News

Happy Holiday's from the Team at North Dakota Vision Services / School for the Blind!

North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind is committed to the continuation of wholistic Adult Services during the Coronavirus Pandemic! Although some of our services may have changed in appearance, they have not changed in heart or ability to meet the needs of our clients. 

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If you’re anything like me, you are tired of hearing the phrase “due to COVID-19.” We have been forced to change so many things in our lives “due to COVID-19,” and reading is no exception. I realize that reading is not a life or death matter, but it is important, and libraries provide vital services to communities. Reading does indeed improve the quality of life, and I know that reading is a necessary part of many of your lives, like it is for mine. However, many libraries are closed to the general public, and that has forced many people to change their reading habits. But there are still many ways to access books, and this is a perfect time to try out some new ways of reading. Here are 7 ways to access books during this pandemic.

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Through a partnership with the ND Space Grant Consortium, we are excited to announce a new scholarship opportunity for college students who are eligible for NDVS/SB services. Up to five scholarships totaling $2,500 will be awarded to students pursuing STEM with at least a 3.0 GPA.

More scholarship information and the application form can be found here: https://ndspacegrant.und.edu/college-students/scholarships/ndvssb.html Please share this opportunity with any students who may be interested in this scholarship.

Hello from Western North Dakota!

I am Erika Moulton and I am a teacher of the visually impaired and I serve students birth to eighteen in northwest North Dakota. I was previously located at Town & Country Shopping Center in Minot, but I have transitioned to a home office outside of Voltaire, ND. 

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First, North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB) would like to extend warm greetings and well wishes to everyone.  As NDVS/SB begins the school year, there isn’t any need to list all of the shared hopes and concerns we all have. Everyone is well aware of the challenges that Covid-19 has created, however NDVS/SB vows to do the best to support children under these circumstances.

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This year has dealt us an interesting hand that perhaps we could only imagine as a bad dream a short time ago. The upheaval in our lives due to COVID-19 is unprecedented in recent generations and no one knows for certain what the coming weeks and months will bring. We certainly hope for a return to what we considered normal and pray that people who have been infected recover successfully. For NDVS/SB the primary concerns are the safety of those we serve and the well-being of our staff. I could not be more proud of our NDVS/SB staff!

Lately, in the Braille Access Center I’ve been creating stick-in braille to assist with a new set of interactive books being made by our Region 4 Coordinator Sandy Brandt. NDVS/ SB has purchased two copies of the 25 book Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Williams which will have braille and other interactive elements added. This is the beginning of a tactile library the literacy team is creating, starting with where our TVIs have found gaps for students.

Hello and greetings from my Outreach Office at the Jamestown Business Center. I have often referred to myself as the Maytag repairman being the lone Teacher of the Visually Impaired in a 6 county area. These words are even more true today with COVID-19 affecting our services.

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I am often asked by my clients, “is this product accessible?” It is often hard to know before you purchase an item if you will be able to use a product independently once you get it home from the store or receive the package in the mail. The latest addition to the Osvold household is the Emmerson Sensi Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat that can be used with Alexa.