Program for the Visually Impaired

The Mat-Su Borough School District provides district-wide itinerant services for all students who experience a visual impairment or blindness. Dedicated, highly qualified staff- three Certified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) and two Vision Paraprofessionals provide adapted braille, large print, and other materials, a variety of instructional techniques, and great support to students, families, teachers, therapists, and other staff.

Educating Students with Visual Impairments

• Provide and adapt all educational materials to meet the student's visual needs

This may include:

•  - Braille textbooks and materials
• - Tactile graphics and illustrations
• - Large Print textbooks and materials
• - Tactual Communication Symbols for students with Dual-Sensory Impairments (DSI) or Deaf-blind

Teach the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), nationally mandated educational areas that meet the specific needs of students with visual impairments

Direct instruction in the  nine areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) to compensate for loss of vision

This includes:

• - Assistive Technology
• - Career Education
• - Compensatory, Communication and Literacy Skills (Braille instruction)
• - Independent Living Skills
• - Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
• - Recreation and Leisure
• - Self-Determination
• - Sensory Efficiency Skills
• - Social Interaction Skills

Collaborate closely with all teachers and therapists to ensure success within the classroom and community