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I am an itinerent teacher of the visually impaired and an orienatation and mobility teacher in Oregon. Closing the School for the Blind will have a negative impact for many more than the 30 students who are in residence there. The school offers many experiences for students throughout Oregon. Some of these include:

1. Annual Track Meet (outstanding experience for students)

2. Annual Goal Ball Tournament and Clinics (goal ball is a game created for the visually impaired)

3. Summer School classes including: computer/technology skills; performing arts; outdoor camping; sports camps; daily living skills and more. These are generally week-long camps with overnight experiences for socializing and daily living skills.

4. Transistion Programs for students exiting high school to live in an "apartment" on campus and attend community college.

5. Short-term placement opportunities for learning Braille, Cane Skills and other compensatory skills in a faster manner than an itinerent teacher can provide.

6. Career Fairs for learning about possible employment opportunities.

In addition, the School for the Blind offers classes to parents and professionals in the field of blindness. Their dorms are also used to house students participating in the Summer Work Experience Program (SWEP) offered to severely visually impaired students who are 16-21 years of age.

It is a crime to lose this resource in our state. I can understand that the school needed restructuring, but to close it completely is a real disservice to the students and the professionals serving them in our state.

posted 4 years ago
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