Teaching Strategies & Experience

Please do not share the videos above without my expressed permission. The videos are  here to show my educational and teaching experience. These videos were taken over twelve years ago and I have come a long way as a teacher since then. I completed my student teaching several years after these videos were filmed. Technology has changed a lot since around 2011. If you wish to view the videos, you will have to sign into youtube and acknowledge that you are 18 years or older. 

Adaptive Tools and Strategies I Will Use as a Blind Social Worker at the VA

As a legally blind social worker and educator, I rely on a robust suite of assistive technologies and adaptive strategies to access written communication, navigate my environment, and engage fully with clients, colleagues, and documentation. My goal in sharing this is to reassure prospective employers that blindness is not a barrier to professional excellence—it’s a lens through which I’ve cultivated resourcefulness, precision, and empathy. 

🧠 Assistive Technologies That Will Support My Work

• 🕶️ Meta Glasses (AI-Powered Smart Glasses)
  These glasses allow me to read printed documents and signage aloud in real time. At the VA, I would use them to access intake forms, posted notices, medication instructions, and environmental cues during home visits or facility assessments. Meta also describes visual details—such as clothing, facial expressions, and room layouts—which can help me assess mood, hygiene, and safety.

• 📺 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)
  This desktop magnifier enlarges printed materials and reads them aloud using Optical Character Recognition (OCR). I would use it to review handwritten notes, discharge summaries, and printed caregiver resources—ensuring accurate documentation and informed support.

• 📚 OpenBook Software with External Camera
  OpenBook converts printed text into editable, navigable audio. I would use it to access VA benefits guides, psychosocial assessments, and client-facing materials. This tool supports efficient case management and client education.

• 🖥️ JAWS + Fusion Screen Reader
  These tools allow me to navigate digital platforms using keyboard shortcuts. I would use them to access electronic health records (EHR), complete progress notes, and participate in interdisciplinary team meetings. They also describe charts and graphs, supporting data-informed care planning.

• 📱 VoiceOver on iPhone and Apple Watch
  I use VoiceOver to manage appointments, communicate with clients and colleagues, and access GPS navigation during field visits. My Apple Watch provides haptic feedback for reminders and location cues, supporting punctuality and safety.

🧓 Strategies I Will Use to Support Elderly Veterans and Caregivers

• 🗣️ Audio Labeling Systems (e.g., WayTag, PenFriend)
  I would use these tools to label medication bottles, adaptive equipment, and client files with audio tags—ensuring accurate identification and supporting medication reconciliation and home safety assessments.

• 📍 GPS and Indoor Navigation Apps
  Apps like GoodMaps Explore and Seeing AI would help me navigate VA facilities, hospitals, and residential environments independently—allowing me to locate offices, client rooms, and service areas without assistance.

• 🧴 Tactile and Sensory Cues
  I would use textured labels, scent markers, and routine-linked objects to support veterans with dementia or low verbal communication. These strategies promote memory, autonomy, and emotional connection.

• 📞 Remote Access and Telehealth Tools
  I would conduct virtual assessments and consultations using accessible platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Dictation tools and transcription software would support efficient documentation and follow-up.

• 🧘 Movement-Based and Multisensory Activities
  I would design low-vision-friendly activities that promote mobility, memory, and emotional engagement—such as guided chair exercises, tactile memory boxes, and music-based reminiscence therapy. These approaches are especially effective for veterans with cognitive decline or sensory impairments.

• 📂 Accessible Resource Sharing
  I would provide caregivers with accessible formats of educational materials, including audio guides, large-print handouts, and narrated presentations—ensuring families are informed, supported, and empowered.

💼 What I Aim to Accomplish at the VA

Using these tools and strategies, I will be able to:

• Conduct thorough psychosocial assessments and home visits

• Educate veterans and caregivers using accessible formats

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams using secure digital platforms

• Navigate facilities and environments independently

• Support aging veterans with dignity, autonomy, and precision

• Advocate for inclusive, evidence-based practices in veteran care

My lived experience with disability enhances my rapport with clients and deepens my commitment to person-centered care. I welcome questions and am happy to demonstrate how these tools work in practice.Below are some video demonstrations of how these tools work.