New Mexico School for the
Blind and Visually Impaired

VIP Mission

New Mexico State University’s Visual Impairment Program (NMSU VIP), in partnership with the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NMSBVI), is the only program in the state that provides training in blindness and visual impairment. The VIP strives to prepare highly-qualified teachers of students with visual impairments (TSVIs), certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMSs), and developmental vision specialists (DVSs) to use, evaluate, and develop best practices for teaching the expanded core curriculum to diverse populations of learners who are blind and visually impaired, including those with additional exceptionalities, who are being educated in a variety of settings across the continuum of services throughout the state of New Mexico.

You might be a Good TSVI, COMS or DVS if you..

• Want to make a difference

• Like working with kids one-on-one or in small group settings

• Believe that ALL students can learn if they are taught the ways they learn best

• Are fascinated by braille, white canes, magnifiers, talking computers, & dog guides

• Love working with learners of all ages at all stages in a variety of settings

• Enjoy working closely with families

• Are a passionate advocate

Discover a Rewarding Career!

Three Programs of Study

Coursework

Instruction is primarily delivered online with mandatory face-to-face onsites every semester in either Alamogordo, Albuquerque, or Las Cruces.

M.A. in Special Education Core (Optional)
- Introduction to Special Education
- Current Issues in Special Education
- Current Research in Special Education

Visual Impairment Core (TSVI, COMS, & DVS)
- Foundations of Visual Impairment
- Functional Implications of Low Vision
- Strategies for Teaching Students with Visual & Multiple Impairments
-Introduction to Orientation & Mobility

Visual Impairment Core (TSVI, COMS, & DVS)
- Introduction to Special Education
- Current Issues in Special Education
- Current Research in Special Education

TSVI/DVS Core
- Braille I: Literacy
- Braille II: Numeracy (TSVI Only)
- Serving Infants and Toddlers with VisualImpairments and Their Families (DVSOnly)
-  Strategies for Teaching Students withVisual Impairments
- Internship in Special Education:Teaching Students withVisualImpairments (TSVI Only)

COMS Core
- Beginning Orientation & Mobility
- Intermediate Orientation & Mobility
- Advanced Orientation & Mobility
-  Strategies for Teaching Students withVisual Impairments
-Internship in Special Education:Teaching Orientation & Mobility

Admissions Criteria

- Bachelor’s Degree
- Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
- Letter of Interest
-  3 Letters of Recommendation (1 must be from current supervisor)
- Current Resume
-TSVI Applicants: Valid Teaching License & 1 Year -Teaching Experience in SPED or 2 Years Teaching Experience in GEN ED

NMSBVI Scholarships

NMSBVI provides tuition assistance to those willing to work in the state of New Mexico as either a TSVI, COMS, or DVS for three years after completion of the program.

Contact Information:

Julie Johnson , Admissions Coordinator
Phone: 575-439-4432
Email: Julie Johnson