Blind, Vision Impaired and DeafBlind Services, Statewide

Administrative office for the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (VDBVI). Intake and referral services are provided by each regional office throughout the State. Through personal contact, staff will explain agency services, assist in establishing eligibility, and make referrals to various programs or programs of the community.

Individuals with a combined loss of vision and hearing (deafblind, blind-hard of hearing, visually impaired-deaf, and visually impaired-hard of hearing) require specialized communication, education, assistive technology, independent living and rehabilitation services. The agency provides statewide consultation and technical assistance to staff of the agency and outside entities ensuring deafblind individuals of all ages full participation in various programs and services. In addition, training is provided on deaf-blindness to other agencies/organizations and individuals interested in information on this population. The regional offices provide the following services:

Education Services
Infants and children with visual disabilities, their families and teachers can receive technical assistance and support that will help them during the child's developmental and educational process. Staff provides technical assistance for evaluation, program planning, curriculum modification, transition programs, information about blindness, and adaptive equipment.

Independent Living Skills:
A service program is individually designed to develop and raise the level of adaptive coping skills and functional independence of youth and adults who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind. Services provided include individualized needs assessment, adjustment counseling, information and referral, advocacy, outreach, orientation and mobility, daily living skills training, Braille, typing, script writing, home management skills, assistive technology services and devices, and other specialized services.

Low Vision
Low vision examinations, intended to improve useful vision to persons of all ages who cannot see with conventional glasses, are available by appointment. Preliminary assessment, and follow-up counseling and training programs in the home or school setting are aimed at ensuring that maximum benefit is gained from the low vision optical aids prescribed.

Orientation and Mobility
Orientation and Mobility staff provide assessments, instruction, technical assistance, and materials that enable consumers who are blind, visually impaired or deaf-blind to travel safely and independently in their homes and communities. This service is available to consumers of all ages.

Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation services are designed to assist eligible consumers in obtaining or maintaining employment. An Individualized Employment Plan outlining a specific vocational goal is developed by the consumer and vocational rehabilitation counselor to facilitate various activities leading to employment. Based on the unique needs of each consumer, services may include but are not limited to vocational guidance and counseling, vocational training, job development, job placement, and job training. Other services might include adjustment to the loss of vision; rehabilitation engineering services to include assessment and evaluation of job sites, assistive technology; and supported employment.

DeafBlind Services
Individuals with a combined loss of vision and hearing (deafblind, blind-hard of hearing, visually impaired-deaf, and visually impaired-hard of hearing) require specialized education, independent living, vocational rehabilitation, assistive technology & communication services. DeafBlind Services staff provides statewide consultation and technical assistance to staff of the agency (and other entities), to ensure full participation in programs and services by individuals who have a combined hearing and vision loss.