HEIDI A. MUNSCHY, M.ED.
Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College
600 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
(401) 456-8976
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
• Twenty-eight years experience providing instruction to students with single and multiple disabilities and varying degrees of vision loss in a variety of school settings
• Adjunct faculty for University of Massachusetts Boston course Education of Students with Visual Impairments, Braille Communications I, Braille Communications II
• Program Coordinator for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists
• State Liaison for University of Massachusetts Boston Personnel Preparation Program
EDUCATION
2005 University of Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts
Supplemental Education in Teaching Expanded Core Curriculum via
Perkins Summer Institute
2002 University of Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts
Supplemental Education in Deafblind Studies via Perkins Outreach
Program
1998 University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona
Supplemental Education in Deafblind Studies
1995 Boston College Boston, Massachusetts
Master of Education, Vision Studies
1994 Rhode Island College Providence, Rhode Island
Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education, Math Major
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2000 to Present Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College, Rhode Island Vision Education and Services Program
Program Coordinator and Certified Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments
• Oversee program development for 9 Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments and 4 Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists.
• Communication and consultation with school district administrators
• Communicate and collaborate with Rhode Island Department of Education, Rhode Island Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Insight, TechACCESS and other community agencies
• Serve as State Liaison to University of Massachusetts Boston's Professional Preparation graduate program
• Perform functional vision and learning media assessments
• Instruction and implementation of a broad based skills set to children who are blind or visually impaired. Skills include Literary, Nemeth and Music braille codes, abacus, handwriting, keyboarding, concept development, use of assistive technology, use of low vision aids, utilization of residual vision, and other content areas of the disability specific expanded core curriculum
• Provide consultation to school-based personnel regarding adaptation of curriculum materials and for successful integration into the most appropriate classroom setting
• Assist in the development and implementation of individualized education plans
• Refer families and school districts to appropriate agencies for educational and recreational materials, as well as activities and support services
2004 to Present University of Massachusetts Boston Boston, Massachusetts
Adjunct Faculty
• Instructor of graduate level courses Education of Students with Visual Impairments, Braille Communications I and Braille Communications II.
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
2021 Educational Products Advisory Committee, American Printing House for the Blind
2020-Present Governor's Advisory Council on Blindness
2020-Present Board of Directors, Northeast Chapter of Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NE/AER)
2020-Present Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired (AER) Leadership Committee
2019-Present Board of Directors, Insight
2015-2022 Ex Officio Trustee, American Printing House for the Blind
2016 Reviewer of PARCC Assessments
2016 Participant in multistate standard setting study being conducted by
Educational Testing Service (Princeton, NJ) for the Braille Proficiency Panel test.
2013 Conference Co-Chair, Getting In Touch With Literacy
2012, 2004 Committee Chair, NE/AER Conference
2001-2005 Board Member, Northeast Chapter of Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NE/AER)
1999-2000 Vice President, Arizona Chapter of Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (Arizona AER)
1998-2000 Vice President, Arizona Itinerant Teachers of the Visually Impaired
1997-1998 President, Arizona Itinerant Teachers of the Visually Impaired
1998-2000 Cooperating Teacher for student teachers and interns enrolled in the
graduate program for Vision Studies at University of Arizona
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
1995-Present Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired (AER)
1995-2000 Arizona Itinerant Teachers of the Visually Impaired (AITVI)
