TTAC Services
The Virginia Department of Education’s state-wide Training & Technical Assistance Centers (TTACs) provide professional development and support designed to assist schools in addressing accountability and improvement goals for students with disabilities.
The VDOE's TTAC at Radford University serves public schools, teachers, students, and parents of Southwest Virginia through assistance that brings about systematic change in the way schools serve children and youth. TTAC services are provided primarily through embedded professional development.
Be sure to visit our Focus Areas and Projects pages for more specific information and support options.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our coordinators are available to assist you virtually or via phone and email. Continue to check our website for updates and resources, and don’t hesitate to reach out to our coordinators directly by email or submit a Request for Services if you have any questions or need further assistance.
New! Co-Teaching Resources Website
Please visit our separate Co-Teaching Resources Website for information and resources about co-planning, instructional models, co-assessing, building relationships, roles/responsibilities, co-teaching virtually, and specially designed instruction.
What is an Ombudsman?
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has developed a one page, easy-to-understand, comprehensive summary of the role and responsibilities of the Parent Ombudsman for Special Education that addresses the specific supports the Parent Ombudsman can provide to parents. This Ombudsman for Special Education flyer is housed on our newly created Parent Ombudsman for Special Education webpage.
For more information on the role of the Parent Ombudsman at the VDOE, please refer to Superintendent's Memo 040-21: Parent Ombudsman for Special Education.
You may also contact our Special Education Parent Ombudsman, Gloria Dalton, directly at Gloria.Dalton@doe.virginia.gov or toll free, by phone, at (800) 422-2083.
Dyslexia: A Deeper Understanding
A six-module series presenting information around a deeper understanding of dyslexia is now available through the Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at William & Mary website. The series was created by a team of TTAC specialists from across the commonwealth, parents of children with dyslexia, and experts in the field of dyslexia. This online learning experience provides information around topics related to dyslexia:
Virginia Legislation Related to Dyslexia and Reading
- Definition of Dyslexia within the Administrative Code of Virginia and the International Dyslexia Association
- Prevalence and Characteristics of Dyslexia
- Assessment and Progress Monitoring
- Instruction Examining the Five Components of Reading
- Social Emotional Impact of Dyslexia
- Accommodations and Assistive Technology
By following this link you will launch the online series.
An introduction to the series presents an overview of the modules, followed by links to each. A certificate is available at the end of the individual modules.
Enjoy your exploration of this information!
Interactive Map – Reopening of School Divisions in the Commonwealth
The Virginia Department of Education has created an interactive map that illustrates how the Commonwealth’s 132 school divisions are reopening in August and September. The map is updated as VDOE learns of decisions by local school boards to revisit reopening plans approved earlier in the summer.
Information Regarding Phased School Reopening
Dr. James Lane, Virginia's Superintendent of Public Schools, issued guidance to assist Virginia’s 132 school divisions as they implement the phased approach to reopening schools. The guidance document, “Recover, Redesign, Restart 2020,” includes recommendations to protect the health and well-being of students, and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on learning, during each of the three phases of the governor’s reopening plan. The information contained in this plan is continually updated, so please use the link to check it often.
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is committed to providing school divisions with additional updates as they become available, and has created a new School Reopening Frequently Asked Questions page that pertains specifically to the phased reopening guidance.
U.S. Department of Education Releases Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide
The U.S. Department of Education has released a Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide, a resource to help parents and guardians understand how digital tools can provide tailored learning opportunities, engage students with course materials, encourage creative expression, and enrich the educational experience.
This guide aims to help all parents and caregivers, including those who have limited experience with digital tools, those who are experts with these tools, and anywhere in between. Each section starts with foundational pieces and builds from there.
COVID-19 INFORMATION LINKS
The Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Department of Special Education and Student Services (SESS) continues to update the special education and student services specific Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document. This document is a supplement to the general agency VDOE FAQ document that contains more general inquiries. You can find the FAQ and its updates on the VDOE website link below.
The Virginia Department of Education web page link below provides division and building-level administrators, school health coordinators and educators with ready access to up-to-date resources and information about COVID-19 and the steps schools should take to safeguard the health of students and staff.
This link from the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services provides guidance for addressing the Risk of COVID-19 in Preschool, Elementary and Secondary Schools While Serving Children with Disabilities.
Office of Student Services Learning and Resource Center
The VDOE Office of Student Services has partnered with the Center for Implementation and Evaluation of Educational Systems (CIEES) at ODU to develop a one-stop professional development and resource collection for school leaders and specialized instructional support personnel (SISP) such as school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, school nurses, and administrators.
New VDOE Virtual Teaching & Learning Hub!
Visit the Virtual Teaching & Learning Hub to discover best practices for supporting virtual learning, find tips on lesson planning and assessment strategies, and access professional learning resources.
VDOE Social Emotional Learning Webpage (NEW)
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has added a new webpage to address social emotional learning (SEL). The VDOE’s social emotional learning (SEL) efforts are driven by our commitment to ensure that every student in Virginia attends a school that maximizes their potential and prepares them for the future: academically, socially, and emotionally.
What Families of Students With Disabilities Need to Know During COVID-19 School Closure
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) cares about the well-being of both you and your child, especially as we face the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all in this together and our first priority is to keep our families and ourselves safe by seeking out meaningful supports. We should make every effort to stay positive and patient with one another and be compassionate in the understanding that everyone--administrators, teachers, students, and families--are going through this together. Please consider the following tips and resources when working with your child’s school team.
