as the Unity Virtual Academy, TN VIVA is a professional development learning series for all school educators, community stakeholders, and families looking to learn about best practices, supports, and resources for students with visual impairments (blindness, low vision, and deafblindness). Attendees can earn ACVREP credits or a general certificate of attendance to use towards renewal of their teaching license.
TN VIVA is collaboratively coordinated by the Tennessee School for the Blind, Peabody College’s Program in Visual Disabilities, and the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.
Target audience:
- Teachers of students with visual impairments (TVI)
- Orientation & mobility (O&M) specialists
- Parents of a child with a visual impairment
- Students with a visual impairment
- Classroom teachers
- Related service providers
- Vocational rehabilitation counselors
- Early intervention providers
- School administrators
- Medical professionals
Upcoming 2024-2025 Meetings
A description of each session can be found on its registration page.
Friday, August 25, 12:30-2 PM CST
VIVA 24-25 Kick-Off: RCVI Welcome Back!
Presenter: Allen Huang, RCVI
Join us to ring in the new school year! Hear an overview of the year ahead with TN VIVA and Consortium of Vision Educators (COVE) gatherings, as well as an update from Dr. Allen Huang regarding all things new with the TN Resource Center for the Visually Impaired.
Register here to receive webinar instructions
Friday, September 13, 12:30-2:30 PM CST
TN COVE Fall Meeting
Quarterly Consortium of Vision Educators meeting to discuss timely issues and news; focused on TVIs and O&M specialists, all educators supporting students with VI are welcome. In September we’ll have Project PAVE, the TN Deafblind Project, and EMPOWER come to speak about the resource their organizations provide as you settle into the school year!
Register here to receive webinar instructions
Thursday, September 19, 1 PM CST
Supporting Students with VI & Complex Needs
Presenter: Patience Piesecki
In this session, hear from experienced TVI Patience Piesecki as she shares insights on her approach to working with students with visual impairments who have additional disabilities and complex needs.
Register here to receive webinar instructions
Friday, October 18, 12:30-2:30 PM CST
Binocular Visual Conditions: How TVIs can Assess and Support Students
Presenters: Rachel Schles and Tabitha Revak
In this session, Dr. Rachel Schles and TVI Tabitha Revak will present information regarding binocular vision dysfunction, as well as research-based recommendations and strategies for TVIs on assessing and supporting students who have such disorders.
Register here to receive webinar instructions
Friday, January 31, 2025, 12:30-2:30 PM CST
TN COVE Fall Meeting
Quarterly Consortium of Vision Educators meeting to discuss timely issues and news; focused on TVIs and O&M specialists, all educators supporting students with VI are welcome.
Register here to receive webinar instructions
Friday, May 2, 12:30-2:30 PM CST
TN COVE Fall Meeting
Quarterly Consortium of Vision Educators meeting to discuss timely issues and news; focused on TVIs and O&M specialists, all educators supporting students with VI are welcome.
Register here to receive webinar instructions
Additional sessions to be announced soon!
Archived Webinars
Click here to view archived sessions from TN VIVA Series, formerly known as the Unity Virtual Academy Series.