Catalog of Services
This catalog is designed to be a quick reference for information about services available at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired. It is hoped that prospective students of VRCBVI, their families, and referring staff of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired will find this information useful in rehabilitation planning.
Most of the training areas listed in this catalog are available 12 months of the year. Others are offered, as needed, or when special populations are being served. Services are available to blind and vision impaired Virginians, 14 years of age or over. Many students stay on campus during their progression through the VRCBVI program. The typical student stays three to four months, but the training period has no set length.
VRCBVI has cooperative programs with other community agencies to meet the needs of students in evaluation and/or training. For students with multiple disabilities, i.e., those with visual impairment plus one or more additional disabilities, such as emotional, orthopedic, neurological, or hearing impairment, arrangements are made for specialized services.
The first phase of the VRCBVI program for most students is a four-day period of evaluation. This evaluation provides the student and the referring staff with valuable information about the student's rehabilitation needs.
Students who enter a training program at VRCBVI are enrolled in those activities that will assist them in meeting their rehabilitation objectives. The length of the training will depend on each student's needs, abilities, and goals.
Communications Skills
Braille - Instruction may include Grade 1 and Grade 2 Braille, slate and stylus or Braille writer use, and use of Braille reference materials. Speed reading techniques may also be provided. Resource information is available for Nemeth code, music code, Grade 3, and computer or ASCII code Braille.
Electronic Note Takers, Dictionaries, and Voice Memos - Instruction is provided in Braille entry or keyboard entry electronic note takers, such as Braille'n Speak, Type'n Speak, Braille Lite, Sqwerty, Ergo Braille, Braille Pad, Braille Companion, and Keynote Companion. Use of Voice Memos and the Franklin Language Master Talking Dictionary may also be covered.
Handwriting - Instruction is provided to develop or regain the ability to use print or cursive writing. This involves learning or improving letter or symbol formations in print and/or cursive, learning to use various adaptive guides, and acquisition of appropriate handwriting equipment.
Note Taking - Students practice taking notes from lectures, large print books, and recorded text. Each student's best method for taking notes-- Braille writer, recorder, Braille or keyboard note taker, or computer --is identified.
Recording Skills - Instruction is provided in the operation of cassette recorders to meet communication needs. Exposure to using recording equipment for telephone messages, personal letters, recipes, and general note taking is included.
Listening Skills - Instruction is designed to improve an individual's ability to attend to and utilize spoken material, both in interpersonal communications and in connection with use of audio equipment. GED students, prospective college students, newly blinded adults, and those for whom English is a second language particularly benefit from listening skills enhancement.
Reading Resources - Instruction is provided in the use of Library of Congress talking book machines and cassette playback units. Participants are registered with the Library for the Physically and Visually Handicapped and instructed in procedures for ordering material from regional/sub-regional libraries. Use of Recording for the Blind services is also included for students pursuing further education.
Adult Basic Education - The instructor and student design a program of remediation to meet the student's personal and vocational needs. Remediation in language may include GED preparation, grammar, spelling, composition, reading, phonics, and vocabulary development. Remediation in math can include elementary arithmetic, algebra, vending facility math, and may include use of a talking calculator.
College Logistics - This class includes discussion of appropriate accommodations for success in college. The class emphasizes planning, self-advocacy, organization of time, and efficient use of materials. Students are placed in simulated situations to prepare for independent functioning in college.
Keyboarding - Students develop keyboarding skills using computers with image enlargement and/or voice access. Personal keyboarding emphasizes good typing technique and machine mastery for personal correspondence. Vocational keyboarding provides an introduction to formats for business-related correspondence. Good listening techniques, grammar, punctuation, and correct business English are stressed.
Introduction to Computer Use - A ten-hour introduction to computer access equipment for the blind and visually impaired is provided along with basic word processing instruction in MS Word or WordPerfect. The student's potential for using computers for personal, educational, or vocational purposes is assessed.
Intermediate Computer Skills -Various popular word processing, spreadsheet, and data base software packages are introduced. More complex aspects of managing computer access systems are also taught. Internet and e-mail skills are addressed. Instruction may be tailored to specific educational or vocational goals.
Receptionist/Telephone Skills - Instruction covers telephone duties, appropriate work behavior, use of light probes, and message-taking skills. Study material and tapes relating to receptionist responsibilities are included in classroom training, and role-playing exercises are used. Students who successfully complete the classroom portion of this training work on the VRCBVI telephone system and carry out receptionist duties.
Personal and Home Management Skills
Home Management - Adaptive techniques for cleaning floors, bath, kitchen; dusting; polishing; and basic organization skills are taught in this class. Various types of cleaning supplies and different pieces of cleaning equipment are discussed.
