Profile

The critical shortage of teachers of students with visual impairments (TVIs) is well documented and has been a chronic problem for school systems, especially in rural areas of the country. In response to documented critical national need, Portland State University continues to expand its national distance education program to prepare teachers of children with blindness and visual impairments.

This program allows individuals who do not have access to a traditional training model the opportunity to access quality training, and thus helping to alleviate state and national shortages of qualified staff. Since the inception of the distance education program in 2002, PSU has successfully provided training to 88 students in 23 states

Project BRAILLE USA focuses upon accepting students from any US state or territory where access to a traditional university program is not available, although priority is given to students living within the Western Regional Graduate Program consortium.

Visit our distance learning website at http://www.pdx.edu/sped/vil.html

James O. "Blue" Bickford, Ed.D.
Coordinator: Licensure Program - Visually Impaired Learner
Project Director: TVIs-USA

615 SW Harrison
ED 204 H
Portland, OR 97201

Phone: (503) 725-5495
Fax: (503) 725-5599
bickford@pdx.edu

Website http://web.pdx.edu/~bickford