Depending on your questions or concerns regarding a child/youth who is blind or visually impaired, services might include:
One of our educational consultants might make a visit to help the family and school team:
WSDS offers local, regional, and state trainings throughout the year on topics relating to children and youths with visual impairment. See our Training Calendar for information on upcoming training opportunities.
AA level training on blindness for teachers, paraeducators, and parents.
Thanks to an ARRA* grant from the Infant Toddler Early Intervention Program (ITEIP), WSDS will offer several activities this year to support the needs of birth-to-three year olds who are blind/visually impaired.
*ARRA = American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("stimulus" funds)
Baby Jamboree is a weekend learning experience for families with infants or toddlers who are blind or visually impaired and their brothers and sisters. Families also are asked to bring a "partner" from their early intervention team to learn along with them.
Held at Washington State School for the Blind in Vancouver, participants stay in cottages and enjoy the facilities of the WSSB campus. it's great fun!
Space is limited and priority will be given to families from under-served parts of the state who have not attended before.
For more information, contact Nancy Hatfield at 1-800-572-7000 (or) NHatfield@psesd.org.
Wednesday, April 28:
Preconference Session 1: "From A to O & M: Early Intervention for Young Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired" (Mary Ellen Pesavento & Diane McCutchen)
Thursday, April 29:
A8: "Developmental Vision Milestones within a Play-Based Model" (Tanni Anthony)
B3: "Can You Hear Me Now? Early Auditory Skills of Very Young Children with Visual Impairment" (Tanni Anthony)
B8: "Letting Your Child's Wild Side Out: Raising a Confident Blind Baby, Toddler, Preschooler" (Graciela Tiscareno-Sato)
C8: "You Gotta Know the Rules if You're Gonna Play the Game" (Graciela Tiscareno-Sato)
Friday, April 30:
D13: "The Six C's: Effective Learning Strategies for Children with Multiple Disabilities Including Deaf-Blindness" (Kathee Scoggin)
F14: "Experience Books: An Effective Strategy for Children with Visual Impairment or Deaf-Blindness" (Kathee Scoggin & Katie Humes)
There are other terrific sessions, too. See, for example, D2: "Introduction to Braille" (Danielle Miller from Washington Talking Book & Braille Library).
You might have heard of SKI-HI training (for family-centered services for young children who are deaf/hard of hearing). Coming soon: Similar intensive training on early intervention services for birth-to-three year olds who are blind or visually impaired. This will be offered to service providers who work directly with families of infant/toddlers, e.g., teachers of the blind/visually impaired, orientation & mobility specialists, occupational therapists, infant educators, etc.
Check back in Summer 2010 for more information.
If you are a parent, you might simply want to talk with another parent on the phone, join a listserv to get information, borrow some videotapes or books, or be directed to some great websites. You might want information on training opportunities, or state or national conferences. For more information, check our Resources section.