Table Skills - Instruction is provided in techniques designed to help students feel comfortable and present a good appearance eating in any setting. This includes knowing when and how to ask for assistance.
Cooking - Basic cooking is designed for persons who have had no previous cooking experience and have potential for assuming some cooking responsibilities. Training concentrates on very simple food preparation, including sandwiches and beverages. Advanced cooking goals range from acquiring the ability to cook for one's self to handling all of the cooking needs of a family. Skills include basic adaptive preparation and cooking techniques, stove orientation and safety, sensory techniques, methods for reading recipes and package directions, meal planning and preparation, grocery shopping, resources for adaptive equipment and materials, and labeling systems for food identification.
Activities of Daily Living - Instruction may be provided in bathing, washing hair, shaving, brushing teeth, labeling methods for clothing identification and matching, laundry skills, use of washers and dryers, time telling skills, use of adapted watches and clocks, basic hand sewing, shoe care, basic nail care, and grooming techniques. The telephone use section of the class covers dialing techniques for telephones, emergency procedures, information-seeking skills, adaptive equipment for telephones, calling information, recording phone messages, and other consumer information.
Consumer Education - Emphasis is on banking services, such as management of checking and savings accounts, and recording check stub information. Budgeting, credit, interest, and other consumer information are discussed. Basic math skills and a method for recording information are prerequisites.
Independent Living - This program provides an independent living experience for the student in an on-campus apartment. Participants are responsible for upkeep of the apartment, shopping and cooking for themselves, following a budget, and arranging transportation and recreation. Programs may vary due to the amount of supervision and assistance each student requires.
Orientation and Mobility
Low Vision Services - Functional vision screenings are used to determine how effectively an individual uses his/her remaining vision in everyday activities. This screening is an integral part of the clinical examination. The clinical aspects of the low vision process are conducted by a consulting optometrist who specializes in low vision. Appropriate medical referrals are made if necessary. Prescriptions may be given for special low vision aids for near and distant vision along with follow-up training.
Pre-Cane Skills - Students practice walking with a sighted guide, protective techniques, trailing, locating dropped objects, room familiarization, entering and exiting a vehicle, and orientation to specific indoor areas.
Cane Skills - Methods for carrying a cane when walking with a sighted guide, storing of the cane, types of canes, indoor and outdoor cane techniques are covered, along with use of the cane in inclement weather, use of the cane on rough terrain, and ascending and descending stairs.
Community Orientation - Students master basic and advanced residential travel, sidewalk orientation, use of auditory and tactual clues, tactual maps, address systems, cardinal directions, the sun as an orienter, traffic as an orienter, traffic lights and various traffic signs, street crossings, route planning, route reversal, and drop-offs.
Light Business and Urban Travel - This instruction deals with more difficult street crossing and sidewalk orientation; location of places of business; techniques for traveling in a shopping mall; store familiarization; use of escalators, elevators, and electric and revolving doors; solicitation of information and assistance; route planning; and route reversal.
Bus and Cab Travel - Solicitation of information from a bus company, entering and exiting a bus, location of seat, paying fare, location of destination, solicitation of aid and information from driver and fellow passengers, familiarization with various cab companies, variations in rates, telephone contact with a central dispatcher, and assisted and independent bus and taxicab rides may be covered.
Rural Travel - Use of shorelines, touch-and-slide technique with the cane, locating intersections, avoiding mailboxes, and use and avoidance of vehicle traffic are covered.
Inclement Weather and Night Travel - Instruction in techniques for travel in various weather and lighting conditions, use of appropriate apparel, and use of altered or modified environmental clues may also be provided.
Travel Using a Dog Guide - Instruction is provided to students who travel with a dog guide in order to become oriented to new areas and to work on problems that may have developed with the dog. Information about dog guides is given to interested students, and representatives from the dog guide schools make periodic visits to the Center to discuss their programs.
Recreation
Crafts - Crafts instruction is offered to provide students with exposure to a variety of creative materials for the purpose of developing leisure time activities, developing manual dexterity, and encouraging creative and independent thinking. Typical skills covered are basketry, ceramics and sculpture, fiber arts, leather craft, and painting and drawing.
Life Skills - Students' interests and attitudes with respect to leisure, recreation, and social relationships are explored to assist the individual in identifying, locating, and using recreational resources in his/her community. Activities addressed are: games, sports, nature activities, collection activities, crafts, art and music, educational, entertainment and cultural activities, and volunteer and organizational activities.
