Formerly Tessa Wright; Tessa Wright Carlsen

January 2017

1

Tessa McCarthy

(Formerly Tessa Wright; Tessa Wright Carlsen)

CONTACT INFORMATION

University of Pittsburgh

5332 S Bouquet St

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Work: 412-648-7308

EDUCATION

Ph.D.August 2010

Special Education: emphasis Visual Disabilities

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

• Dissertation Title: An Assessment of the Effectiveness of Roadside Instruction in Teaching Children with Visual Impairments Street Crossings

M.Ed.May 2006

Special Education: emphasis Orientation and Mobility

University of Louisville

Louisville, KY

B.A.May 2001

Major: Secondary English Education; Minor: French

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY

LICENSURES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND AREAS CONSIDERED HIGHLY QUALIFIED

ACVREPOrientation and mobility

TNSpecial Education Vision Pre K -12

TNEnglish K-12

TNFrench K-12

TNReading Specialist K-6

PROFESSIONAL AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2015-Present University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA

Assistant Professor—Department of Instruction and Learning

2013-2015 North Carolina central University

Durham, NC

Assistant Professor—Department of Curriculum and Instruction

2010-2013 University of Nebraska—Lincoln

Lincoln, NE

Coordinator of the Visual Impairments Program

Assistant Professor of Practice—Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders

2009-2010Williamson County Schools

Franklin, TN

Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments

Summer 2008University of British Columbia

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Teaching Assistant; Course Content Consultant

Fall 2006-Independent Contractor: Orientation and Mobility

2010Nashville, TN

Clients included: Johns Hopkins University

2006St. Joseph’s School for the Blind

Jersey City, NJ

Orientation and Mobility Specialist

2004-2005Children For Children

New York, NY

Program Associate: Americorps

American Printing House for the Blind

Louisville, KY

2004-presentConsultant

2002-2004Educational Research: Research Assistant

2001-2002French National Ministry of Education

Dijon, France

Itinerant English Teacher

1999-2001Fayette County Public Schools

Lexington, KY

Substitute Teacher

1999-2001Paul Laurence Dunbar High School

Lexington, KY

Assistant Coach Forensics

Peer Review Publications

(My married name is Tessa McCarthy. My maiden name is Tessa Wright.)

McCarthy, T., Brown, M., & Nicholls, S. (In review). The 1Touch Project: A Pilot Study of a Program to Teach Individuals Who are Blind and Visually Impaired Self-Defense. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness.

McCarthy, T., Rosenblum, P. L., Johnson, B. G., Dittel, J., & Kearns, D. M. (2016). The artificial intelligence tutor: A supplementary tool for teaching and practicing braille. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 110, 309-322.

Kamei-Hannan, C., McCarthy, T., Pomeroy, B. (2015). Methods in creating the iBraille Challenge mobile app for braille users. Journal on Technology and Persons with Disabilities: Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, 130-144.

Wall Emerson, R., & McCarthy, T. (2014). Orientation and mobility for students with visual impairments: Priorities for research. International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities, 46, 253-280.

Wright (McCarthy), T., & Wolery, M. (2014). Evaluating the effectiveness of roadside instruction in teaching children with visual impairments street crossings. Journal of Special Education,48, 46-58.

Erin, J., & Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011). Learning to write: An analysis of writing samples from participants in the alphabetic braille contracted braille (ABC) study. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 105,389-401.

Wright (McCarthy), T., & Wolery, M. (2011). The effects of instructional interventions related to street crossing and individuals with disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32, 1455-1463.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2010). Looking for power: The possibilities of finding participants in braille research. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 104, 775-780.

Wright (McCarthy), T., Harris, B., & Sticken, E. (2010). A best evidence synthesis of experimental research involving tactile maps and models for mobility. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 104, 95-106.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2009). The role of hand dominance in beginning braille readers. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103, 705-708.

Wright (McCarthy), T., Wormsley, D. P., Kamei-Hannan, C. (2009). Hand movements and braille reading efficiency: Data from the alphabetic braille contracted braille study. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 103, 649-61.

