VIDBE-Q Volume 68 Issue 3
26
In the early 1990s, mainstreaming students became more prevalent, and
there was less need for a residential school in North Dakota. In 1994, state
legislation was passed that changed the focus of programming to an outreach
model. Renovations of the facility followed, converting residential areas into
instructional centers and offices. A store was opened to provide a convenient
source of low-vision aids to students, clients, and the general public, and this
service, which sells aids with no mark-up, is still offered today.
In 2001, the state legislature officially changed our name to North Dakota
Vision Services/School for the Blind. This was done to emphasize the fact that we
now serve people of all ages, not just school-age students.
NDVS/SB Today
Today, North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind serves people
with visual impairment from birth to death. We specialize in Outreach Services
across the state and Short-term Programming (STP) at our facility in Grand Forks.
For our Outreach Services, seven regional coordinators serve students aged birth to
21 across eight regions. One adult service provider serves the eastern half of the
state, and another serves the western half. Other staff provide specialized Outreach
Services for orientation and mobility, assistive technology, braille, and daily living
skill as needed.
