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Outreach Access Services

Serving Teachers Statewide

The Washington State School for the Blind Outreach Department continues to offer a comprehensive range of statewide services to support educators of students with blindness and low vision. As our field continues to grow, we remain committed to providing diverse, accessible support to educators across the state, free of charge.

Our mission:

The mission of Outreach Access Services is to provide statewide support for all who educate learners with blindness and low vision ages birth to 21, to help provide quality resources and to increase access to equitable services in Washington. 

What we do: 

Need a hand in any of these areas?  Outreach Access Services Request Form

What's new

The Outreach Access Services team continues to expand support for educators of blind and low vision learners across Washington. With so much happening, we’re launching a monthly update to keep you informed. Take a look—we hope you’ll find something useful!

Focus Forums - your go-to source for fresh ideas and collaborative learning. 

The WSSB Outreach Access Services (OAS) team will host Focus Forums on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the 1st and 3rd weeks of each month. These one-hour Zoom sessions will cover specific topics related to teaching in the Blind/Low Vision field. Information on upcoming topics will be available on EVE and the OAS page of the WSSB website, allowing you to register in advance.  

Each forum will feature OAS team members who will share the latest insights on the topic and facilitate group discussions. You are welcome to join these sessions to ask questions, share your thoughts, or simply listen in. 

Below are the topics scheduled.

  • Tuesday, April 22nd at 8:00 am: CVI Collaboration and Updates 
    • Do you have a learner with CVI on your caseload that you would like to collaborate with other professionals on?  Are you curious about what is new in the world of CVI?  We are looking forward to chatting about all things CVI with you! 
    • Register here for the Tuesday, April 22nd at 8:00 am session
  • Thursday, April 24th at 12:00 pm: AI with Joe 
    • Join WSSB Access Technology Specialist Joe Dlugo for a discussion about the latest AI innovations and possibilities for educators of students with blindness and low vision. Bring your questions, insights, and any concerns you'd like addressed. Also, if you've discovered a creative new way to use AI on the job, we'd love for you to share it with the group. 
    • Register here for the Thursday, April 24th at 12:00 pm session
  • Thursday, May 8th at 12:00 pm: Typing Resources 
  • Tuesday, May 20th at 8:00 am: Planning for Next School Year 
    • Keeping track of all the things we need to do this time of year as TBLVLs and O&M Specialists to plan for the next school year can be tricky.  Join us to talk about a list of important tasks we try to take care of for learners on our caseload every spring.  Hopefully we can continue to add to this resources sheet during this collaborative session. 
    • Register here for the Tuesday, May 20th at 8:00 am session
  • Thursday, May 22nd at 12:00 pm: Summer ECC Fun 
    • What are some fun summer resources that you share with your learners and their families at the end of the school year?  We invite you to join us for this session of sharing ideas on fun summer activities that can also help our learners work on ECC skills at the same time.  
    • Register here for the Thursday, May 22nd at 12:00 pm session

Do you have a topic you would like covered in a Focus Forum? Email Kirsten Dlugo to share your topic idea. 

Our team

The OAS team is made up of 9 educators with many decades of combined experience in educating students with blindness and low vision. They hold certifications in various specialties, including Teaching Students with Blindness and Low Vision (TBLV), Orientation and Mobility (O&M), and Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS). In addition, several teachers hold degrees and certifications in multiple areas across birth-21 special education. 

Services 

Teacher-to-teacher collaboration

Our field is extraordinarily broad in scope, with even experienced teachers finding it difficult to gain and maintain expertise in all areas of instruction and curriculum. The OAS team has specialized knowledge across the gamut of content areas. We’re thrilled to work with you to help make your students successful.  Request teacher-to-teacher collaboration

Professional development  

We’re here to empower teachers. Find OAS teachers providing the latest insights and knowledge at events across the state and in webinars. Stay tuned, as we will post our PD schedule regularly throughout the 2024/25 school year. We will also advertise our professional development offerings on the EVE list serve.

Mentorship & grant program 

Looking to join the amazing world of teaching students with blindness and low vision? Are you new to the field and would like some support? The OAS Mentor Program will help you get to where you want to be. We offer direct support, resources, and even grant funding. Visit the Mentorship & Grant Program web page and join the program that has launched the careers of over 40 new Washington TSVIs since 2017.

Access Technology & STEM 

Technology is a vast realm that evolves at extraordinary speeds. We can help you navigate the ever-changing possibilities by providing consultation, support, and professional development. Have a concern or need resources? Visit the OAS Access Technolgy & Stem web page or complete an Assistance Request form.

Student formal assessment in unserved districts 

The current demand for educators of students with blindness and low vision is extraordinary. Despite strong efforts to bring new teachers in the field, open positions can lie vacant. In these situations, maintaining student assessment schedules is vital. We’re here to help your district document student need by providing formal assessment services for vision and orientation and mobility free of charge. Request assistance for a formal assessment