Our Vision Resource Services and Outreach Programs provide support for children at least two years of age who are potential braille users.
Our services are offered only to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) Blind Low Vision Program. A referral form will be completed and sent to W. Ross Macdonald School via email.
Children should be assessed as soon as possible to:
- confirm identification
- confer with the Early Childhood Vision Consultant (ECVC) and the child’s family about programming
- suggestions for all areas of development that may affect the learning of braille and numeracy
provide any needed programming suggestions, materials, etc.
Visits take place in licensed daycare settings. Alternative public settings can be arranged by the ECVC and/or family. Visits cannot take place in the family home.
The ECVC develops an assessment report following the initial visit and it is shared with the referring person and with parents.
After the initial visit, ongoing services, including follow-up visits, phone calls, teleconferencing and team meetings will take place on a regular basis in conjunction with the ECVC. These services can be flexible and decided on an individual basis, dependent on need. Ongoing services are generally consultative and provide objectives and related activities to meet the goals suggested in the assessment report.
The ECVC will also complete a transition report in the spring before the child enters school. Reports will include braille literacy and braille math goals.
Once the child enters school, they will transition to the referral process for school-based resource services and visits will be requested by the child’s home school.
If we receive a referral from the MCCSS Blind Low Vision program in the spring for a child who will be entering school the following fall, then the visit will be considered transition only and a transition report will be provided.
Preschool Transition
Vision Resource Services and Outreach Programs also provide transitions for children who have low vision (and are not potential braille users) and are entering school for the first time. Please complete a referral package to access these services.