Blindness Skills Specialist

The primary goal of the Blindness Skills Specialist Program is to enhance the educational performance of students who are blind or visually impaired. A majority of the students who are blind or visually impaired are served within their local school districts. Since visual impairment or blindness is a low incidence disability, many school districts, including teachers, have little experience providing services for students with blindness and may desire assistance when developing educational programs.

Through the Blindness Skills Specialist Program at Missouri State University, the Blindness Skills Specialist is available to help your educational team modify and design instruction in all subject areas including the expanded core curriculum unique to students who are visually impaired. By implementing the instructional techniques your teachers will enhance the educational performance of students with a visual impairment.

The Blindness Skills Program will:

1. Provide Professional Development.
2. Mentor Teachers serving students with a visual impairment.
3. Demonstrate Teaching Strategies.
4. Provide agency referrals.
5. Help school districts coordinate the educational program for students with visual impairment.
6. Act as a liaison for parents, teachers, and school districts.
7. Provide information about available resources to assist families and school districts.

Regional Area Served

The Blindness Skills Specialist Program at Missouri State University in the Agency for Teaching, Leading, and Learning provides professional development for school districts within the counties on the Service Delivery Area Map.

Authorizing Legislation for the Blind Skills Specialist - House Bill 401

The Blindness Skills Specialist Program was established by a House bill in 1999 which required the Special Education Department within DESE to provide Blindness Skills Specialists within the state. For more information regarding this legislation see House Bill 401.

Blindness Skills Workshops

View upcoming Blindness Skills workshops HERE

 

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