GOAL 3: Universities with a minimum of one full-time faculty member in the area of visual impairment, will prepare a sufficient number of educators of students with visual impairments to meet personnel needs throughout the country.
CURRENT SITUATION 3A
New Hampshire does not have a university teacher preparation program in the area of education of students who are blind and visually impaired. Teachers in N.H. have been trained in preparation programs located in other states. Historically, N.H. has been represented on advisory boards for regional teacher preparation programs at Boston College and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
AREAS OF NEED
 | There is a need to increase the opportunities for N.H. teachers and other personnel to gain course work and additional experience in the education of students with visual impairments. |
| There is a need for the creation, or further development, of a system that will prepare personnel at the pre-service and in-service levels, who will be more likely to remain in N.H., especially in the more rural communities of the state. |
INITIATIVES
To continue advisory relationships with teacher preparation programs, in particular Boston College and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
STRATEGIES
| Collaborate with current teacher preparation programs to support teacher placements for internships and student teaching opportunities. |
| Encourage parent/professional representation on advisory boards of teacher preparation programs. |
| Ensure that N.H. has continued representation on the advisory boards of regional teacher preparation programs. The individual(s) providing representation should have training and expertise in the field of education of students who are blind or visually impaired. |
CURRENT SITUATION 3B
Workshops and inservice training are provided through state and regional organizations.
AREAS OF NEED
Continue to make available inservice and other non-credit workshops for continuing certification and professional growth and development.
INITIATIVES
To continue to monitor the feasibility of establishing an instate teacher training program (refer to Goal 4).
STRATEGIES
Participate in the development of the National Association of Special Education Administrator's "National Plan for Training Personnel to Serve Children with Blindness and Low Vision" (see appendix). Continue to support and monitor the adoption of competencies by the State Board of Education that reflect best practices (see appendix E).
CURRENT SITUATION 3C
The state university system and other N.H. colleges do not offer coursework in the education of students with visual impairment.
AREAS OF NEED
There is a need to continue to make in-service training and workshops for continuing certification and professional growth and development available.
INITIATIVES
To participate in national and state efforts to develop additional and alternative models of teacher preparation and in-service support, such as the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development, College of Lifelong Learning, etc.).
STRATEGIES
| Participate in the development of the National Association of Special Education Administrator's "National Plan for Training Personnel to Serve Children with Blindness and Low Vision" (see appendix B). |
| Continue to support and monitor the adoption of competencies by the State Board of Education that reflect best practices. |
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS RELATIVE TO GOAL 3:
refer to appendices C and F and to item D on list of additional resources: (NASDSE "Policy Forum Report: Training Educators To Work With Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired". Convened September 18-20 1996).