OBVI: What are the Rehabilitation Teaching Services?

If you have a question that isn't answered below, please email the Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired (OBVI).

Intake and Assessment:

An evaluation of the incoming skill level of the consumers in all appropriate areas of instruction, plus training in the test-teach-test format to determine the duration of training to reach stated goals.

Areas of Training and Skill Building

• Indoor Orientation and Mobility: Teaching safe and efficient travel skills using methods and techniques that maximize safety in the community.

• Activities of Daily Living: Teaching personal, and home management skills, as well as skills transferable to the work setting (labeling, filing, and organizational skills)

• Communications: Braille literacy and improving handwriting or use of signature, budgeting and check writing, use of recording devices, learning ways to use a computer, smartphone , and other electronic devices..

• Counseling and Vocational Exploration: Identifying and developing reasonable goals and appropriate accommodations to vocational outcomes.

• Adjustment and Support Groups: Groups for individuals and/or family, evenings, work day or weekends

• Social Skills: Skills of interviewing, developing resources, and leisure time management to name a few.

Group Teaching Events

• Group teaching events are offered for individuals experiencing low vision. Areas of instruction include:
  • Communications,
  • Mobility,
  • Adaptive techniques of food preparation,
  • Personal management,
  • Household management,
  • Hobbies and crafts, and
  • Community resources

Low Vision Services

• Identification and one-on-one training with specialized optical equipment and lighting techniques

• Use of specific filter sunglasses

• Referrals to Low Vision Therapist or Optometrist