Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired 1002 G Avenue ● Vinton, Iowa 52349 State of Iowa, Board of Regents Vision Services in Iowa.

Iowa Educational Services for theBlind and Visually Impaired

1002 G Avenue ● Vinton, Iowa 52349

State of Iowa, Board of Regents

Vision Services in Iowa

Presented by: Justin Ruegg Director, Human Resources June 16, 2014

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Iowa Braille School - PastFounded in 1852Vinton campus opened in 1863

− Long-term residential program− Attended by Mary Ingalls

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Iowa Braille School - Past

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

VI Service Structure - Past

Iowa Braille School

Local School Districts

Area Education Agencies

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Transition

Students Needs Not Being Met• Enrollment at the Braille School fell• Gaps in service delivery were apparent

Change in Approach• By approximately 2010 all preK-12 vision professionals

were transferred to employment of the Iowa Braille School• In 2011 the residential program was closed• 100% outreach for ages birth – 21 overseen by one

agency

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Current Services

Teachers of the Visually Impaired

Orientation and Mobility Specialists

Extended Learning Activities

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Teachers of the Visually Impaired

What Does A TVI Do?• Collaborate with classroom teachers to be sure

students with visual impairments have access to all aspects of the curriculum

• Instruct a student who is blind to read and write braille

• Motivate an infant who is totally blind to engage in touching the parts of a musical toy

• Teach an 11th grader how to interpret a tactile map for his U.S. history class

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Orientation and Mobility Specialist

What Does An OMS Do?• Orient a student who is blind to locate classes, the

cafeteria and the library• Teach long cane travel skills• Teach a teenager who has low vision to read a bus

schedule with a magnifier, catch the appropriate bus, and meet friends at the mall food court

• Instruct a young adult in the use of a GPS device• Teach a child how to safely cross busy streets

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Extended Learning Opportunities

What is the Expanded Core Curriculum?• Social Interaction Skills• Independent Living Skills• Recreation and Leisure Skills• Career Education (Transition)• Technology Skills• Self Determination Skills

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Other Services

• Consultants – Literacy, Math, Technology, Deafblind

• Library Services• Assistive Device Center• Low Vision Clinics• Summer Institute • Family Conference

State of Iowa, Board of Regents Program

Questions?