Our on-campus and off-campus Statewide Service’s Outreach programming provides instruction in all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum during the school day, evenings, weekends, and summer.
Upcoming Events:
Outreach Student Activities
Short Course Programs
Due to their unique needs, students with blind and low vision often require deliberate instruction in skill areas beyond the core curriculum that are crucial for success in life. These skill areas are part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) and include compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes; Orientation and Mobility; social interaction skills; independent living skills; recreation and leisure skills; career education; use of assistive technology; sensory efficiency; and self-determination.
Because it is difficult to address these needs in a typical academic school day, MSB offers short course programs to students (1st-12th grade) monthly on weekends throughout the school year and during the summer to promote skill development in the nine areas of the ECC. During the school year, short courses vary from 1 -3 days. We provide 1-4 week intensive programs in specific academic and ECC skill areas during the summer. Some of these programs may include a small charge.
Examples of short courses we have conducted in the past include:
- Take Me Out to the Ballgame – consists of a multi-sensory tour of Camden Yards in Baltimore and instruction in beep ball
- Adapted Sports and Fitness – instruction in adapted sports specifically designed for the visually impaired population, as well as strategies to adapt regular sports activities and backyard games
Student Summer Programs
T.R.E.C.C.K. for Success Program
Summer courses focus on five ECC areas: technology skills, compensatory skills (braille and print literacy), independent living skills, recreation/leisure skills, and career education.
An overnight sports camp at the MSB campus featuring goalball, beep baseball, track and field and much, much more! For students 12-17 years old.
$200. Email for scholarship information.
M.I.S.L.E. SUMMER INSTITUTE
Mastering Independence Skills through Living Experiences (MISLE) is a work-based, residential (M-F) program on the MSB campus for students with visual impairments, designed to provide intensive instruction in the areas of organization, work experience, social skills, mobility and much more! For students 16-21 years old.
MSB Camp Abilities
Our mission at MSB Camp Abilities is to provide students from across the state (and neighboring states) with an authentic and educational opportunity to participate in various sports, health-enhancing activities, and social opportunities. We vigorously promote independence and self-advocacy throughout the week and encourage them to socialize and develop strong relationships with peers that will last a lifetime.
CAMP ABILITIES: An Overnight Sports Camp at MSB with fun experiences, including Goalball, Judo, Beep Baseball, Track and Field, and much more! $200 (scholarships available)
MSB Camp Abilities at Lions Camp Merrick
A five-day, overnight outdoor education camp located at Lions Camp Merrick on the beautiful Potomac River in Nanjemoy, MD. Includes canoeing, fishing, ropes courses, and more! For students 9-17 years old.
$550. Email for scholarship information.
TrECCk for Success Program
Summer courses focus on five ECC areas: technology skills, compensatory skills (braille and print literacy), independent living skills, recreation/leisure skills, and career education.
For more information on summer programs, contact Diane Colburn, Director of Statewide & Outreach Services at dcolburn@mdschblind.org
Social Work Support Services
A licensed clinical social worker can provide individual student and family social work consulting to address social-emotional issues related to the impact of vision loss on educational performance and daily life, as well as other family or environmental stressors. Services can be provided at MSB, school, or in-home with the family.
Low Vision Services
Occasionally, we host Low Vision Clinics focused on identifying strategies and devices to maximize students’ ability to use their vision to complete daily activities. The evaluation includes assessment of color vision, contrast sensitivity, near and far-distance visual acuities, refraction, evaluation of visual field and lighting, visual perceptual screening, and introduction to strategies and optical and non-optical devices. The student, parents, and teacher actively participate in the clinical evaluation.
(Program Temporarily Suspended) Regional Optometric Evaluations
Regional optometric evaluations are available upon request for up to four students at a time. The optometric evaluations include cycloplegic dilation and include evaluation of visual abilities and the health of the eye, including the appearance of the eyes, anterior chamber, lens, eye pressures, and refraction to determine the need for glasses and examination of the back of the eye to assess the integrity of the retina. The student is referred to their private physician for a more extensive examination if concerns are noted. Regional optometric evaluations are provided on a Friday at a location decided upon by the county and include the low-vision optometrist and low-vision specialist.
Functional Vision Assessments & Consultations
We offer functional vision assessments and consultations in the student’s home school or natural environment to address their ability to access age and grade-level educational and leisure materials near and far distances. Areas assessed include but are not limited to color vision, near and distance visual acuities, functional visual perceptual skills, response to magnification and assessment of personal characteristics and environmental factors that may impact practical use of vision. If visual perceptual concerns are suggested during the functional vision assessment, assessment of visual perceptual skills using the Motor Free Visual Perception Test, Third Edition, is available with results generated through consultation from MSB occupational therapists.
Family support is an important part of early intervention and education for children with blind or low vision and other disabilities. Family Support Services is one way The Maryland School for the Blind offers support to families statewide.
We provide families and professionals with information about the many services available to children with visual impairment and with other disabilities.
The Family Support Services helps families across Maryland by:
- linking families that have had similar experiences
- offering opportunities to attend specialized workshops and seminars
- providing information and resources on helping your child with visual impairments
- providing information on family rights under IDEA, and the IFSP/IEP process
- establishing family-to-family support networks to help meet needs in local communities
Partners for Success (PFS) – Parent Coordinators provide support and training to families of children receiving services through an IEP. Families of children with disabilities can access support throughout their child’s academic career and as they transition into adult life.
Student-Specific Consultations
Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey Newsletters/Communications