This session will review the experience of teachers of students with visual impairments, O&M specialists, family members, and students throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and how services were provided at various points from spring 2020 through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Join Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum and Tiffany Conrad as they describe both the national trends in how educational needs of students with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities and deafblindness, were addressed and learn about how a large school district worked to meet the needs of their 350 students. Topics covered will include the pros and cons of virtual learning, creative ways to deliver services, access to curriculum and materials, apps and websites that were found to not be accessible, and supporting students with additional disabilities. Both presenters will reflect on what lessons have been learned from the COVID-19 pandemic experience and how we can use these lessons moving forward.

Participants will:
1. Describe five key findings of the two Access and Engagement reports that examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education of students with visual impairments, including those with additional disabilities and deafblindness.
2. Discover how one school district responded to the COVID-19 pandemic closures and started to reintroduce in-person services.
3. Identify five positive examples of strategies developed by vision professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic that should continue once in-person education again becomes the dominate way to deliver services.


Presented by Dr. L. Penny Rosenblum and Tiffany Conrad.

Captions and transcripts are under production and will soon be available.