Honoring Teachers of the Visually Impaired

Here’s to the best of us: teachers.

At Braille Works, we want to honor teachers of the visually impaired.

Take a moment and read a little about the work of Keith Christian.

Christian is a TVI, a teacher of the blind and visually impaired. This is a role that he has filled for more than 20 years. He isn’t one who talks about himself or the awards he has received. Instead, he will direct the conversation to his students and their future. He teaches empowerment to his students. In his words: “I like to give them a craft, something they can do with their hands. I want to give the sense of: I can make it, I can build it, I can do it.”

We know that there are many great teachers out there. Teachers who make a difference in the lives of their students. Teachers who encourage them by saying “you are enough, you can learn this, you can do this, you can do anything”. In the process, TVIs are giving their students everything they need to succeed. Helping them experience success while they are young and in school, and helping them realize their potential in life is limitless.

Personal Experience

Our founder, Lou Fioritto has been blind since birth and credits his mother, in great measure, for his success. Early in life, his mother instilled in him the truth that he can accomplish anything he puts his mind and efforts to. Lou’s mother insisted that he attend the same classes and get the same education as his sighted peers. She helped him by brailling his educational materials and making sure he had the tools to be successful.

Using a slate and stylus, Lou would braille his homework upside down and backward.  Meanwhile, his mother would work ahead with each new class to transcribe the materials and textbooks into braille. Lou credits his mom with a lot of his success in life. Today, he stands as a testament that your potential truly is limitless.

Has a Teacher of the Visually Impaired Touched Your Life?

TVIs are special people. Even today, with so much emphasis on accessibility, they have to innovate ways to present information to their students. Teaching students with a visual impairment or blindness brings a set of challenges that most teachers never encounter. Finding materials and tools to help communicate educational concepts can be a greater challenge than the actual teaching process.

How do you say “thank you” to someone who works so hard to help students with visual impairments? We want to find a way to say ‘Thank You’ in a meaningful way.

The world is a better place for having them in it and they deserve to have their stories told.

Please share your stories with us by connecting on social media.  Tell us how they have touched your life. Or, send us an email with links to articles about TVIs that we can share with others.

There are several ways to reach out and tell your story:

Our goal is to create a resource that will stand for years to come. Paying tribute and saying thank-you to the teachers of the visually impaired we hold so dearly.

Thank you for honoring these champions of the visually impaired.

Ways to reach out and tell your story: