I built this website to promote my writing, but here’s the truth: over the last twenty years, I’ve spent a lot more time teaching than writing.
I wouldn’t have it any other way. The goal is clear, the results tangible, the rewards abundant, and (shhh . . .) the pay is better. What’s not to like?
Plus I’ve met some really cool kids.
I’ve been in the classroom since 1996, when I took my first job at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. I’ve kept at it, more or less, for twenty-five years now. I think it’s gonna stick.
These days, I do my teaching for Buncombe County Schools, as well as providing contract services in Orientation & Mobility and Visual Impairment to school districts across western North Carolina. (I also get to run summer camps with my nonprofit BRAVO, so that’s pretty sweet.)
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a Teacher for the Visually Impaired, I can’t recommend it enough. You get a chance to work one-on-one, or in small groups, teaching essential skills to a great bunch of kids. Best decision I ever made.
Here are some useful links if you want to learn more:
The Perkins School for the Blind is a great online resource for students, families, and teachers looking for more information about educational services for the blind. Be sure to check out their resources for educators, and their page for those who want to teach students with visual impairments.
The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired also provides a wealth of information on their website. They were also my first employer in the field. Go Wildcats!
There are two large and well-respected advocacy groups fighting for kids and adults with visual impairment: the American Foundation for the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind. I’m grateful to them both.
Credentials
Jay Hardwig
Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS), ACVREP, 2012-present
M.A. in Special Education: Visual Impairments, University of Northern Colorado, 2011
National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), Exceptional Needs Specialist, 2011-present
Certified Teacher for the Visually Impaired in North Carolina, with 25+ years experience
If you want to learn more, contact me here.