PEER REVIEWED BOOKS AND BOOK CHAPTERS

Holbrook, M.C., McCarthy, T., & Kamei-Hannan, C. (2017). Foundations of education: Volume I history and theory of teaching children and youths with visual impairments. New York, NY: American Foundation for the Blind Press.

Holbrook, M.C., Kamei-Hannan, C. & McCarthy, T. (2017). Foundations of education: Volume II instructional strategies for teaching children and youths with visual impairments. New York, NY: American Foundation for the Blind Press.

McCarthy, T., & Wall Emerson, R. (2017). Reading and interpreting research. In Holbrook, M.C., Kamei-Hannan, C., & McCarthy, T. Foundations of education: Volume II instructional strategies for teaching children and youths with visual impairments. New York, NY: American Foundation for the Blind Press.

Zebehazy, K., & McCarthy, T. (2017). Moving from Assessment to Instruction. In Holbrook, M.C., Kamei-Hannan, C., & McCarthy, T. Foundations of education: Volume II instructional strategies for teaching children and youths with visual impairments. New York, NY: American Foundation for the Blind Press.

McCarthy, T., & Holbrook M. C. (2017). Compensatory Skills. In Holbrook, M.C., Kamei-Hannan, C., & McCarthy, T. Foundations of education: Volume I history and theory of teaching children and youths with visual impairments. New York, NY: American Foundation for the Blind Press.

McCarthy, T. (2016). Teaching street crossing to students with visual impairments: How to teach, not what to teach. Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.

OTHER SCHOLARLY WORKS

Kamei-Hannan, C., McCarthy, T., Pomeroy, B. (in press). Introducing the iBraille Challenge! Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly.

McCarthy, T. (2015). This mattered to me: Visual attention to movement and color in children with cortical visual impairment. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 109(2), 162-164.

McCarthy, T., & Kaiser, J. (2015). North Carolina Central University visually impaired training program. Visual Impairment and Deafblind Education Quarterly, 60(3), 89-93.

Cook, B.G., Carter, E.W., Cote, D. L., Kamman, M., McCarthy, T., Miller, M.L., Scala, G., & Travers, J. (2014). Evidence-based special education in the context of scarce evidence-based practices.Teaching Exceptional Children, 47, 81-84.

McCarthy, T., & Bohlen, J. (2014). The Possibilities for Using K-Sonar with Individuals who are Deaf-Blind. Division of Visual Impairment Quarterly, 59, 33-39.

Lawson, H., Lusk, K., McCarthy, T. (2013). Literacy media decisions for students with visual impairments. Position Paper for the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011). Experiential Learning: Activities for concept development. Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2004, March 9). Hand skills for reading efficiency: A bibliography of resources pertaining to braille reading. Retrieved from

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2008). “Expanding the Core” The 139th Annual Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees and Special Guests of the American Printing House for the Blind [Review of the annual meeting]. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 102, 174-77.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2007). Review of the book A Parents' Guide to Special Education for Children with Visual Impairments. Re:View, 39, 85-87.

GRANTS

McCarthy, T., & Kostewicz, D. E. (In review). Project Certified Orientation and mobility/Behavior specialists (COMBS). Office of Special Education Projects, US Department of Education ($1,112,509). Principal Investigator.

National Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities. (August 2016 – May 2021). Office of Special Education Programs. $241,600.

Equipped for the Future: Transforming Education of Students with Visual Impairments Through Technology and Personnel Preparation. (PI from January 2014 through September 2016). Office of Special Education Programs. $1,165,580.

Personnel Preparation and Support Grant. (2012). Nebraska Department of Education. $162,000.

Personnel Preparation and Support Grant. (2011). Nebraska Department of Education. $165,000.

Orientation and Mobility Street Crossing Pedagogy Grant (2011). American Printing House for the Blind, $2,550.

