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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, February 25th at 8:00 am and Thursday, February 27th at 12:00 pm: Serving Blind and Low Vision Learners at Home

Tuesday, March 4th at 8:00 am: Creating Student Passports to Support Transitions 

  • A student passport can be a powerful tool to support a transition for a learner at any age.  Join us to talk about how we are using student passports and how to get started on one to support a transition from Part C to Part B, from school building to school building, and/or as part of person-centered planning in a transition IEP. 

Thursday, March 6th at 12:00 pm: Transitioning from B-3 to School-Based Services 

  • The transition from Part C to Part B services is a unique one that requires collaboration between IFSP and IEP teams.  Hannah Greenlee from WSSB will join us for this session to talk about some key parts of this transition and to share some strategies we can all use to make this important transition a successful one. 

Tuesday, March 18th at 8:00 am: PNWAER Review  

  • Did you go to some great presentations at the PNWAER conference and learn about new strategies/tools to use with your students?  Were you unable to go, so you want to hear about what others learned at the conference?  Either way, please join us to talk about important takeaways from the 2025 PNWAER conference. 

Thursday, March 20th at 12:00 pm: Transitioning to Adult Services 

  • Transitioning from school-based services to adult services is another important transition in our students’ lives.  In this meeting we will have Matthew Hines from the Department of Services for the Blind join us to answer any questions professionals have about how to best support learners as they make the transition to adult services. 

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