The department of Visual Impairments is to provide direct and/or consultative special education services specific to vision loss. The Vision Department provides support to students, teachers, and parents and acts as a liaison with community services, works with the educational team by advising the team to create a classroom environment that encourages independence, academic success, and prepare the student to be the most productive member of society they can be.  

Visual Impairment is a special education service for students who have a medical diagnosis. A child with a visual impairment is one whose vision, even with correction, adversely impacts a child’s educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness in visual acuity, visual field restriction and other visual impairment resulting from a medically documented condition from congenital defects, eye diseases, or injuries to the eye.  

The vision department provides three types of service professionals who provide the following services: 

1. Certified teacher for students with visual impairments (CTVI) is assigned schools to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to visual impairments.  
2. Orientation and mobility (O&M) is that part of the educational process that prepares students with visual impairments to travel independently and safely. 
3. The braillist/tactile materials specialist provides braille embossed materials as determined by the CTVI teacher and the classroom teacher. 

• Interpret Medical Reports 
• Conduct Specialized Assessments and Make Recommendations 
• Actively Participate in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) 
• Recommend Educational & Instructional Strategies 
• Ongoing Observations 
• Use of Natural Environments to Address Goals 
• Communication with Caregivers and Classroom Teachers Direct Instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum 

Vision Specialist are pictured below: Aaron Taylor, Amanda Taylor, Gretchen Hartmann, Melanie Pendergraft, Susan Merryman. Not pictured are Aaron Krough, Rosemary Reed and Lauren Switzer)

Vision Braillist are pictured below: Janet French, Amy Kouvas (not pictured)

Vision Screening Technicians are : Suzanne Davis, (Not pictured are Sherry Turpin, Lisa Stephens, Amy Stambaugh, Jude Wilson and Rachel Zeringue)