Physical Conditioning - This program focuses on the individual's approach to physical fitness through cardiovascular conditioning, development of strength and flexibility, and nutrition. Group activities consist of games, calisthenics, aerobics, weight lifting, obstacle courses, and stunts/tumbling. At the completion of this course, students should be able to develop and implement a physical fitness program independently. Medical approval is required for participation.
Bowling - Selecting proper grip, stance, selecting a ball, approach,
Swimming - This course offers instruction in water survival, beginning and advanced swimming, and water aerobics. It also provides exercise for improvement in flexibility and stamina.
Evening Recreation - Evening recreational activities are offered to expose students to recreational opportunities for the visually impaired in the community and on campus. Instruction in table games may be offered in the evening to expose students to the various adaptive games that are available to visually impaired persons. Independent planning for leisure activities is encouraged.
Vocational Services
Vocational Evaluation - Vocational evaluation involves a comprehensive assessment of the individual's work-related abilities and limitations, utilizing work samples and psychological/vocational testing as indicated. The objective is to suggest feasible vocational options. Vocational exploration, which is an examination of the various options identified through the work evaluation, follows.
Job Exploration - In this class students explore their career choices through the use of the Internet, career manuals, job banks, and informational interviews. This can be a stand-alone class or the final step in the work evaluation process.
Job Seeking Skills - This class is designed for individuals who will be pursuing competitive employment. It focuses on skill identification, resume development, interviewing, and completion of applications.
Vending Facility Evaluation - Evaluation in vending facility operation is designed to determine if a student would be successful in a Business Opportunities for the Blind facility or related work. Observations are made of the individual's skills, behavior, and interests. Basic orientation to customer relations, business math, inventory control, cleaning, snack bar maintenance, and daily report preparation are covered in order to evaluate the applicant's potential.
Trial Work - Trial work programs in the community may be arranged on an individual basis. Entrance into trial work is based on recommendations of staff. The individual participates in an evaluation followed by a trial work placement in the community. The objective is to provide the student with work experience and vocational guidance information.
Counseling and Medical Services
Counseling Services - Each VRCBVI student is assigned a Center counselor, who works with the individual to plan a training program which will meet his/her particular needs. Case management activities involve individual counseling as well as the coordination of rehabilitation, social, psychological, medical, and vocational services. The objective is to enable the student to set and achieve his/her Center goals and overall rehabilitation goals. The Center counselor acts as liaison between agency field staff and other community resources.
Psychological Testing - A full psychological test battery (intelligence test, interest inventory, and personality inventory) is administered by vocational evaluators as part of the vocational guidance process.
Psychological Services - Psychological services are contracted on an individual basis in the community, including individual and group counseling. Assistance with routine appointments can be provided. A psychiatric consultant is available monthly to see students and consult with staff regarding student psychiatric needs, or for emergencies.
Personal Empowerment - Assertiveness training classes, using discussion, lectures, and role-playing, are used to develop a more honest and comfortable way of communicating with others. Stress management techniques for physical and mental relaxation are learned and practiced.
Medical Services - Center nurses interview all students to identify and address medical needs, do hearing screenings, coordinate physician and audiologist consultations, monitor medications, make appointments for medical services provided in the community, and coordinate transportation for medical appointments. The nurses also assist with instruction in human sexuality for adolescents.
Diabetic Information -This program provides information about diabetes--its complications and treatment. Students are shown aids, exposed to literature, and encouraged to express their feelings about dealing with diabetes.
DeafBlind Services
VRCBVI also has specialized services for individuals who are Deaf Blind, or who have a combined loss of vision and hearing.
DeafBlind students include elderly individuals who have a loss of vision and hearing late in life and seek assistance to make a successful adjustment; teenagers who need instruction which may not be available in their school system; employees whose jobs are in jeopardy due to a progressive loss of vision and hearing, and who need adaptive skills to return to the work force; individuals who, deaf from birth, now need skills to successfully cope with the progressive loss of vision; and mentally challenged individuals who need to learn effective ways to apply emerging skills in a supported work program. Students coming to VRCBVI have the opportunity to try various alerting devices and technology that can enhance their ability to function more independently. Interpreter services are available for those whose primary mode of communication is sign language.
Residential Services
A 40-bed dormitory is available to students who are receiving services at VRCBVI, with several rooms adapted to accommodate individuals with physical limitations. The dorm is equipped with laundry facilities and a student lounge for relaxing and socializing. A dorm supervisor is on duty whenever classes aren't in session, to provide assistance to any of the facility's residents.
Food Services
The VRCBVI cafeteria is open for dining seven days a week to all students receiving services. For students who are on special diets or have other nutritional needs, the staff is happy to accommodate.
