Newsletter - Category View

by Paul Olson, NDVS/SB Superintendent

As the Superintendent of NDVS/SB, I visit the legislature every other year to testify in regard to our agency budget request. I always enjoy telling our story as part of that process. It is our opportunity to go on record about needs in the state as well as our successes and challenges. Over the years I have had a few opportunities to testify about specific questions that have come up in the interim. I was recently asked to provide testimony at the Capitol on May 27^th to the Health & Human Services Committee made up of members of the North Dakota Senate and the House. This Committee had formally inquired about vision screening practices for infants. This question arose as an off shoot of an interim study regarding screening practices for children that might be deaf and hard of hearing. In addition to this topic, the committee asked me to address how citizens of the state with low vision and blindness experience state government in general. 

Big Questions, Asked and Answered Full Article

by Cindy Williams, TSVI, Coordinator of Student Programs

As another successful school year comes to a close, we celebrate the growth, accomplishments, and perseverance of our students and families. While summer brings opportunities for recreation and sunshine, it also provides the opportunity for students who are blind or have low vision to continue building important life skills beyond the classroom. Summer experiences can support growth in areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), including independent living, assistive technology, self-determination, and community readiness. These essential skills help students gain greater confidence, independence, and access to both their education and everyday environments. Throughout the summer months, many national organizations offer engaging programs, resources, and activities that families can incorporate at home to encourage continued learning and skill development.

Summer Learning and Resources Full Article

by Tracy Wicken, Assistive Technology Specialist 

After 41 years of working for the State of North Dakota, 21 of which working for ND Vision Services/School for the Blind as an Assistive Technology Specialist and Teacher of the Visually Impaired, I am retiring and becoming, what is stated by Gemini on the computer as a “Seenager,” which is a popular blend of "senior" and "teenager"—describing someone who has money, can sleep in, and has zero parental supervision. It sounds great, doesn’t it!  I will now go down memory lane a bit.

I started working for Services for the Visually Impaired back in 1985. At the time, it was a prevocational program through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation for adults in North Dakota with vision loss. There were four staff people in that office: an administrator, an administrative assistant, an Orientation and Mobility Instructor, and me, as the Communications Instructor. I taught braille reading and writing, typing, handwriting, labelling, and money identification. Technology for the blind was in its infancy, and computers were the size of large pieces of furniture or bigger! People with vision loss came to Grand Forks from all across North Dakota  for this training and would stay in Grand Forks for 10-12 weeks. I loved the work I was doing there. I was helping people, and I met many people who I am still in contact with today.

Reflection on My Career Full Article

Our new Transition Specialist is a familiar face! Lilly Dunrud became our Transition Specialist in December. Read about her new role below.

I started working at NDVS/SB in December of 2018 as the APH Coordinator/ Administrative Assistant. In December 2025, I was hired as the Transition Specialist, which truly has been a dream come true. Having worked here for so many years, I feel that knowing the ins and outs of the agency has made this transition into my new role so much smoother. 

As the new Transition Specialist at NDVS/SB, I am excited to continue building my knowledge and skills so I can best support students who are blind or have low vision as they prepare for life after high school. My goal is to help students build confidence, independence, and self-advocacy skills while exploring career interests, post-secondary education, employment opportunities, independent living skills, and community involvement. I look forward to helping students and families navigate transition planning, connect with resources, and develop the tools they need to successfully reach their personal goals. 

Transition to a Transition Position Full Article

There are plenty of stereotypes regarding people who are blind, most of them negative. Even though people who are blind or have low vision prove these stereotypes wrong by simply living normal lives - succeeding in their jobs, raising families, and living independently, the stereotypes persist.

Jeremy Schmidt of Bismarck is one of those people proving the stereotype wrong. Jeremy has been blind his entire life, but – perhaps surprising to some people - graduated from college, has a successful career working as a Contact Service Representative for Social Security, is raising a family, and continues to grow and challenge himself. He is, you could say, living a normal life, where blindness can be a challenge at times but does not define his life. 

Proving the Stereotypes Wrong Full Article