Educational Vision Program
Learners who are blind, visually impaired, or deafblind have unique educational needs. These students successfully participate in general education settings given accommodations, tools, and instruction to allow access to visual information. The vision program facilitates student literacy, organizational and functional skills, and safe independent travel in all educational settings.
Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired Services
The Teacher of the Visually Impaired works as a team member with students, families, and teachers to implement individual education plans for each student from birth to age 21 or high school graduation. Available services include:
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Evaluation
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Academic Support: materials and activity adaptation, self-advocacy, organizational skills
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Low vision device and technology instruction
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Braille reading, writing, and technology instruction
Orientation and Mobility Services
The Orientation and Mobility Specialist teaches the concepts and skills needed by students who have visual impairments to move safely, efficiently, and independently. Goals can range from travel around the home and yard for a toddler, in the classroom or school for an elementary age student, to travel in a metropolitan area by a high school student. Instruction may include:
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Evaluation
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Home, school, community environments
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White cane skills
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Travel devices/technology instruction
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Public transportation
For more information please contact:
Amy Ormerod
Teacher of the Blind & Visually Impaired, Orientation & Mobility Specialist
320-257-7344
Resources for Families and Educators
Minnesota Criteria for Visually Impaired
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/rules/?id=3525.1345
Family Connect
www.familyconnect.org/parentsitehome.aspx
Wonder Baby
Little Bear Sees: CVI (Cortical Visual Impairment)
American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology: Eye Conditions
www.aapos.org/terms/conditions
Imagination Library: free print/braille & audio books
www.aph.org/dolly-partons-imagination-library/
National Braille Press: Read Books!
www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/programs/readbooks/readbooks.html
Braille Institute - free print/braille book kits
www.brailleinstitute.org/child-and-youth/special-collections.html
Hadley School: Free Family Education courses
www.hadley.edu/showCourseListing.asp?program=FE
Lighthouse Guild: National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI): http://www.napvi.org