Personnel Preparation and Program Support Grant. (2010). Nebraska Department of Education. $170,000.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

McCarthy, T., & D’Andrea, F. M. (2017, May). Reinforcing and Assessing Braille Instruction with the iBraille Challenge App: Results of a 16-Week Interventional Study. A concurrent session presentation at the Penn-Del Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Conference. Harrisburg, PA.

Kamei-Hannan, C., & McCarthy, T. (2017, January). Implementation of the IBraille Challenge. A concurrent session presentation at the Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference. Orlando, FL.

D’Andrea, F. M. & McCarthy, T. (2016, April). Introducing the iBraille Challenge. A concurrent session presentation at the Penn-Del Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Conference. Harrisburg, PA.

Kamei-Hannan, C., & McCarthy, T. (2016, April). Introducing the iBraille Challenge. A concurrent session presentation at the Council for Exceptional Children Convention. St. Louis, MO.

Causin, G.F.G., & McCarthy, T. (2014, October). Event planner sensitivity to the needs of individuals with visual impairments. A poster presentation at the IMEX America Conference. Las Vegas, NV.

Rosenblum, P., & McCarthy, T. (2014, July). Using artificial intelligence to reinforce braille instruction. A concurrent session presentation at the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired International Conference. San Antonio, TX.

McCarthy, T. & Rosenblum, P. (2014, July). Using artificial intelligence to reinforce braille instruction. A poster session presentation at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading Conference. Santa Fe, NM.

McCarthy, T. & Rosenblum, P. (2014, April). Using artificial intelligence to reinforce braille instruction. A concurrent session presentation at the North Carolina Conference on Visual Impairment. Winston-Salem, NC.

Wormsley, D. P., & McCarthy, T. (2013, December). Trends in implementation of the I-M-Able approach. A concurrent session presentation at the Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference. Providence, RI.

Lawson, H., & McCarthy, T. (2013, December). Literacy media decisions for students with visual impairments: A position paper of AER. A concurrent session presentation at the Getting in Touch with Literacy Conference. Providence, RI.

McCarthy, T. (2013, July). Hand Movements and Braille Reading Efficiency: Data from the Alphabetic Braille and Contracted Braille Study. A concurrent session presentation at the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading Annual Conference. Hong Kong.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2012, July). The possibilities of using K-Sonar with individuals with cochlear implants. A concurrent session presentation at the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Bellevue, WA.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2012, July). Pedagogical strategies for teaching street crossing. A concurrent session presentation at the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Bellevue, WA.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2012, July). Down and dirty data. A concurrent session presentation at the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Bellevue, WA.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2012, April). An assessment of the effectiveness of roadside instruction in teaching children with visual impairments street crossings. A concurrent session presentation at the Council of Exceptional Children. Denver, CO.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011, December). Down and dirty data: Data collection strategies for the real world. A concurrent session presentation at Getting in Touch with Literacy. Louisville, KY.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011, October). The abacus: It's not just about pushing beads. A primary session presentation at the Fall Foliage Conference. Nebraska City, NE.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011, March). ABC braille study: An overview. A concurrent session presentation at the Spring Fling Conference. Nebraska City, NE.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2010, July). An assessment of the effectiveness of roadside instruction in teaching children with visual impairments street crossings. A concurrent session presentation at the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Little Rock, AR.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2009, November). Finding power: Power analysis and its use in literacy research. A concurrent session presentation at Getting in Touch with Literacy. Costa Mesa, CA.

Wormsley, D., Erin, J., Wall Emerson, R., Wright (McCarthy), T., & Sacks, S. (2009, November). Questions, answers, and more questions from the ABC Braille Study. A concurrent session presentation at Getting in Touch with Literacy. Costa Mesa, CA.

