KSB Outreach Services
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July 24-25, 2012: Gateways to Independence
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Contact
Regional Consultants
As included within our mission statement, KSB's aim is to meet the diverse needs of all Kentucky students who are blind and visually impaired by providing educational programs, specialized materials, and resources vital to their success. KSB Outreach Services supports proficient student performance by assisting local school districts, including KSB and the Kentucky School for the Deaf, in reducing barriers to learning associated with a vision loss and providing students access to the general curriculum, the Program of Studies, Core Content, and Expanded Core Curriculum for Students with Visual Impairments through:
KSB also works in partnership with the Special Education Cooperatives to facilitate expansion of regional services and currently has Teacher Consultants based with the Kentucky Valley Special Education Cooperative (KVSEC), West Kentucky Educational Cooperative (WKEC), Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services (NKCES), Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative (OVEC), Wilderness Trail Special Education Cooperative (WTSEC), Upper Cumberland Special Education Cooperative (UCSEC),Central Kentucky Education Cooperative (CKSEC), Cavelan Educational Cooperative (CEC), and the River Region Cooperative (RRC). Referrals for services may be made by LEAs, and other agencies with on-site visits and services conducted in partnership with the local school district.
For more information regarding Regional Programs and Services or to make a referral contact Kristen Hammond, Outreach Director of Regional Programs and Services.
Outreach Services:
Assessments:
KSB Outreach Consultants work with parents and school personnel to develop plans and conduct evaluations for students in accessing regular education materials in the core curriculum and in the expanded core (disability-specific) curriculum areas including:
- Functional Vision and Learning Media including Braille skills
- Orientation and Mobility
- Assistive Technology
- Independent Living Skills
- Social, recreational, and leisure skills.
These evaluations are typically conducted in the student’s local school, but some assessments are conducted on the campus of KSB in Louisville . Assistance with speech/ language and psychological evaluations is also available. Written reports including recommendations are provided.
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Early Childhood Services:
Working with Outreach Consultants, KSB's Early Childhood Consultant
provides consultations and assessments and other forms of technical
assistance to districts and families for children between the ages of
three to five. Student referrals
should be made through an Outreach Consultants. For more
information contact Early Childhood Consultant Patty
Dilg.
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Consultations/technical assistance:
An Outreach Consultant will provide on-site observation and consultation including recommendations for appropriate curricular materials and instructional methods, modifications, and adaptations at the request of the local school district and/or the parents. A written report is provided. Outreach Consultants are also available through email and/or phone consultations to serve as a resource for information about eye conditions, assessment and instructional materials, and other related information and services for students with a visual loss.
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ARC Meetings:
KSB Outreach Staff are available to attend ARC meetings as collaborative
partners.ARC participation may include assistance with the initial referral
process; developing appropriate IEP goals/benchmarks, specially designed
instruction, and supplemental aids and services; evaluation plans; transition
planning; and appropriate assistive technology related to the student's
specific needs.
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Low Vision Evaluations:
Referrals are accepted for comprehensive low vision evaluations provided
by an optometrist specializing in low vision. Low vision devices for
near and distant tasks are prescribed when appropriate. A functional
vision evaluation from a teacher of the visually impaired is recommended
prior to scheduling an appointment. Parents, VI teachers, and service
providers are encouraged to team with the Low Vision Consultant
and doctors to provide educationally relevant information and planning
for each student. For more information contact: Meg
Stone, Low Vision Consultant.
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Parent/ Family Support:
KSB KSB Outreach promotes and engages parents, caregivers and other family members as full partners in the education process for their children. KSB Outreach Staff also take an active role in collaboration with other agencies in planning and hosting regional and/or statewide activities that promote family awareness and involvement in their child's education.
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Professional Development:
In-Service Training
In an effort to promote high quality teaching and services, KSB Consultants will assist local school districts and special education cooperatives
in planning and presenting vision specific in-service training aligned
with KDE professional development standards for special/regular education
classroom teachers, para-professionals, and other personnel as needed.
Gateways to Independence is an annual training provided for teachers
of the visually impaired each summer on the campus of the Kentucky School
for the Blind.
Quality Programs for Students with Visual Impairment (QPVI) is a process of providing job embedded professional development by working with local districts or special education cooperatives in developing and improving services for students with visual impairments through systematic change. This is a three-phase facilitated process which is directed by a trained KSB Outreach Consultant. The process includes a self-study of seven key program components, documenting program strengths and addressing deficits, and maintaining quality programming by becoming proactive rather than reactive. The goal is to foster program growth and development while meeting the changing needs of students.
Workshops and Conferences
KSB Outreach Consultants are available to present at workshops and conferences on topics and issues relevant to the education of students with visual impairments.
University Programs
KSB Outreach Consultants works collaboratively with the University of Louisville as their distance learning program continues to develop, and upon request, will present on broadcasts as guest speakers. Staff members also assist in recruitment and mentoring of students and new teachers.
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Statewide Resource for Blindness/Visual Impairments:
KSB Outreach Staff value and maintain a high level of expertise related to visual impairments by engaging in on-going professional growth through appropriate in-service trainings, active involvement in related professional organizations, reviewing professional journals and other reference materials and aligning this expertise within the framework for curriculum and instruction for all Kentucky students (e.g., Learner Goals/Academic Expectations, Program of Studies, Core Content for Assessment, Performance Level Descriptions). Using this expertise, KSB Outreach staff disseminates resource information and responds to questions/inquiries related to specific types of visual impairments, current research, and instructional methodology, as well as, making appropriate referrals to other agencies.
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