DBVI provides services and resources which empower individuals who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind to achieve their desired levels of employment, education, and personal independence. Services are provided through 4 main programs: Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Teaching and Independent Living, Low Vision Services and Education Services. Most services are provided in the person's home, school, or workplace. Referrals are accepted from individuals, families, schools, doctors, and other community partners.

Designed to empower blind senior citizens with a variety of home management and life and advocacy skills training opportunities. The program, hosted in strategically chosen locations in Virginia, will prepare blind and low-vision seniors to take control of their personal and professional lives through direct and individualized attention based on physical ability, personal skills, and goals

The NFBV Braille Enrichment for Literacy & Learning (BELL Academy) provides children ages 4-12 with Braille instruction through fun, hands-on learning activities. The program targets blind and low-vision children who do not receive enough Braille and nonvisual skill instruction in school or who could benefit from Braille enrichment over the summer. In addition to crafts, games, and other engaging projects, children learn vital independent living skills, benefit from peer learning and mentoring from blind and low vision adults, and enjoy field trips that reinforce skills learned in the BELL classroom.

Provides infants and children with visual disabilities, their families and teachers with technical assistance and support to help them during the child's development and educational process. Staff provide technical assistance for evaluation, program planning, curriculum modification, transition programs, information about blindness, and adaptive equipment.

VSDB is a state agency that provides educational services to students within the Commonwealth of Virginia, who are sensory impaired (hard of hearing/deaf, vision impaired/blind, deafblind, deaf or blind with additional disabilities). A student may enroll as either a day or residential student. Residential students attend VSDB during the week for school and return home to family every weekend. Students attending VSDB are served through special education services and have an Individual Education Program (IEP). VSDB offers all diploma options and follows all state educational regulations for special education services including state assessment options for the Standards of Learning as prescribed by each student's IEP. VSDB is a fully accessible educational environment where learning extends beyond the classroom into the Residential Program. Students who attend VSDB have the opportunity to be leaders, participate in sports, learn in a fully accessible educational setting, develop social skills through peer interactions, and to develop independent living and workforce skills that support successful transition after graduation. In consideration for admission, students may attend VSDB for a TEMP week as an opportunity to experience VSDB's services and programs. For Admissions or TEMP information, please call: (540) 332-9004 (TTY-capable) After Hours/Emergency: (540) 332-9046 (TTY-capable) ACCESSIBILITY: Fully accessible to persons with disabilities

DBVI provides services and resources which empower individuals who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind to achieve their desired levels of employment, education, and personal independence. Services are provided through 4 main programs: Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Teaching and Independent Living, Low Vision Services and Education Services. Most services are provided in the person's home, school, or workplace. Referrals are accepted from individuals, families, schools, doctors, and other community partners.

**DeafBlind Services** at DBVI support people of all ages who have both vision and hearing loss. These services help with communication, education, technology, daily living, and independence. DBVI staff complete special assessments to find out what tools or equipment may help, such as doorbell alerts, phone signalers, hearing aids, or personal listening devices. The program also connects individuals with helpful resources in their area. A DeafBlind Program Director and DeafBlind Specialist work across Virginia to provide support, training, and advice to DBVI staff and community partners. They also help make sure DeafBlind individuals can fully take part in DBVI programs and live as independently as possible.

Provides information and services to the blind and vision impaired. Organization of blind helping the blind.

The Library and Resource Center (LRC) is part of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) and provides two main services: library services for people who have difficulty reading regular print, and support services for students who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind in Virginia schools. Library services are free and include access to thousands of books and magazines in audio, braille, large print, and descriptive movie formats. People can also borrow special playback equipment or download books using the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) system. The Resource Center supports students from preschool through high school, including those who are homeschooled or attend private schools. It provides braille textbooks, workbooks, and adaptive equipment like braille note-takers and software to help students succeed in school. All materials are provided at no cost to eligible students through partnerships with school divisions and the Virginia Department of Education.

**DeafBlind Services** at DBVI support people of all ages who have both vision and hearing loss. These services help with communication, education, technology, daily living, and independence. DBVI staff complete special assessments to find out what tools or equipment may help, such as doorbell alerts, phone signalers, hearing aids, or personal listening devices. The program also connects individuals with helpful resources in their area. A DeafBlind Program Director and DeafBlind Specialist work across Virginia to provide support, training, and advice to DBVI staff and community partners. They also help make sure DeafBlind individuals can fully take part in DBVI programs and live as independently as possible.