BVIPsych Webinar Series

A Webinar Series with topics ranging from giftedness, autism, specific learning disability, mental health, and more!

BVIPsych External link opens in new window or tab. (Google Form) is a Google Group for school psychologists working with blind, low vision, and deafblind students. BVIPsych is planning a free webinar series for the 2025 - 2026 school year with topics ranging from giftedness, autism, specific learning disability, mental health, and more!

This page includes information about the following:

Upcoming Presentations and Panel Discussions

More webinars and panel discussions will be posted throughout the year. Recordings will be posted to the California School for the Blind's YouTube page External link opens in new window or tab. for presentations and panel discussions if the speakers involved have granted permission. Please note that Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will not be offered for any of the webinars.

Date and Time Topic Description Registration Link
Wednesday, November 12, 2025 11:00AM - 12:30PM PT Specific Learning Disabilities Panel Discussion

This panel discussion will address questions related to specific learning disabilities in relation to blindness, low vision, and deafblindness submitted during registration for the event. Check out the panelists' bios External link opens in new window or tab.. The panelists include:

  • Beth Jones, PhD
  • Meaghan Adams, EdS
  • Carol Evans, PhD
  • Heather Haynes Smith, PhD
  • Megan Mogan, CCC-SLP
  • May Nguyen, MS, NCSP, LEP
  • Leah Read, M.Ed., LDT, CALT-QI, SLDS, TVI
  • Alessia Spiesz, EdS, NCSP, LEP
 Register for the SLD panel discussion External link opens in new window or tab.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 12:00PM - 1:30PM PT
Autism Presentation
This webinar will be presented by school psychologist Lauren Rosenbaum, EdS, NCSP. This presentation is designed for professionals working with students with visual impairments who also exhibit characteristics of autism. The presentation will discuss how autism can be accurately identified in students with visual impairments, and how these co-occurring diagnoses can interact. It will highlight a variety of recommendations and strategies that can be used with students with both visual impairments and autism. All discussions will be presented through a neurodiversity-affirming lens. Register for the autism presentation External link opens in new window or tab.
Friday, January 9, 2026 11:00AM - 12:30PM PT
 Autism Panel Discussion

Join us for a free webinar that explores the factors related to autism and sensory loss. This panel discussion will address questions submitted during registration for the event about autism in relation to blindness, low vision, and deafblindness. The panelists include:

  • Lauren Rosenbaum, EdS, NCSP, School Psychologist at the Perkins School for the Blind
  • Megan Foran, MS, CCC-SLP, Supervising Practitioner at the Perkins School for the Blind
  • Stephanie Herlich, MA, Assessment Center Coordinator at the California School for the Blind
  • Jay Hiller, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  • Alina Lacombe, BCBA, Behavior Analyst at the Perkins School for the Blind
  • Tina Meier-Nowell, MA, Coordinator of the Autism and School Psychology Teams at Northwest Regional Education Service District
  • Megan Mogan, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist
  • Ashley Mong, OTR/L, MOT, Lead Occupational Therapist at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Register for the autism panel discussion External link opens in new window or tab.
Thursday, March 19, 2026 12:00PM - 1:00PM PT
 Deafblindness Presentation This webinar will be presented by school psychologist Darlene Norman, MS, LEP, ABSNP. Additional details to come.
 The registration link will be posted as soon as it becomes available.
Wednesday, May 13, 2026 10:00AM - 11:30AM PT Mental Well-being Presentation This webinar will be presented by clinical counselor Shawn Marsolais, MEd, RCC. Additional details to come.

 The registration link will be posted once it is available.

If you are passionate about supporting blind, low vision, and deafblind individuals and have valuable knowledge and experience to share with fellow school psychologists and educators, we invite you to submit a presentation proposal External link opens in new window or tab. (Google Form).

Please note that there are no honoraria for presenters or panelists.

Previous Presentations and Panel Discussions

Topic Description Recording and Handout
Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) Presentation Students who are blind or have low vision (VI) and also experience learning disabilities (LD) present unique challenges - and opportunities - for educational practitioners. This webinar was presented by Dr. Beth Jones on October 8, 2025. This session was designed for professionals working with students with visual impairments who may also exhibit characteristics of a specific learning disability. Dr. Jones shared insights into why accurate identification of co-occurring conditions is essential for appropriate support and equitable access to learning. This presentation examined how Response to Intervention (RTI) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) can be adapted to help distinguish between the impact of visual impairment and a possible learning disability.

The link to the recording will be provided as soon as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience!

BVIPsych Webinar Series: SLD Presentation handout External link opens in new window or tab.

Giftedness Panel Discussion

This webinar, held on September 25, 2025, was for practitioners who work with blind and low vision students, particularly those who are attempting to identify students as gifted and talented. This panel discussion addressed questions related to giftedness and visual impairment submitted during registration for the event, including examples of gifted traits, alternative assessment strategies, and advocacy for students who are twice exceptional. Check out the panelists’ bios. The panelists included:

  • Brian Mullin, EdS, LSPP, NCSP
  • Meaghan Adams, EdS
  • Kimberly Avila, PhD, COMS
  • Mandy Gauld, MSc
  • Marnee Loftin, MA, LSSP

The link to the recording will be provided as soon as it becomes available. Thank you for your patience!

BVIPsych Gfitedness Panel Discussion handout External link opens in new window or tab.

Giftedness Presentation This workshop was presented by school psychologist Brian Mullin, EdS, LSPP, NCSP, on August 20, 2025. This presentation was intended for practitioners who work with students who are blind/visually impaired, especially those who work with students they are attempting to identify as gifted and talented. Different theories of giftedness will be discussed, including the Tripartite Theory, different assessment tools, and eligibility criteria that will help practitioners differentiate between high achievers and giftedness.

Recording of the 9/25/2025 BVIPsych Giftedness Presentation webinar External link opens in new window or tab. (Video; 53:45)

BVIPsych Giftedness Presentation handout External link opens in new window or tab.

Resources for School Psychologists

If you are looking to better support blind, low vision, and deafblind students, here are some valuable resources to explore.