Increasing the low vision clinics coordinator position to full-time has enabled Brandon Schellhorn to visit 70 schools during school year 2023 – 2024. A teacher of the visually impaired for IESBVI since 2012, Schellhorn moved into the coordinator and consultant position the fall of 2023, the same time the position became full-time.
Low vision clinics are held throughout the school year in each area education agency (AEA) to determine if a student’s visual functioning can be improved through optical devices, non-optical devices or adaptive techniques. About a dozen clinics are held throughout the state each year. Read more about IESBVI low vision clinics
“Increasing the position to full-time means we can provide more follow-up training and interventions to the schools and check how the devices provided at a low vision clinic are working,” said Schellhorn. “I can recommend low vision accommodations for more than core classes- like marching band or choir,” he said. Read how music accommodations are made for students who are blind or visually impaired
For the best student experience, Schellhorn recommends parents and schools work with their IESBVI vision staff to determine in advance of the clinic the reason for a student’s visit. “Knowing in advance they want to target something at home or school, helps identify our approaches and tools which might be considered.”
Having information before the clinic means high-tech devices such as large screen Chromebooks or iPad Pros can be preloaded with apps specific to the student.