Upcoming courses

Boy works with female teacher during speech class.
Instructor-led
Intermediate January 22, 2024 – March 10, 2024

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)

Review the purpose of AAC, the visual behaviors of CVI, and considerations around assessment, design, implementation, data collection, and collaboration. Design and implement an augmentative and alternative communication system (AAC) for individuals with Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI).

a young man wearing blue graduation attire
Instructor-led
Introductory January 22, 2024 – February 25, 2024

Planning Transition for Students with Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities

This course helps members of the educational team become more effective transition team members. Plan and administer individualized, age-appropriate, and culturally responsive assessments to develop appropriate activities.

a young boy with CVI looks at colorful 3D shapes on a lightbox
Instructor-led
Introductory

Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment: A Foundational Overview and Understanding

An inclusive overview of cortical/cerebral visual impairment describing the condition, its causes and associated medical conditions, and the educational and development impacts of brain-based visual impairment.

Zeke and Josian read from a tactile picture book during a Perkins Pals session.
Instructor-led
Intermediate January 29, 2024 – March 24, 2024

CVI Ally: Creating Academic Access for and with Students with CVI

Explore a deeper understanding of the ways CVI can impact the various school domains/subject areas, and ways in which teams can support students in having an accessible academic experience

A teacher is sitting next to a girl, shining a flashlight on her desk.
Instructor-led
Intermediate February 5, 2024 – March 31, 2024

Understanding the Whole Learner: An Occupational Therapy Approach to Supporting Individuals with CVI for Clinicians and Educational Team Members

Review the neurological foundations of visual perception and sensory basis of vision and development, as well as delve into occupational therapy evaluation and intervention procedures for learners with CVI

A city intersection, with blurred edges and confusing sight lines
Instructor-led
Intermediate March 4, 2024 – April 21, 2024

Orientation & Mobility Through the CVI Lens

Workshop participants will learn about dorsal and ventral stream dysfunctions and how the whole brain is used to map space and complete tasks relevant to O&M.

Middle schooler works on a laptop
Instructor-led
Intermediate

Literacy and CVI: High Phases II and III

Support literacy achievement for students in late Phase II through Phase III who are ready to learn to read print.

A child in a stroller reaches for an offered Hula Hoop
Instructor-led
Intermediate April 15, 2024 – June 2, 2024

MDVI: Student-Centered Strategies and Environmental Adaptations

NEW Course coming Spring 2024 Create comprehensive IEP goals for students with severe multiple disabilities including visual impairments that include several objectives

Instructor-led
Intermediate April 22, 2024 – June 9, 2024

Applying ABA Approaches with Students who are Visually Impaired

An introduction to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis and basic applications for children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities, or who are Deafblind

Instructor-led
Introductory

The CVI Range Approach

This 10-week course will provide an overview and practice in reliably scoring the CVI Range,  a functional vision assessment for children with CVI that determines the degree of effect of the visual and behavioral characteristics associated with brain-based visual impairment, and review the causes, characteristics, and medical conditions associated with CVI.

A student uses a device with an adult outside
Instructor-led
Introductory

Augmentative-Alternative Communication Strategies for Students with Visual Impairments and Additional Disabilities

Learn the foundations of communication and AAC, design lessons and identify key intervention strategies for visually impaired users getting started with AAC devices.

Instructor-led
Intermediate

The What’s the Complexity Framework: Designing a visually accessible school day for the child with CVI

Use the “What’s the Complexity” Framework to design a visually accessible school day for children with CVI.

Teaching resources for the classroom and home

Paths to Literacy

Explore activities and resources designed to teach literacy to children and youth with visual impairments, including those who are deafblind and/or have multiple disabilities. Designed for teachers and families.

Paths to Technology

Educators, families, and students can share information about technology for students with visual impairments and blindness.

Accessible Science

Explore activities and resources to make science accessible to students who are blind or visually impaired. Browse lessons in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Earth & Space, and Engineering & Technology.

The knowledge you need to teach kids of all abilities

A mother crouches down, hugging her young, smiling son outside in front of a building entrance.

CVI

CVI (Cortical / Cerebral Visual Impairment) is the leading cause of visual impairment of children in the U.S. Learn the basics, discover the tools and find new resources from our experts.

A visually impaired woman with headphones on that is talking on the phone.
As a Perkins student, Maggie’s educational curriculum has been bolstered with a focus on transitional skill building.

Transition

By working together, parents, children and professionals can build a transition planning roadmap to a happier, fulfilling adult life.

A boy uses a smart brailler alongside his teacher.

Assistive technology

Assistive technology plays a huge role in how students learn, communicate, read and play. Learn what assistive technology means for thousands of people with disabilities.

A mother smiling with her child in a wheelchair

Multiple disabilities & deafblindness

Children with multiple disabilities have the right to learn and thrive, yet they are often invisible and excluded from school and community life. Learn how to create innovative and engaging programs for children.

Girl sitting a a table, leaning forward, to paint the top of a large white piece of paper in front of her.
Grace

Expanded Core Curriculum

The Expanded Core Curriculum empowers students with disabilities to access their education and make their own choices throughout life.

Watch and learn

Whether you’re a parent of a child who is visually impaired or a teacher of students with multiple disabilities, our free video presentations will inspire and inform you.

From short-teachable moments to recorded live broadcasts, you can learn from experts on a variety of specific topics related to blindness and visual impairment. All videos are fully captioned and accompanied by a transcript.

Courses for credit

A woman talks to a group of people

Instructor-led

Our instructor-led courses are a collaborative learning experience with a cohort of professionals with similar needs and interests.

Person sitting in front of laptop screen showing virtual meeting

Self-paced

Our self-paced courses allow you to learn on your own schedule. Course topics include communication, visual impairment, and curriculum. Professional development credits are available for purchase.

Two women working on the computer together.

Earning credits

Many of our professional development options include the opportunity to earn different types of professional development credits.

We offer customized trainings for school districts and professionals

Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of visual impairment in school-age children. To best serve your students, you need CVI expertise in your schools. 

For a cost-effective professional development program for your staff, turn to Perkins eLearning’s customizable training packages, which can meet the needs of school districts of every size. Fill out the form below to learn more about how Perkins can tailor our CVI training for you.

You can expect the following—and more—from a Perkins’ CVI customized training:

  • An inclusive, evidence-based approach.
  • Courses led by world-renowned leading theorists, including expertise from Perkins.
  • A wide range of course curriculums from a foundational overview of CVI to advanced topics like assessments, interventions, and teaching strategies.

News about our upcoming courses and resources delivered to you.

Sign up for Perkins eLearning news and stay up to date with the best professional learning resources for TVIs, therapists, and parents & families.

Subscribe
By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Hear from our participants.

Lauri

“The discussion forums were valuable. Classmates came from the different professional fields and shared a variety of points of view. The assignments were meaningful and worth spending the time on. They definitely contributed to the learning on the topic.”

Our impact

8,157 subscribersOver 8,000 people subscribe to our eLearning email newsletter.

64 countriesPerkins reaches professionals in over 60 countries around the world.

227 coursesPerkins offers 227 (and counting!) courses and self-paced tutorials.

Explore more classroom ideas in our resource center today.

If you are an educator or family member interested in the education of students who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or have multiple disabilities, we invite you to sign up and receive notifications when new posts are published. Additionally, we encourage you to share your own activities and ideas with our community.