By Kristin Oien, Blind/Visually-Impaired Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education

(Editor’s Note: This presentation was given at the Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota on October 27, 2012.)

Hello Minnesota Federationists,

Thank you so much for inviting me here today to share what’s happening with school-age students who happen to be blind or visually impaired.  We’ve had a very busy start to the school year, with a two-day assistive technology workshop at the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind and a Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) specific mentor training in August, and four low vision clinics and celebrating White Cane Safety Awareness Day in October.  The Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) vision is that all children get necessary support for healthy development and lifelong learning.  The special education policy division’s mission is to provide leadership to ensure a high quality education for all Minnesota’s children and youth with disabilities.  My responsibilities as the MDE specialist for students who are blind or visually impaired include providing support, training, and technical assistance to teachers of the visually impaired, orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists, and other stakeholders providing service to students with disabilities and their families.

The following is a list of workshops, trainings and meeting dates for this school year that have been offered to Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists.

• 10/9 - 12/2012      Low Vision Clinics in Owatonna, Metro and St. Cloud
• 10/15/2012           White Cane Safety Awareness Day at MSAB
• 11/1 & 2/2012      MDVI Conference
• 11/15/2012           BANA Updates Workshop
• 12/03/2012           Autism in the Child with Visual Impairments, Shoreview
• 12/14/2012           Statewide Vision Network Meeting (SVN), MDE room CC 14
• 02/08/2013           SVN Meeting, MDE room CC 14
• 03/22/2013           SVN Meeting, MDE room CC 14
• 04/21/2013           SVN Meeting, Charting the Cs Conference
• 05/02 & 03/2013   COMS and SVN Meeting, MDE room CC 14

Each of the statewide vision network meetings and several of the workshops above will also be available via video stream for remote area participation.

There has been a logistical change regarding the BVI resource libraries that I’d like to inform you about.  The BVI resource library of materials in print, as well as the TBVI and COMS Assistive Technology Loan Program have been transferred to the Minnesota State Academies.  The academies will now staff and manage the library and MDE will continue to support the purchase of new and relevant material.  Both the BVI and DHH libraries will be physically housed at the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind.

Now here’s an update of current data regarding school-age students who are blind or visually impaired in the state of Minnesota.  The 2011 MDE Unduplicated Child Count indicates there are 435 students from birth to 21 who are blind and visually impaired in Minnesota, 104 of these students are of high school transition age.  The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) 2012 Federal Census data indicates there are 777 students from preschool to age 21 who meet the definition of blindness.  The disparity in these numbers comes from the MDE child count indicating the primary eligibility category as BVI, while the APH census takes into account students with multiple impairments who are also blind.  Individual Education Program teams strive to provide each of these groups of students with the supports and strategies necessary to meet their individualized educational needs.

It is my overall goal that children and youth who are blind and visually impaired in Minnesota receive quality instruction that will lead to their highest level of independence and success.

Thank you so much for inviting me to share this information with you today.  Please know that I welcome suggestions for effective change.  Feel free to contact me with concerns or ideas for the future.  My email address is Kristin.Oien@state.mn.us and my phone number is 651-582-8843.