University of Kentucky Visual Impairment Program

09/23/2026

🎉 **Congratulations to UK TVI Graduate Kimmie Curtis!** 🎉

We are so incredibly proud to celebrate Kimberly Rena Curtis, a 2022 graduate of the University of Kentucky TVI Program, for being named one of three finalists for the 2026 Special Education Teacher of the Year!💙

Kimmie currently serves as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) at the Kentucky School for the Deaf, where she works with students who are DeafBlind. Her dedication, compassion, creativity, and commitment to her students make a difference every single day.

Kimmie is making an incredible impact—not only in the lives of her students and their families, but also in the field of visual impairment and DeafBlind education. We are so proud to call her a UK TVI graduate and even more proud of the light she shines wherever she goes.✨

Congratulations, Kimmie! We are cheering you on! 💙🎉

We are proud to celebrate KSD’s own Kimmie Curtis, one of three finalists for the 2026 Kentucky Special Education Teacher of the Year! 💚🤍

Kimmie brings passion, dedication, and care to her work with students. She believes in their potential, encourages them to grow, and works to help each one succeed. Her commitment to our students and the KSD community makes this recognition especially meaningful.

Please join us in congratulating Kimmie on this well-deserved honor! 🎉

09/22/2026

What a fun and hands-on weekend of learning in our Visual Impairment Program! 👁️💙
Our students spent the weekend diving into anatomy by creating eye models, dissecting cow and pig eyes, and practicing Functional Vision Assessments (FVAs) on one another.
A huge thank you to Connie Hill from the Kentucky School for the Blind for joining us and sharing her expertise during our eye dissections! 🐄🐖👁️
These in-person weekends are such a great opportunity for our students to connect what they learn in class to real-world practice—and there was definitely no shortage of learning, laughter, and a few “wow!” moments along the way! 😊
So proud of our TVI students and the hands-on experiences they are gaining to better serve students who are blind or low vision! 💙

09/18/2026

The University of Kentucky is hosting the 4th annual Canetucky, an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) competition for students with visual impairments to show off and demonstrate their skills. Prizes will be awarded.
Open to Kentucky students with visual impairments, ages 12 and up who have received instruction from an O&M specialist.

Student Registration Online Form
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/wH5nKDdqU8

Student Skill Inventory - to be completed with input from their TVI and O&M instructor
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/HTv0WEFbgW

Location: University of Kentucky, Lexington

When: October 15, 2026, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Lunch provided.

Registration deadline is October 6.

Contact me at justin..[email protected]

09/09/2026

🎿 **EXTREME MOBILITY (XMO) 2027 — KENTUCKY IS GOING!** 🏔️

We’re excited to announce that Kentucky will be heading to **Extreme Mobility (XMO) 2027** in Colorado!

📅 **Trip Dates:** February 21–27, 2027
✈️ Departing from and returning to Louisville (SDF)

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must:
• Be **15–32 years old**
• Live in Kentucky
• Have a visual impairment and receive/have received services from a **TVI or COMS**
• No previous skiing or snowboarding experience is required!

**10 athlete spots are available.** First-time XMO participants will be prioritized, but everyone is encouraged to apply.

🏔️ What’s Covered?

For accepted athletes, the following are covered:
✈️ Round-trip airfare from Louisville
🚐 Ground transportation
🏨 Lodging
⛷️ Adaptive winter sports lessons & activities
🎿 Assistance with gear for first-time attendees

📝 Apply by October 23, 2026

Complete the **KAVI XMO 2027 Athlete Application**. (Application attached to this post). Early applications are encouraged!

Applicants will be notified of their status by **November 2, 2026**.

📧 **Questions?**
Amanda Lannan — [email protected]
Michele Brown — [email protected]

We can’t wait to **hit the slopes with you in 2027!** 🎿❄️

Please share this post with students, clients, families, and anyone who may be interested!

09/01/2026

This Wrestling camp is an introductory wrestling practice only for the visually impaired, for anyone wanting to test the waters of Wrestling. It is just an introduction, meaning anyone can wrestle for as little as they want to. They can just come and watch or can come and go through the entire introduction. The event will be coached by 5 coaches, one of the Trinity high school coaches. We are excited for September 3rd, and hope many people will show up! - Kendall, Sacred Heart Model Student

08/30/2026

We are so excited to welcome TVI Cohort 14 and O&M Cohort 5 to the University of Kentucky! 💙🤍
Our new students spent the weekend at the Kentucky School for the Blind, where they met their Outreach Consultants and members of the KSB Charitable Foundation, toured the American Printing House for the Blind, and began building the hands-on skills they will use throughout their careers.
They practiced hand-under-hand, human guide techniques, and Braille using both the slate and stylus and Perkins Brailler. These experiences are such an important part of preparing future Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and Orientation & Mobility Specialists.
We are thrilled to have so many new professionals entering the field and can't wait to see the impact they will make for students and families across Kentucky! 💙🦯📚⠃⠗⠁⠊⠇⠇⠑

08/15/2026

What a great evening supporting an organization that means so much to our community! 🧁💙
The UK VI Team participated in the Cupcake Classic 3K to support VIPS (Vision Interventions and Parental Supports). It was a wonderful evening of celebrating VIPS, our community, and the incredible work they do for children and families.
We also loved getting to snap a picture with recent UK TVI graduate Emily Johnson, who now works at VIPS, along with the rest of the amazing VIPS team!
We love seeing the impact our graduates are making and the connections they are building across the field of visual impairment.

08/02/2026

We are so proud to see so many past and current students from our TVI and O&M programs at the AER International Conference in Louisville, Kentucky!
Watching our students grow into dedicated professionals, continue their learning, present, network, and advocate for individuals who are blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind is incredibly rewarding. It is an honor to be a small part of their journey.
We love seeing the UK family represented so well.
We had to take two photos of students to catch them all and I think we still missed a few.

07/19/2026

Path Camp Day 7
As PATH Camp comes to a close, our students packed up, moved out of the dorms, and took time to reflect on everything they learned throughout the week. It was inspiring to watch them step outside their comfort zones, try new things, build confidence, and create lasting friendships. We had an incredible week and are so proud of all they accomplished!
Here are a few more photos from this past week’s adventures and memories. Thank you to everyone who helped make PATH Camp such a success!
Stay tuned for dates and registration information for our PATH Fall Retreat—we can't wait to see everyone again!