department for the blind and vision impaired

1. Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired By Vocation Rehabilitation Counselor Team James Carroll, Ansha Tang & Denise Stuck Pam Pendleton Regional Manager Timothy Brown

3. Statistics 34, 627 Considered Legally Blind in VA 232,671 Visually Impaired in VA 7,712,091 Total population in VA Employment statistic: According to the 2006 Disability Status Report, the employment rate of working-age Americans (ages 21-64) with sensory impairments was 47.5% percent. The employment rate is the percentage of all people who have a job. Employment statistic: According to the 2002 Household Economic Studies, 55.3% of Americans 21 to 64 years of age who have difficulty seeing words or letters were employed.

4. What is Legal Blindness? Visual Acuity is 20/200 in both eyes best corrected Visual field is 20 degrees or less. About ten percent of those determined to be legally blind, have no vision. The rest have some vision, from light perception to relatively good acuity. Most blind persons have some residual vision.

5. What is a visual impairment? Low vision Partial sight Legally blind Blind

6. TERMS Legally Blind Visual acuity is 20/200 best corrected in both eyes Visual field less than 20 degrees Light Perception Totally Blind Refractive Errors Astigmatism Farsighted Nearsighted Residual Sight / Low Vision 20/70 is best corrected in best eye More than light perception Double Vision Color Blind Night Blindness

7. PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY ON PARTIAL SIGHT

8. Four Basic Program Streams Educational Services Rehabilitation Teaching Orientation & Mobility Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling

9. Educational Services Provides consultation to Teachers of the Visually Impaired Provides goods and services to children ages 0 - aged out of high school Provides on-going guidance and support to families

10. Rehabilitation Teaching Teaches independent living skills within the home and community Coordinates community services Provides eye reports and Low Vision Exams as needed

11. Orientation and Mobility Independent Travel Skills Orientation within the home and community Public Transportation

12. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling Reduce Barriers to Employment Coordinate services including: Vocational Counseling and Guidance Vocational Assessments Vocational Training Job Development and Placement On the Job Training, Internships, Unpaid Work Experience, Summer Work Experience Provides Eye Reports, Low Vision Exams as needed Provides Low Vision Aides and training Intensive Core Blindness Skills Training to empower individuals to live independently and adjust to loss of vision at the Vocational Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Richmond, Virginia Rehabilitation Engineering Evaluations and Equipment for Employed and College Students to help them achieve their vocational goals Consultation Community Outreach

13. The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired Operated by the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI), was established in 1970 to provide comprehensive adjustment services to severely visually impaired Virginians. For a blind person, using senses other than sight to "see" may be difficult at first, but with the proper training, it can be much easier. That is our goal at The Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired. The center teaches blind persons strategies and skills to adapt to living without sight, and we teach people with partial vision ways to use their remaining sight more effectively. We encourage students to identify their abilities and choose the course best suited for them. As a result, the blind and visually impaired can lead more independent, more successful, and more satisfying lives. To find out more about VRCBVI services:

14. Rehabilitation Engineering is provided through Vocational Rehabilitation Assistive Technology Assessments Provides Technical Assistance for employees and employers Consultation Services

15. RANDOLPH SHEPPARD VENDING FACILITY PROGRAM /Business Opportunities for the Blind Enactment of the Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936, & amended in 1954 and 1974 is to provide blind persons with employment, expand opportunities, and encourage self-support through the operation of food vending facilities in federal buildings which include cafeterias, snack bars, and vending machines . DBVI / BOB recruit, train, license and place individuals who are blind as operators of vending facilities located on federal and other government properties. In 2007, a total of 2,545 blind vendors operated 3,031 vending facilities; and generated $713.2 million, with the average vendor earnings of $46,753.

16. Professionals with Vision Loss

17. Assistive Technology:Video Magnifiers

18. Assistive Technology: Note Takers

19. Assistive Technology:Braille Displays

20. Assistive Technology: PDAs

21. Assistive Technology: GPS

22. General Tips Etiquette considered appropriate when interacting with people with disabilities is based primarily on respect and courtesy. It is important to always use person-first, affirmative phrases such as person with a disability, person who uses a wheelchair, person who is deaf, person with a physical disability, etc. Do not use negative phrases such as retarded, disabled, confined to a wheelchair, wheelchair-bound, crippled, handicapped, etc.

23. More General Tips When introduced to a person with a disability, it is appropriate to offer to shake hands. If offering assistance, wait until the offer is accepted, then listen to or ask for instructions. Treat adults as adults. Relax. Do not be embarrassed when using common expressions such as “See you later,” or “Did you hear about that?” that seem to relate to a person’s disability. Do not be afraid to ask questions when you are unsure of what to do.

24. Tips for Communicating with Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired Speak to the individual when you approach him or her. State clearly who you are; speak in a normal tone of voice. When in a group, remember to identify yourself and the person to whom you are speaking. Never touch or distract a service dog without first asking the owner. Tell the individual when you are leaving. Be descriptive when giving directions. Verbally give the person information that is visually obvious to individuals who can see (ex. when approaching steps, describe how many there are).

25. Remember Relax Treat the individual with dignity, respect, and courtesy Listen to the individual Offer assistance but do not insist or be offended if the offer is not accepted

26. Etiquette: Service Animals Do not distract a service animal while he/she is working Common faux pas include: Petting Feeding Making “cute” noises (barking, kissing, whistling, cooing, etc.) Calling the service animal Grabbing the service animal by harness, leash, or collar

27. Etiquette: Service Animals Ask the handler before you interact with a service animal Guide dogs = eyes Assistance dogs = ears, hands, and/or feet Be courteous When handler is engaged in conversation, avoid interrupting to inquire about the service animal Ask if the handler has a few minutes to answer questions about the service animal

28. References http://www.lboro.ac.uk/disabilities/pages/practices-blind.html http://www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs13txt.htm http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=44&TopicID=189&DocumentID=374 http://www.icevi.org/publications/icevix/wshops/0088.html http://www.uni.edu/walsh/blindadvice.html http://www.pbs.org/teachersource/prek2/issues/702issue.shtm http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/vision.html#sect3 http://www.uni.edu/walsh/blindresources.html http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000324854

29. References For more about stereotypes and the media:“Media and Images of Disability: The world of TV” PowerPoint presentation by Jennifer Brayton, Ph.D. For more about etiquette:http://www.unitedspinal.org/ Other Resources www.bgsu.edu/offices/sa/disability

30. Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired Contact: Fairfax Regional Office 11150 Fairfax Blvd., Suite 502 Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-359-1100 FAX: 703-359-1111 Email: Timothy.Brown@dbvi.virginia.gov

31. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Team James.Carroll@DBVI.virginia.gov 703-359-1100 Ansha.Tang@DBVI.virginia.gov 703-359-1260 Pam.Pendleton@DBVI.virginia.gov 703-277-3581 Denise.Stuck@DBVI.virginia.gov 703-277-3599