Slide 1

“Grow Your Own”

Scholarship Program Informational Presentation

Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired / Iowa Braille School

Slide 2

Title: Why is this being offered?

Grow Your Own was created to encourage people to enter the fields of:

Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)

Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Specialist

Dual TVI/O&M

Slide 3

Title: Who can take advantage of this program?

Grow Your Own is designed for almost anyone committed to completing a qualified training program. It offers:

Individualized financial support

Accessible to people at various stages of their educations and careers

Slide 4

Title: How can I determine if this is right for me?

Review license requirements in Iowa to determine what training you require. This can be done on the Iowa Board of Education Examiners (BOEE) website: http://www.iowa.gov/boee

Slide 5

Title: How can I determine if this is right for me? Once on the BOEE website:

For TVI License Requirements:

Click “Endorsements”

Click “Teacher”

Click “Special Education”

Click “Visually Disabled”

OR…

For O&M License Requirements:

Click “Endorsements”

Click “Other”

Click “Professional Service License”

Click “Orientation and Mobility”

Slide 6

Title: How can I determine if this is right for me?

Find a training program:

For TVI, consider the University of Nebraska Lincoln

http:// online.unl.edu/programs-and-courses/graduate-doctorate-programs/special-education-visual- impairment.aspx

Slide 8

Title: How can I determine if this is right for me?

Visit AER’s website to find other programs across the country:

https ://aerbvi.org/resources/career-center/aer-approved-university-programs /

Slide 9 Title: What is the selection process?

Candidates will be selected based on:

Educational needs of Iowa students

Specific field (TVI/O&M)

Geographic location (flexibility to relocate)

Credentials

Length of time to complete training program

Slide 10

Title: What does the program offer?

Those selected for the scholarship will be allowed up to a maximum of $10,000 in tuition and associated costs:

Prior to internship/student teaching:

75% of tuition and fees per semester

Must attain minimum of “C” for undergraduate courses or “B” for graduate courses to remain in the scholarship program

Slide 11

Title: What does the program offer?

During Internship/Student Teaching :

75% of tuition and fees per semester

May apply for expense reimbursement to cover additional costs of completing education

Consideration of requests based on balance of remaining maximum benefit and considered on case-by- case basis

Slide 12

Title: What else? Following program completion:

3-year minimum employment commitment

Competitive salary

Comprehensive benefit package

Access to mentors

Rewarding career in the field of vision services

Slide 13

Title: How do I apply?

Application Deadline: April 30, 2016

Required Application Materials:

Letter of interest, including your proposed plan of study

Application form

Copies of transcripts

Submit Application Materials to:

Justin Ruegg, Director of Human Resources

Iowa Braille School

1002 G Avenue

Vinton, IA 52349 [email protected]

(319) 472-5221, ext. 1226