As the chart shows, the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired provides a variety of services for students who are blind or visually impaired on the campus in Nebraska City as well as statewide in students' local school districts, homes and communities.
Instructional Materials and Technology Support
The Nebraska Instructional Resource Center, housed at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, supports local education agencies in providing students statewide with instructional materials and technical support needed for their education. The Center:
- Acts as a liaison to the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. Federal Quota System
- Serves as a resource for materials in braille, large print, recorded item, and tactile representations
- Maintains a statewide inventory of large print and braille materials available for loan from local school districts and educational service units
- Collaborates with the Nebraska Educational Assistive Technology (NEAT) Project regarding technology loan programs and technology support
Student Family and Support Programs
The Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired offers a variety of support programs for students and families throughout the year. The Center provides:
Skill Training:
- Braille
- Orientation and Mobility
- Independent Living
- Vocational Training
- Assistive Technology
- Social Skills
- Transitional Living
Enrichment Activities:
- Outdoor Education
- Arts and Crafts
- Music
- Sports
- Recreation and Leisure
Family Activities:
- Parent Training
- Sibling Training
- Family Networking
Assessment and Evaluation Services
Educational assessments and evaluations are provided to assist local education agencies in order to provide educational services for students who are blind or visually impaired. These assessments may be provided in a variety of locations: in the local school district, in the student’s home and community, and/or at the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired. The assessment team also coordinates with other professionals to provide a comprehensive evaluation. The Center may provide:
- Low Vision Clinics
- Orientation and Mobility Assessments
- Functional Vision Assessments
- Learning Media Assessments
- Transitional Living Assessments
- Daily Living Assessments
- Vocational Assessments
- Assistive Technology
- Assessments Motor Assessments
- Psychological Evaluations
- Physical Therapy Evaluations
- Occupational Therapy Evaluations
- Speech-Language Assessments
Professional Development and Training
The Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired provides and coordinates staff development opportunities for statewide educators, related service providers, parents, and agency personnel as needs are identified. In addition, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in cooperation with the Nebraska Department of Education, the Kansas State School for the Blind, and the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired, offers an endorsement program for teaching the blind and visually impaired. The Center:
- Supports the UNL Vision Endorsement Program
- Provides training for regular and special educators, related service providers, and agency personnel
- Provides training opportunities for parents, families and caregivers
- Provides statewide staff development opportunities for teachers of the visually impaired
Center-Based Programs and Residential Services
Students have the option of attending the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired for specialized services based upon the student’s educational needs as indicated by the individual education plan. Full or part-time educational placement for varying durations is available. Residential services may be provided in addition to the center-based educational program. Residential services may include independent living skill training, social skill training, community participation, and recreation and leisure activities. The Center provides:
- Academic programming Continuation of local school district academics
- Intense training in specific skills Assessments and evaluations
- Collaboration with educators and parents for the student’s return to the local education agency
- Transition programming for adult life
- Partnerships with local public schools to provide educational opportunities
- Specialized services for students with blindness, visual impairments, and multiple disabilities
Consultation Services
The Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired provides consultation, advisory, and technical assistance services for students, families, educators, local education agencies, and educational service units on a statewide basis. The Center:
- Assists local education agencies in assessing a child's needs and makes appropriate educational recommendations
- Facilitates student-family networking
- Provides classroom, community, and/or home observations
- Provides ongoing support and information for students, parents, and educators
- Works cooperatively with parents, local school district personnel, and others to implement appropriate educational programs and services
- Participates in multi-disciplinary team, individual education planning, individual family service planning, and individual program planning meetings
- Assists with statewide initiatives