Blind/Partially Sighted (PDF)

Parent Handbook — Section IVVISUAL IMPAIRMENT/BLINDNESSRESOURCES AND STATE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIALocal ResourcesDelta Gamma Center for Children withVisual Impairments1750 S. Big Bend BlvdSt. Louis, MO 63117314-776-1300www.dgckids.orgAssessment services, individualizedvision services, therapy services, centerbasedprograms, home visits, familysupport. Also has Parent to Parent forParents of Children with VisualImpairments.Lutheran Library for the Blind7550 Watson RoadSt. Louis, MO 63119314-918-0415www.blindmission.orgLarge collection of cassettes and Braillereading materials.Missouri Council of the Blind5453 ChippewaSt. Louis, MO 63109314-832-7172www.missouricounciloftheblind.orgWorks with and for persons who areblind or visually impaired.Missouri School for the Blind3815 MagnoliaSt. Louis, MO 63110314-776-4320www.msb.dese.mo.govNationally accredited program forkindergarten through high school, ages 5to 21. Outreach services includefunctional vision assessments,consultation, inservice training, parentinvolvement program.National Federation of the Blind ofMissouri- St. Louis Chapter906 Diversey DrSt. Louis, MO 63126314-968-4439www.nfbmo.orgConsumer organization seeks toinfluence public and private policiesrelated to blindness; referrals to otheragencies.Rehabilitation Services for the BlindNorth Office9900 Page Ave, Suite 105St. Louis, MO 63132-1431314-264-7601South Office3867 Magnolia Ave.St. Louis, MO 63110314-933-7323www.dss.mo.gov/fsd/rsb/Provides vocational training, postsecondaryeducation, instruction inorientation and mobility, Braille andother communication skills.St. Louis Society for the Blind andVisually Impaired8770 Manchester RoadSt. Louis, MO 63144314-968-9000www.slsbvi.orgIndependent living skills training toadults; adaptive equipment at cost.Therapeutic Horsemanship332 Stable LaneSt. Charles, MO 63385636-332-4940www.thstl.orgNot-for-profit organization promoteshorseback riding as a recreational meansfor people with disabilities to worktoward therapeutic goals.September 18, 2014 — 1

Parent Handbook — Section IVUniversity of Missouri-St. Louis Schoolof Optometry – Center for Eye CareOne University Blvd.St. Louis, MO 63121-4499314-516-5606www.umsl.edu/~optomety/clinics/cecpage.htmlProvides vision exams on sliding scale,optics at lower cost.State ResourcesMPACT (Missouri Parents Act)800-743-7634Trains and supports parents so they caneffectively advocate for their children’seducational rights and services.www.ptimpact.orgWolfner Talking Book & Braille Library600 West Main St.Jefferson City, MO 65101573-751-4936www.sos.mo.gov/wolfner/Books and magazines on recorded audiocassettes; loans cassette players; free maillibrary service to the user's home.National ResourcesAmerican Council of the Blind (ACB)www.acb.orgAmerican Foundation for the Blind (AFB)www.afb.orgwww.braillebug.orgInformation and consultation; catalogs ofpublications and products.American Printing House for the Blind(APH)www.aph.orgPublishes and distributes books (Braille,large type, music), computer products,educational toys and equipment.The Lighthouse National Center forVision and Child Developmentwww.lighthouse.orgDevelops educational materials; lowvision product catalog; "EnVision"newsletter.National Association for Parents of theVisually Impaired (NAPVI)www.spedex.com/napviSupport and service to parents ofchildren of all ages; quarterly newsletter"Awareness."National Library Service for the Blindand Physically Handicappedwww.loc.gov/nlsFree library service for Talking Booksrecorded and played on a free loanedcassette player.Assistive TechnologyMissouri Assistive Technology800-647-8557www.at.mo.govInformation and referral regardingassistive technology products, servicesand policy/funding issues. Training,demonstrations, advocacy.Examples of assistive technologyproducts for people with visualimpairments:Braille embossers/printersBraille-to-text translation softwareBraille music translation softwarecursor enlargersCCTVnote takersscreen magnifiers/large printscanners/reading systemsscreen readerstactile image generation/enhancementvoice synthesizersweb browsersDEFINITION AND ELIGIBILTYCRITERIA FROM APPENDIX A OFTHE MISSOURI STATE PLANVisual Impairment/BlindnessSeptember 18, 2014 — 2

Parent Handbook — Section IVDefinitionVisual Impairment, including blindness,means an impairment in vision that, evenwith correction, adversely affects achild’s educational performance. Theterm includes both partial sight andblindness.Criteria for Initial Determination ofEligibilityA child displays a Visual Impairmentwhen:A. A visual impairment or aprogressive vision loss has beendiagnosed by anoptometrist or ophthalmologist:B. Visual acuity has beendetermined to be:1) for visual impairment, of20/70 to 20/200 in the bettereye with best correction byglasses;2) for blindness, of 20/200 orless in the better eye after bestcorrection by glassesor a visual field measuring200 or less.C. The visual impairmentadversely affects the child’seducational performance.September 18, 2014 — 3