Visual Impairment Advocate: Ms. Tosado

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Today I have Ms. Tosado, who is a fierce advocate to educate others on visual impairments. I found her Instagram page and fell in love with it’s advocacy to help anyone learn more about visual impairments and the tools some people may be using to help guide them. I think pages like these are so important to bring awareness in such a fun and stress free way.

1. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I always wanted to study something related to astronomy, but in High School I decided to work for those with special needs I enjoyed the smiles on their faces when they achieved something.

2. Is there a moment that sticks out to you that you remember from school with a teacher you had growing up?

Of course, I considered that the empathy and love my English teacher showed me during school sticks with me and I try to be that kind of teacher.

3. How long have you been teaching, what state do you teach in, what do you teach, and what did it take for you to get there?

I' been teaching for three years now in Puerto Rico. I started as an itinerant teacher of visual impairments in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Then, I transferred to San Juan district to the Loaiza Cordero Institute. In Puerto Rico, with a B.A. in special education with emphasis in visual impairment you are qualified to teach all 9 points of the Expanded Core Curriculum, a license in O&M isnt needed. However, I did my Master's in O&M study and decided to take the license, due to the pandemic Covid-19 I'm still waiting for centers to open.

4. What is your go-to tool you use for your class and why?

PowerPoint and Microsoft Team. There is so much you can create using PowerPoint, and by giving access to the student of the presentation they are the ones taking the power of the class. Also, kahoot.

5. Is there anything you do to accommodate your students and how often do you find yourself using that accommodation?

Every student is different and there is a particular accommodation for them. I find myself creating video/audio class, TEAM class or module with enlarge print. Each week I create different materials based on their needs.

6. I absolutely love what your instagram stands for and does, what inspired you to create it?

The vague knowledge related with Visual Impairment. There are many questions and misconceptions related to the blind and visually imapired. Constantly I find myself explaining the difference between deaf and blind. My goal is to teach people about visual impairments and to show my students that the impairment is in the world, place or people that surround them, not in them.

7. Any advice for a new teacher?

We don't have an easy job like everybody thinks. We are on a mission and is to educate and form students to be the most independent they can be. Trust your instinct and create that connection with the student, only you and your student know what works best.

8. What does your district's plan look like for teaching?

I can say it’s well presented and is prepared to work the specific goals and objective of each student.

9. A lot of people have been saying they hope things start to change in education since this Pandemic, do you think anything will change from it?

I hope so. However, the pandemic created an impulse to technology, to those who weren't so skilful so that's a big step.

10. Last but not least, where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years I see myself as an Optometrist. Teaching showed me that the world of blind and visually impaired need so much and I want to keep growing in this field.

Thanks for the interview Ms. Tosado!

Happy Teaching :)