Sources for Special Education For Children
Each local school system has a vision program to assist blind and visually impaired students to receive instruction along with their sighted peers. Most vision programs will provide services to students from infancy through high school graduation or through age 21. Contact your local school system to obtain specific information about how to access the district’s vision services. Parents may also wish to contact the West Virginia Department of Education Office of Special Education at 1-800-642-8541 or 304-558-2696, or visit their website at www.wvde.state.wv.us.
West Virginia School for the Blind
301 East Main Street
Romney, WV 26757
PHONE: 304-822-4800
The West Virginia School for the Blind (WVSB) is a private, non-profit school housed on a 72-acre campus in Romney, West Virginia. It is the only residential and day school in West Virginia for students who are blind or visually impaired. Students must be referred by their local school district. They attend tuition-free. Criterion for referral is a visual impairment which, even with correction, adversely affects educational functioning. Some WVSB students have multiple disabilities in addition to blindness or visual impairment. The school provides services for individuals from birth through age 21. Students participate in vocational rehabilitation services while transitioning from WVSB to the community and employment.
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
200 East Wells Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410-659-9315
Email: actionfund@actionfund.org
Website: www.actionfund.org
The American Action Fund has an extensive library of braille books for children and adults. In addition to the library, the American Action Fund offers a program of free Braille books for children to keep. The AAF started this program to provide blind children a free Braille book every month from a popular children’s reading series. These titles are the same as those that are available in bookstores and public libraries everywhere. Go to the American Action Fund web site to obtain an application for these programs.
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY 40206
Phone: 1-800-223-1839
Website: http://www.aph.org
In partnership with the Dollywood Foundation, APH distributes selected audio and print/braille books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for children up to 6 years of age. APH also sells a series of tactile illustrated books to support early literacy. In addition, APH creates and sells a wide variety of supplies and devices useful in the education of blind children.
Beulah Reimer Legacy (BRL)
April Enderton
7758 SE 36th Street
Des Moines, IA 50320
Phone: 515-282-0049
Email: endertona@wildblue.net
Website: http://www.beulahreimerlegacy.com
Beulah Reimer Legacy (BRL) sells print/Braille children's picture books and flash cards at an affordable cost. BRL's mission is to increase Braille literacy and reading opportunities by placing braille in the hands of eager readers. All of our books are Brailled in grade 2 contracted braille. Shipping and handling is free.
Future Aids: The Braille Superstore - (A Division of MarvelSoft Enterprises, Inc.)
33222 Lynn Ave.
Abbotsford, BC V2S 1C9
Canada
Phone: 1-800-987-1231
Website: http://www.braillebookstore.com
Sells a wide variety of books for children and adults of all ages.
National Braille Press
88 St. Stephen St.
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-266-6160
Toll free: 800-548-7323
Fax: 617-437-0456
Email: orders@nbp.org
Website: www.nbp.org
Producer of Braille books for children and adults on a wide range of topics. Parents can subscribe to a children's book club and receive 12 books per year for a nominal fee.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 51924
Livonia, MI 48151
Phone: 734-427-8552
Toll Free: 800-777-8552
Email: info@seedlings.org
Website: www.seedlings.org
Braille books are provided at each level of development, from toddler board books to classic literature for older children. Titles cover fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Some books are produced in both print and Braille, and uncontracted Braille. If your child is visually-impaired, 21 or under, and living in the US or Canada, he/she is eligible to receive two free braille books each calendar year through the Seedlings Book Angels Program. Check the website for details.
NFB Training Centers
The National Federation of the Blind operates three model rehabilitation centers which offer training programs for children and youth:
BLIND, Incorporated (Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions, Inc.)
100 East 22nd St.
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Phone: 612-872-0100
Website: http://www.blindinc.org
Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB)
2233 West Shepperd Ave.
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: 800-401-4632
Website: http://www.cocenter.org
Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB)
101 South Trenton Street
Ruston, LA 71270
Phone: 800-234-4166
Website: http://www.louisianacenter.org
SCIENCE AND MATH
BlindMath Gems
Website: http://www.blindscience.org/blindmath-gems-home
This web page, part of the National Center for Blind Youth in Science, contains highlights from the archives of the NFB's Blind Math listserv. Students, parents, and blind professionals have exchanged tips and strategies in a range of subjects, including calculators, geometry, graphing, iOS, LaTex, blind mathematicians, Nemeth, statistics, student issues, tools, and transcription.
Independence Science
3000 Kent Ave.
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: 866-862-9665
Website: http://www.independencescience.com
Sells the Talking LabQuest, which provides a way to convert information from more than 70 types of sensors into speech, an audible graph, and other formats for analysis. Assists schools in making their science programs accessible to blind students.
National Center for Blind Youth in Science
Website: www.blindscience.org
Driving innovation in education and employment related to the blind in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and related careers. Serves as a national clearinghouse of resources and expertise related to nonvisual exploration. Resources and programs for parents and students.