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Education Services for Blind & Visually Impaired Children


Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children is a statewide service of Catholic Charities Maine providing assessment, instruction and consultation to blind and visually impaired children, their parents and school personnel.

Working hand in hand with Maine's Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI), our services are directed to the blind and visually impaired population, ages birth through 21 years old. Our goal is to assist in meeting the educational needs of the student through consultation and/or direct services in his/her education or home setting.

How the Program Works

After receiving a referral, our teachers assess the student’s functional vision, reviews the educational implication of the visual impairment and recommend a service plan to the child's team. For school-aged students, the Pupil Evaluation Team (PET) determines the type and amount of services to be included in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. Recommendations for the pre-school child are made to the Early Childhood Team (ECT) and services are identified in the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).

Types of Services Offered

  • Low vision training
  • Teaching Braille
  • Instruction in use of adapted equipment
  • Selection and/or modification of specialized curriculum
  • Instructional strategies to facilitate learning in blind/visually impaired children
  • Concept development
  • Activities of daily living

Regional Office Locations

Augusta Instructional Materials Center
St. Paul Center
136 State Street
P.O. Box 2028
Augusta, ME 04338-2028
207.620.3220 or
207.621.8520 x 5420
207.622.9781 Fax


Bangor
1066 Kenduskeag Ave.
Bangor, ME 04401
207.299.1933

esbvic@ccmaine.org