Collaborative Outreach and Short-Term Programs at NDVS/SB

Cindy Williams, TSVI and Coordinator of Student Programs

Greetings all!

Each year at this time, in my role as Coordinator of Student Programs, I reflect on and summarize the learning and educational experiences offered through our student short-term programs. This year, I am doing something a little different. Instead, I am writing about who we are and what we do as it relates to both our short-term programs and outreach services. This topic came to mind after receiving an email from the Council of Schools & Services for the Blind national listserv asking: How are services provided by schools or agencies that offer short-term programs along with outreach services? I realized this is likely a question shared by parents, educators, and even individuals we already serve. So, here we go-how do we incorporate student short-term programs with outreach services?

First, I would like to reiterate our mission, which was updated this past fall:
To provide specialized and individualized services for people of all ages who are blind or have low vision by partnering with families, educators, and agencies to empower them in achieving their goals.

Who We Are and What We Do

North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB) provides services for a wide range of vision-related needs including statewide leadership, technical assistance, and specialized services to support children and students who are blind or have low vision. NDVS/SB offers center-based Short-Term Programs (STPs), regionalized outreach services, and consultation to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to support compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). NDVS/SB is a division of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and is located in Grand Forks, with regional offices in Fargo, Jamestown, Rugby, Minot, Dickinson, and Bismarck.

Short-Term Programs (STPs)

Short-Term Programs (STPs) at NDVS/SB provide time-limited, center-based instruction focused on instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). The ECC is a vital curriculum that connects academic learning with essential life skills, helping students who are blind or have low vision prepare for successful and independent lives. These programs typically run three to five days and allow students to periodically attend NDVS/SB or a designated site to enhance skills and receive instruction in ECC areas.

Our STPs are designed for specific age groups, including elementary, middle school, and high school students. Lessons are developed based on input from parents/guardians and LEA staff through submitted goals, informal assessments, and ECC-related checklists. Daily schedules include instruction in ECC areas as well as time for personal adjustment, homework completion, and social interaction.

Teachers and/or paraeducators are welcome to participate in center-based training alongside their students upon request. Following each session, a written report is compiled and shared with parents and the local school and/or IEP team. If an on-site or home visit is desired, arrangements can be made through our outreach staff. NDVS/SB upholds the Council of Schools & Services for the Blind (COSB) Code of Ethics and is committed to providing high-quality programs and services, as well as leadership in the ongoing improvement of services for students who are blind or have low vision.

Eligibility includes students with low vision or blindness who are functioning at or near grade level (within three years academically) and who are able to independently meet their physical and personal hygiene needs. Our schedules are packed with fun and engaging learning opportunities!

Outreach Services: Birth Through High School

NDVS/SB student Outreach Services supports children from birth through graduation from high school by providing assessment, consultation, and technical assistance to families and LEAs. Outreach services include Functional Vision Evaluations, Learning Media Assessments, Assistive Technology assessments, and evaluations of learned visual skills. These assessments are conducted by certified Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs), who may participate as members of IFSP or IEP teams in accordance with IDEA.

TSVIs provide recommendations for developmentally appropriate activities, accommodations, and instructional strategies to support access to the general education curriculum and the Expanded Core Curriculum. For infants and toddlers, TSVIs may provide support focused on visual efficiency and early visual skill development in collaboration with early intervention teams. Once a child is school-aged, the LEA remains responsible for case management and the provision of FAPE, with the local TSVI typically serving as the primary provider of vision-related services.

LEAs and local TSVIs may contact NDVS/SB for consultation and support, particularly in the areas of assessment and the ECC. When a LEA does not employ a TSVI, NDVS/SB may serve as a primary source of consultation and support related to the student's visual needs. Outreach services are individualized and provided in accordance with NDVS/SB Outreach Guidelines. Service models may include periodic monitoring, scheduled consultation, or intermittent direct services, with frequency determined by student need and educational relevance.

Additional outreach services include interpretation of eye reports, ongoing consultation, and serving as a resource regarding specific visual impairments. While NDVS/SB supports and supplements instruction in all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum, the LEA retains responsibility for daily instruction and direct educational services, including braille instruction when identified as necessary through a Learning Media Assessment. NDVS/SB does not provide case management or assume LEA responsibilities under IDEA.

NDVS/SB is dedicated to helping parents and educators improve the quality of education for children with low vision or blindness throughout North Dakota. Referrals for short-term programs and outreach services may come from parents, local school personnel, early intervention services, medical personnel, or other related agencies.

NDVS/SB offers a variety of services, including:

• Direct services in the home or local educational setting
• Functional Vision Evaluations, CVI Assessments, and Learning Media Assessments
• Consultative services for planning appropriate interventions with local early intervention specialists and schools
• IFSP and IEP recommendations, including accommodations
• Multidisciplinary evaluations
• Vision Resource Center/Library, including APH products and a Sensory Education Library (lending materials)
• Orientation and Mobility services
• Transition services
• In-services, presentations, and workshops

To receive Outreach Services, please contact the Regional Coordinator in your area (see the map on our website), or contact our main office at (701) 795-2700 to be connected. For additional information about Short-Term Programs or to register for a program, contact Student Program Coordinator Cindy Williams at (701) 795-2704 or [email protected].