Educational
Services
CBVI provides educational services from birth through high school
years to eligible children and their families. These services are
designed to allow students who are visually impaired to participate
equally with other students in regular classroom activities.
Once a child
is found eligible for services CBVI works closely not only with
the child but also with family members and local school personnel.
Teachers of the blind or partially sighted provide educational instruction
to the following students:
Early
Intervention Services (birth to age 3)
CBVI staff will assess a child’s vision and, if eligible,
offer specialized instruction tailored to his or her needs in the
home. CBVI staff also works closely with family members and early
intervention providers and health care providers to assist the child
in making a smooth transition to preschool at age three.
School
Age Services (ages 3 to 21)
CBVI contracts with local school districts to provide comprehensive
services to children in school. These services include assessment
and evaluation of a child’s visual abilities, and when applicable,
instruction in Braille and related skills. Instructors provide information
and training to family members, teachers, child study teams, and
other school personnel. CBVI also will loan local school districts
appropriate adaptive equipment and make aides and special educational
materials available.
Deaf-Blind
Services (birth through 21)
CBVI offers special services to help meet the special needs of children
who have difficulty with both vision and hearing. These include
assessing the level of the child’s impairment, consulting
with family members, teaching staff, and loaning the district special
adaptive equipment and materials.
These special
services are also available to all students when appropriate:
• Training
in how to travel independently
• Social Casework Services
• Eye Health Nursing Services
• Vocation Rehabilitation/Transition
Services
For
more information on the educational services provided by the Commission
for the Blind and Visually Impaired, contact Amelia Ricciardi, Coordinator
of Educational Services at 973-648-6292.
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