Programs and Services for Students
who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Programs and services are provided in co-operation with provincial Departments of Education and include:
Integrated school program
An integrated school program for students who are blind or visually impaired.Direct instruction is provided by APSEA itinerant teachers trained in the education of students with a visual impairment.These teachers provide instruction in disability-specific skills (e.g., braille, development of visual efficiency, orientation and mobility, independent living skills, use of adaptive technology), work with classroom teachers to adapt the regular curricula, and participate as members of multidisciplinary school teams designed to address the needs of children with disabilities.Public school staff and parents are assisted in adapting programs, both educational and recreational, to ensure active participation of students who are blind or visually impaired in school, home, and community life.
Consultant service
A consultant service designed to assist school officials in providing appropriate programs for students who are blind or visually impaired.Each province has a supervisor responsible for supervising provincial programs and staff, assessing and recommending appropriate educational placement, providing inservice training to educators, and co-ordinating the development and implementation of programs for the school-aged population who are blind or visually impaired.
Technology & equipment
A technology, equipment, and materials loan service which provides such items as braillers, tape recorders, low-vision aids, laptop computers with speech or large print, electronic aids adapted for students with visual impairments, as well as a variety of adaptive aids and materials.
Services provided by APSEA specialists
Access to APSEA services from specialists who provide consultation to public school personnel in specialized subject areas such as physical education, family living, technical education, career education and music.
Short-term residential programs
Short-term residential programs at the APSEA Centre in Halifax are designed to provide a comprehensive level of programming which may be difficult to incorporate in an integrated setting.Short-term programs focus on mastery of specific skills such as orientation and mobility, use of a specific piece of technology, or addressing specific learning or behavioural difficulties.They vary in length from one week to five months. Parents and public school staff are involved in the design, implementation, and follow-up to short-term progams.
Family counselling
A family counselling service provided by a counsellor with training and experience in the education of students who are blind or visually impaired. Issues such as adjustment to blindness, raising a child who is visually impaired, or behavioural disorders are typically addressed by the family counsellor.
Contacts/addresses
For further information please contact:
Director of Programs for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired (image)
)Voice/TTY: 902-424-8503
Fax: 902-424-0543
E-mail: Victoria Jeans