CTEBVI

Supporting CTEBVI: A Partnership for Excellence in Education

At the California School for the Blind (CSB), we are proud to support and collaborate with the California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI). CTEBVI is a vital organization dedicated to advancing education and accessibility for students who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. Through professional development, networking opportunities, and the promotion of best practices in braille transcription, assistive technology, and specialized educational services, CTEBVI empowers educators and professionals to enhance the learning experiences of all students.

Our partnership with CTEBVI reflects our shared commitment to ensuring every student has access to the highest quality education and resources. Together, we advocate for inclusive practices, cutting-edge tools, and an equitable learning environment where all students can thrive.

CSB Presentations at CTEBVI

In 2024, CSB educators, including members of our Statewide Outreach Services team, in partnership with other specialists and agencies across the field, presented a series of impactful sessions at the CTEBVI conference. These collaborations highlighted expertise in areas such as comprehensive assessments, educational strategies, assistive technology, and supporting students with complex needs. Below are the highlighted sessions and presenters associated with CSB:

• Comprehensive Vision Evaluation, Psychoeducational & Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) Testing for Students with Visual Impairment
  Presented by: Stephanie Herlich, Shelby Zimmerman, May Nguyen, Rebecka Henry
• Socialization
  Presented by: Adrian Amandi
• Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC) and California Alternate Assessments (CAA), Oh My!
  Presented by: Veronica Gunn
• Building Bridges: Integrating Strategies for Students with Extensive Support Needs and Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)
  Presented by: Aileen Arai, Elisa Kingsbury, Adrian Amandi, Emma Kutcher
• Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) in the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC)! Woot, Woot!
  Presented by: Stacey Colley, Tamar Solomon
• Program Guidelines Update: Track Progress, Join Revision, Share Ideas!
  Presented by: Adrian Amandi, Morgan Mitchell
• Eyeball Class Refresher in 60 Minutes
  Presented by: Samantha Peterson
• What's Available in Assistive Technology (AT): Enhancing Technology Instruction, Engagement, and Collaboration
  Presented by: Adrian Amandi, Sarah Blair, Rosanna Hoyt, Elizabeth Nguyen
• Thinking Outside of the Braille Cell
  Presented by: Stephanie Herlich
• Why Isn't My Student Thriving?
  Presented by: Tamar Solomon, Stacey Colley
• Optimizing Augmentative or Alternative Communication (AAC) for Students with CVI
  Presented by: Vanessa Herndon, Rebecka Henry
• Digital Math Tools
  Presented by: Adrian Amandi, Crystal Hurst, Max Avendano
• Easy Digital Multimedia Math Access for Teachers, Students, and Alt Media Specialists
  Presented by: Crystal Hurst, Adrian Amandi, Max Avendano
• Connecting Assessment to Individual Education Plan (IEP) to Equipment - How to Justify Low Incidence Spending
  Presented by: Cara Peterson, Kate McGrath, Samantha Peterson
• The Language of Lines
  Presented by: Jerry Kuns, Vanessa Herndon
• Better than Nothing!: Empowering Student Choice When Selecting Video Magnifiers
  Presented by: Samantha Peterson, Rebecca Rosenberg, Adrian Amandi

April 2025 CTEBVI Conference

We invite you to join us in supporting the upcoming 2025 CTEBVI conference! This event is an incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and share best practices with professionals dedicated to improving education for students who are blind or have low vision. To learn more about the 2025 conference and register, please visit CTEBVI Conference 2025 .

Katie Sibert Memorial Scholarship

The Katie Sibert Memorial Scholarship is designed to support transcribers and educators by fostering the acquisition and improvement of skills needed to provide high-quality educational opportunities for blind and visually impaired students. The Katie Sibert Committee typically awards $6,000, which is divided among qualified applicants. The scholarship funds can be used for attending CTEBVI conferences, training, books, materials, and equipment.
Apply for the Katie Sibert Memorial Scholarship

Donna Coffee Youth Scholarship

The Donna Coffee Youth Scholarship is an annual award of up to $1,000 aimed at promoting the academic and social development of K-12 students who are blind or visually impaired. The scholarship is awarded based on criteria set by the CTEBVI Board of Directors and is intended to support the recipient's personal growth.
Apply for the Donna Coffe Youth Scholarship

Special Recognition Award

In 2024, CSB's own Adrian Amandi was honored with the Special Recognition award from CTEBVI for his outstanding contributions to the field of blindness and visual impairment. This award is presented to individuals who bring exceptional talent or skill to CTEBVI or the field. Adrian has been a dedicated leader at the California School for the Blind and currently serves as the Director of the Education Resource Center and Statewide Outreach Services for Blind and Low Vision students and their teams. In this role, he leads a team of specialists providing educational outreach services throughout the state.

Adrian's career spans a variety of impactful roles, including work as an itinerant TVI, preschool teacher, deafblind K/1 classroom teacher, and lead program teacher for an infant and early learners home care program. He has also served as an adjunct professor at San Francisco State University since 2006 and at California State University Los Angeles for a time. His dedication to advancing technology in the field is demonstrated through his founding of the Assistive Technology Forum, the National Coding Symposium, and the Day of Code, along with his contributions to developing technology assessments, teaching tools, and methods that enhance the educational experiences of students with visual impairments. Adrian's leadership also extends to various boards for non-profits and corporations, where he drives positive change across organizations.

Adrian has been a board member of CTEBVI since 2018, contributing significantly through dozens of workshops on assistive technology and access to the core and expanded core curriculum. He also played a key role in developing the Youth Institute and the Paraprofessional Institute, both of which aim to support students and professionals in the field. Adrian has consistently presented at CTEBVI conferences, sharing his extensive knowledge and innovative approaches. In recognition of his remarkable dedication and lasting impact on the field, CTEBVI proudly awarded Adrian Amandi the Special Recognition plaque.