Blindness and Low Vision Program

Love working with people? Driven to make our world a better place?

If you have a passion for serving and you're up for a rewarding challenge, consider Florida State University’s combined BS/MS pathway in the Blindness and Low Vision Education, the only program of its kind in the state of Florida!

A teaching experience unlike any other

As a teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI), you will:

• Transform lives each day you teach as you foster independence in your students with blindness and low vision
• Teach the skills that impact your students success beyond classroom, such as braille, self-determination, and assistive technology skills
• Help your students become productive members of society while being able to live independently

EXCEPTIONAL CAREER PROSPECTS

Florida State offers one of the most respected and longest-standing programs in the nation.

• Elite, nationally recognized faculty who have experience in the field of blindness and low vision education
• Tremendous demand throughout the U.S. for teachers with certification in teaching visually impaired students
• Career success for TVIs is not tied to statewide academic assessments, but on each student’s ability to meet individualized goals

 INDIVIDUALIZED APPROACH FOR INDIVIDUALIZED WORK

• Creative teaching techniques and unique curriculum guide TVIs in addressing the specific needs of each student
• Dynamic field experiences give you opportunities to learn to work with a wide variety of students
• Empathetic, community-focused approach to the managing work students' career goals and in developing students' skills
• Establish enduring relationships with students, their families, and the communities you serve

CAREER READY AND PREPARED TO EXCEL

Hit the ground running with both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees and eligibility for:

• Masters-level compensation
• Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate in Visually Impaired (K-12)

Every year in Florida, jobs go unfilled and students go unserved because so few people know about this rewarding and satisfying field of education.

Results from a recent study indicate that there is a need for 5,000 new Teachers of Children with Visual Impairments (TVIs) and a need for 10,000 new Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialists to work with children and adults with visual impairments across the U.S.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for special education teachers is expected to grow by 6 percent through 2024. That translates into 28,100 new jobs. The median national annual salary for special education teachers is $57,910 per year. Your income as a special education teacher may be slightly higher than that of a general classroom teacher, depending on the school district where you choose to teach.

With a master’s degree, you’ll also have more job opportunities than you would with just a bachelor’s. You could pursue a career in a school district, state education agency, a corporate or non-profit organization, or higher education institutions.