Techie TVI Meetups

https://wssb.wa.gov/catt

What is a Techie TVI Meetup?

An informal gathering of people interested in chatting, troubleshooting, and exchanging ideas about technology for blind and low vision accessibility. The gathering might focus on a specific device or app, a type of device or app, or workflows that support technology and access to information for blind and low vision students.

What are the goals of a Techie TVI Meetup?

• Empower communities of practice that promote equitable access to information
• Foster communities of practice dedicated to blind and low vision accessibility
• Build local networks of support in learning and teaching access technology with blind and low vision students
• Encourage community advocacy around implementing access technology, accessibility initiatives, and inclusive programs

Who can host a Techie TVI Meetup?

Anyone! Although TVI is an acronym that stands for “Teacher of the Visually Impaired” (a.k.a. Teacher of Blind and Low Vision Students), we encourage anyone related to the education of blind and low vision students to host or attend a Techie TVI Meetup. Hosts and attendees may include but not be limited to:

• Teachers of blind and low vision students;
• Parents or guardians of blind and low vision students;
• Individuals who support access technology in a community space (ex. librarians, makerspace staff, museum educators, coding instructors);
• Anyone who uses technology to meet personal access needs;
• Assistive technology specialists;
• Alternate media specialists;
• General education teachers
• Braille transcribers and paraprofessionals;

When inviting people to a Techie TVI Meetup, we strongly encourage priority inclusion of blind and low vision individuals–and others from within a disability community–who can contribute perspectives and expertise as end users of assistive/access technology.

Where can I host a Techie TVI Meetup?

Anywhere that can foster incidental learning through conversation and gathering! A meetup location might as informal as a restaurant, brewery/winery, park, or backyard. It could be more formal and take place on a library, school, or work campus. Meetups do not have to be formal workshops and therefore do not require a traditional training format.

What do I need in order to host a Techie TVI Meetup?

Meetups are dedicated to promoting blind and low vision accessibility with a focus on building community around this topic. Hosts do not need to be experts themselves; the purpose of building community is to empower shared and diverse pockets of expertise across groups of people who can facilitate a greater knowledge base as a whole. All you need is a few interested people and a place to gather.

How can CATT-NW support a Techie TVI Meetup*?

CATT-NW can offer any of the following resources, per request of the meetup host(s):

• Continuing Education Units: ACVREP, WA Clock Hours
• Sponsor a meal at the local per diem rate (no alcohol)
• Provide remote AT support with a CATT-NW trainer
• Send a CATT-NW t-shirt for the meetup host(s) and training materials for participants
• $250 total honorarium for the meetup host (shared among multiple hosts if there is more than one)

*These supports are only available for Meetups hosted within the CATT-NW training region

Ready to host a Techie TVI Meetup?

• Spend 2-minutes and submit a form to Request Support for a Techie TVI Meetup
• Invite people to your event
• Share the invitation and any event documentation (ex. flyers, posters) with CATT-NW
• Optional: post on social media about your event and tag @cattnorthwest
• Take pictures of your event and share with CATT-NW when the event is finished