TAER 2025 Conference: Full Schedule

Add sessions to your personal schedule to register your attendance (Check-In).

2:45pm MDT

Job Wars: Exploring Disclosure in the Job Market

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm MDT

Join us for a fun, role-playing activity designed to help students with visual impairments assess their readiness for the job market. This activity simulates employer-employee interactions, allowing students to gain insight into the conversations employers have when meeting job applicants.

Speakers

Andrew Bernet

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm MDT
Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC, Independent living

2:45pm MDT

Making it Easier: Abacus Instruction for All

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm MDT

Laguna Madre

Are you tired of math manipulatives falling off your desk? Are you wondering how to introduce the abacus to students with complex needs? Would you like to teach multiplication and division in an accessible and student-focused format? Come learn how to make the abacus work for your students.

Speakers

Helen Benton

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:45pm - 4:00pm MDT
Laguna Madre 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC, Math

4:15pm MDT

Math Mayhem

Thursday March 20, 2025 4:15pm - 5:30pm MDT

Laguna Madre

Join us for this exciting session where we’ll dive into using concrete objects to bring math concepts to life for students with visual impairments.

Speakers

Rebekka Berry

Thursday March 20, 2025 4:15pm - 5:30pm MDT
Laguna Madre 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC, Math

4:15pm MDT

The Why? For ECC; Not Just Now but Future Why?

Thursday March 20, 2025 4:15pm - 5:30pm MDT

Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout

The “now” why is important but it is the “future” why that is the real motivation for why the ECC is so crucial for individuals who are blind or visually impaired so they can become self-sufficient, independent, and thrive in life.

Speakers

Cori Andrews

Thursday March 20, 2025 4:15pm - 5:30pm MDT
Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC

9:00am MDT

Recharge Your Nemth Code

Friday March 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Laguna Madre

The latest BANA Nemeth Code rule books and guidelines will be presented with the most significant rule changes. Numerous sample Nemeth Code math expressions from first grade to Algebra II will be shared as we refresh those slightly rusty braille skills – especially encountering those common errors we all make.

Speakers

Susan Osterhaus

Friday March 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Laguna Madre 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC, Math

9:00am MDT

Spilling the Tea on grants for the ECC

Friday March 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT

Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout

Funding for ECC initiatives and transition student support can be scarce. Join this session to learn about one of Texas' best-kept secrets for grants that support teaching in ECC domains and help transition students launch their adult lives.

Speakers

Nancy Hefner

Friday March 21, 2025 9:00am - 10:15am MDT
Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC

10:45am MDT

Mathlete Competition: Integrating Braille Math Notation and Computation

Friday March 21, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT

Laguna Madre

Students who read braille can be successful in math and have fun along the way! By learning braille math symbols and using them within mathematical context, students are better prepared for advancement in STEM education and employment. Come and learn how we implemented the virtual Mathlete Competition with 6th-12th graders.

Speakers

Tina Herzberg

Friday March 21, 2025 10:45am - 12:00pm MDT
Laguna Madre 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC, Math

3:45pm MDT

Get Ready for Adjustment!

Friday March 21, 2025 3:45pm - 5:00pm MDT

Laguna Madre

During this session, the concept of adjustment to blindness will be defined by the participants through interactive fun activities. The participants will gain ideas on how to talk with their students about their own blindness, issues that affect blind people and how they could help families understand adjustment.

Speakers

Valerie Alvarez

Friday March 21, 2025 3:45pm - 5:00pm MDT
Laguna Madre 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC

10:00am MDT

Feel the Beat, Touch the Art: A Multi-Sensory Journey

Saturday March 22, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am MDT

Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout

This session is an immersive, hands-on experience designed to engage participants in the world of art and music through touch and sound. Techniques from the TSBVI publication, “Artful Instruction,” will be introduced and participants will use their sense of touch, hearing, and intuition to experience creativity in new ways.

Speakers

Jat Heitman

Saturday March 22, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am MDT
Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC

10:00am MDT

Blind Children’s Vocational Discovery and Development Program’s Nonvisual Skills Training for Independence

Saturday March 22, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am MDT

Laguna Madre

Every person who is visually impaired will encounter moments where their vision is not "working for them". This presentation will describe how the Blind Children’s Program developed a hands-on nonvisual skills training program to enhance program participants’ independence, community engagement, and future vocational success.

Speakers

Shirley Franklin

Saturday March 22, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am MDT
Laguna Madre 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC

11:30am MDT

APH Abacus Bee Texas Style

Saturday March 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm MDT

Nueces B - Breakout

The APH Abacus Bee is a fun and engaging competition designed to ignite a passion for mathematics for blind or low vision students. The competition ensures participation through individual learning styles through print or braille and encourages the use of mental math and abacus skills unlocking mathematical potential.

Speakers

Mari Garza

Saturday March 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm MDT
Nueces B - Breakout 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401, USA

ECC, Math

11:30am MDT

Empowering Self-Advocacy through Creative Strategies

Saturday March 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm MDT

Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout

Professionals will gain insight into fun ways to empower students with confidence to advocate for their needs in the classroom and community. In this session, participants will explore a variety of ways to help students learn about their vision and accommodations they need through various lesson plans and accompanying activities.

Speakers

Anissa Letterman

Saturday March 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm MDT
Corpus Ballroom A - Breakout 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC

11:30am MDT

The Legacy of Blind Blues Musicians

Saturday March 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm MDT

Laguna Madre

Throughout history, blind musicians have demonstrated skill across many musical forms. Many found a niche in the American blues scene. This presentation will discuss blues genres chosen and sometimes dominated by blind performers. We'll also discuss the artists themselves: their stories, their contributions, and offer representative music samples.

Speakers

Billy Brookshire

Saturday March 22, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm MDT
Laguna Madre 900 N Shoreline Blvd, Corpus Christi, TX 78401

ECC