TIPS AND RESOURCES FOR CONSIDERATION
Students with Disabilities in Mathematics: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) is a companion to the Evidenced Based Specially Designed Instruction in Mathematics Resource Guide. This document provides an overview of the characteristics of mathematics disability, as well as information about accommodations, modifications, and assistive technology that can support a student with a disability in mathematics.
Tips for Successful Communication with Families During Online Learning
Online learning has become the new normal for many students across the nation which has presented challenges communicating with students and families. This resource was developed to provide guidance to families for successful communication during online learning.
Special Education Instructional Services (SEIS) Resource Repository
The Department of Special Education and Student Services, Office of Instructional Services has previewed new instructional resources to benefit educators and instructional leaders in the field. These resources are focused on serving students with disabilities on a variety of topics and content areas, and are reflective of the current challenges of serving students with disabilities during extended school closures as a result of COVID-19.
Questions about the resources can be directed to the office's email address at spedinstruction@doe.virginia.gov.
New Resource from NCEO
The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) recently published Five Formative Assessment Strategies to Improve Distance Learning Outcomes for Students with Disabilities. This Brief describes the use of formative assessment processes with students with disabilities during distance learning. Formative assessment is important for all kinds of learning, and especially focuses students on learning and evidence of learning. This Brief presents five strategies that can be used to support student understanding of their own learning. This has the potential to be a powerful antidote to the “check-box” approach some students may bring to online learning where they focus on compliance with following directions and completing a list of assignments.
UFLI Virtual Instruction Resources: Teaching Reading Online
This is a six part recorded webinar series for teachers, tutors, and parents to support online reading instruction. The topics include: an introduction to teaching reading online, a virtual learning resource hub, online tech tools, management tips, and K-2 and 3-5 literacy instruction. Click HERE to access any of these recorded sessions.
Additional Resources from VDOE
Virginia Learns Anywhere
As part of VDOE's ongoing commitment and work to provide support to school divisions, a Continuity for Learning (C4L) Task Force has been working on a guidance document to share with school divisions for educators to meet the immediate needs of supporting learning outside our brick and mortar classrooms. This document, Virginia Learns Anywhere, is available online.
Many educators from across the Commonwealth participated in the development of this document. A huge thank you to all who answered the call and worked around the clock to ensure we are maximizing the potential of all learners anywhere.
New Learning Disabilities in Mathematics Companion Guides
The Learning Disabilities in Mathematics Resources page includes links to two new VDOE companion guides. Check out Students with Disabilities in Mathematics: Frequently Asked Questions and Evidence-Based Specially Designed Instruction in Mathematics.
Comprehensive Literacy Webinar Series
The Comprehensive Literacy Webinar Series focuses on best practices in literacy instruction and resources available to school divisions. Through the diverse expertise of our partners and presenters, the Virginia Department of Education's goal is to offer timely, research-based, and instructionally sound sessions to Virginia educators. Webinars take place on Thursday afternoons for the next several weeks at 3:00. Recordings are being made available.
Open Educational Resources
#GoOpenVA - Open Educational Resources. Virginia's teachers are encouraged to utilize the free instructional resources available through the #GoOpenVA website. These resources are available to all Virginia educators using their local division log-in credentials.
A selection of resources from local school divisions has been uploaded to the Open Educational Resource (OER) to the COVID-19 Extended Closing Resources Collection. School divisions are encouraged to add instructional content to Virginia's OER repository, in general, but items specifically related to this closure can be uploaded into this collection through the goopenva.org website. For additional information, please review Superintendent's Memo 013-20.
Just in Time Mathematics Quick Checks are Now Available!
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Just in Time Mathematics Quick Checks are formative assessments that align to the 2016 Mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL). These resources, developed by Virginia teachers and mathematics leaders, are designed to help teachers identify students with unfinished learning and assist in planning instruction to fill potential gaps “just in time.”
Focus areas and projects
VDOE Assistive Technology Network
The Assistive Technology Network of Virginia addresses priorities of VDOE with coordination, implementation, and dissemination of information about the laws which define AT devices and services, the process of AT Consideration by Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams, AT assessment, Augmentative and Augmentative Communication (AAC), and AT resources.
In support of these priorities, the network has several initiatives which include:
- Developing resources and documents for AT Considerations and Assessment
- Developing and supporting local and regional AT teams with information, resources and training, including the annual Virtual TechKnowledgy Conference
- Integrating AT solutions across the curriculum
For more information, visit the Assistive Technology Network website.
School Divisions Served by Radford University TTAC
| Region 6 Schools |
Region 7 Schools | ||
|---|---|---|---|
VDOE Regional TTACS
The TTAC at Radford University works collaboratively with other centers and organizations across the state of Virginia. The TTACs at Virginia Tech and Radford University share a special partnership, working together to serve the needs of Superintendents’ Regions 6 and 7.
Regional TTAC Links:
- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
- Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA
- The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
- George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
- James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
- Radford University, Radford, VA
The TTAC Online website was created by VDOE to be a resource for professionals and family members of children and youth with disabilities (birth to 22). The website offers a wide range of Resources, Events (training, conferences, and webinars/webcasts) and Online Training opportunities in the form of Webshops and www.Workshops.