Wright (McCarthy), T., & Boyer, B. (2009, October). The Experiential Learning Kit. A poster presentation at the American Printing House for the Blind Annual Meeting. Louisville, KY.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T, Meiler, C., Lane, K. L., & Casey, A. (2008, November). Function-based intervention: Preschool student with ADHD. A poster presentation at the international conference of the Tennessee Association for Behavior Analysis. Nashville, TN.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2008, October). Time for results and implications: ABC braille study. A concurrent session presentation at Unity Conference. Nashville, TN.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2008, July). Support Canes and O&M: What is our role; how do we teach them. A roundtable discussion at the international conference of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Chicago, IL.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2008, July). Best Evidence: O&M for individuals under 21. A poster presentation at the international conference of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Chicago, IL.

Wall Emerson, R. S., D’Andrea, F. M., & Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2008, July). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Observations and implications. A concurrent session presentation at the international conference of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Chicago, IL.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T., & Wormsley, D. P. (2008, July). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Hand movements in braille reading. A concurrent session presentation at the international conference of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Chicago, IL.

Wormsley, D. P., Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T., D’Andrea, M. F., Sacks, S. Z, Erin, J. & Wall Emerson, R. S. (2008, July). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Results of a longitudinal study. A general session presentation at the international conference of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Chicago, IL.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2008, May). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Hand movements in braille reading. A concurrent session presentation at the Tennessee Disabilities Megaconference. Nashville, TN.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T., Hannan, C. K., & Wormsley, D. P. (2007, December). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Hand movements in braille reading. A concurrent session presentation at Getting in Touch with Literacy. St. Petersburg, FL.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2007, November). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Hand movements in braille reading. A concurrent session presentation at Unity Conference. Nashville, TN.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T., Hannan, C. K., & Wormsley, D. P. (2007, October). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Hand movements in braille reading. A concurrent session presentation at the annual meeting of the American Printing House for the Blind. Louisville, KY.

Poppe, K. & Wright (McCarthy), T. (2003, March). Get aboard the tactile express: The fast track to good tactile graphics. A concurrent session presentation at annual conference of the California and Educators of the Visually Handicapped.

INVITED PRESENTATIONS

McCarthy, T. (2014, August). Down and dirty data: Data collection strategies for real teachers. A presentation at the North Dakota School for the Blind. Grand Forks, ND.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2012, March). Braille is fun for parents. A presentation at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Nebraska City, NE.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2012, Janurary). Preparing teachers to work with students who are blind and visually impaired. A presentation at the American Council of the Blind of Nebraska. Lincoln, NE.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011, October). Championing Braille for Teachers of the Blind. A presentation at the National Foundation of the Blind of Nebraska Convention. Lincoln, NE.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011, March). Braille is fun for parents. A presentation at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Nebraska City, NE.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2011, February). Data collection 301. An in-service presentation for Omaha Public Schools. Omaha, NE.

Wright (McCarthy), T. (2010, October). Visual impairments at UNL. A presentation at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired. Nebraska City, NE.

Wright Carlsen (McCarthy), T. (2008, March). Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study: Results of a Longitudinal Study. A presentation at the New York Institute for Special Education. Bronx, NY.

AWARDS

Outstanding Contributions to the Low Vision Rehabilitation Division of AER; Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

University of Nebraska—Lincoln; College of Education and Human Sciences Scholarly Enhancement Award 2011-2012

Outstanding Dissertation of the Year; Council of Exceptional Children, Division of Visual Impairments 2011

Outstanding Reviewer for AER Journal 2008-2010

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired

Division 7: Low Vision

Division 9: Orientation and Mobility

Division 17: Personnel Preparation Division

Council for Exceptional Children

Division of Visual Impairments

Teacher Education Division

Faculty of 1000

SERVICE

University

• Chair’s Executive Committee
• Technology Committee
• Academic Affairs Committee
• Faculty Student Research Committee
• Teacher Education Committee
• National Center for Leadership in Sensory Disabilities Consortium—Representativefor the University of Pittsburgh
• Higher Education Consortium for Special Education—Representative for the University of Pittsburgh

Professional

• Bureau of Special Education Advisory Education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education
• AER By-Laws and Structures Committee
• Research Committee, Braille Authority of North America
• Past Chair (2014-2016); Chair (2012-2014); Chair Elect (2010-2012), AER Division 7