Orientation and Mobility for Individuals who are Deafblind
Meet Our Orientation and Mobility Consultant
Chris Tabb is an Orientation and Mobility Specialist working to advance the independence of students and clients, provide training opportunities and knowledge exchange for professionals and families, and bring accessible information to the community. Chris has worked as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Texas, providing services in residential programs, as an itinerant, an outreach specialist providing technical assistance, and as a private contractor. He enjoys working with all age groups, including infants and toddlers, school age students, adults, and senior populations. Chris’ greatest professional interests are all things Orientation and Mobility, as well as Assistive Technology. You can contact Chris Tabb at tabbc@tsbvi.edu at anytime!
What Does He Do?
Consultation
As part of the Deafblind Team and Outreach Programs at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI), Chris meets with teams, families, and students both virtually and face to face. He is also available in less formalized ways, to answer questions, provide resources, and to help connect with others who can provide input and support. Though visual impairment is a statistically small population, and those in the deafblind world even smaller, we are fortunate that technology has allowed us to connect with experts all over the world. Consultation often includes connecting with others who may be half a world away but how have tremendous experience to offer.
Training
Chris provides training locally, regionally, statewide, nationally, and internationally. He has an array of topics prepared and practiced that can be the focus of training, or a new training tailored to your unique needs can be prepared.
Collaboration
In Texas there is regular collaboration with our Education Service Centers (ESC), and beyond Texas, Chris collaborates with a network of professionals internationally as well as organizations and Professional Learning Communities such as Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association (OMSA), Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) and the Subject Matter Expert Committee (SME), Council of Schools for the Blind (COSB), Paths to Literacy, etc.
Product Development
The development and sharing of resources, includes Sound Travels, a set of tools for Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Audiologists, Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TDHH), and others. LiveBinders are another set of products that are freely available to educational teams and families; from mentors and role models for young people to evaluation resources, options abound.