Welcome to State Services for the Blind (SSB) child information and referral page. The resources listed here should serve as a starting point for answers to questions about child development, eye conditions, and adaptive skills.
SSB
also provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to eligible transition-age youth (those ages 14 and above). When children turn 14,
SSB
encourages parents and legal guardians to apply for
VR
services on their child’s behalf so it can be determined whether that child is eligible for
VR
services. Visit the Youth Services webpage for information on applying for youth services.
General Information on Blindness/Visually Impaired
DeafBlind
Early Childhood/Education
Advocacy
Adjustment to Blindness
Transition
Volunteer Organizations
Book/Video Services
Support for Families
Aides and Devices
Recreation
Mental Health
Children Services Documents
Contact Information
I. General Information on Blindness/Visually Impaired
American Council for the Blind
Resources for parents and teachers of blind and visually impaired children.
American Council of the Blind (MN)
Phone resource for parents and teachers of blind and visually impaired children in Minnesota.
Info Express - 1-800-642-5002
American Foundation for the Blind
Learn about living with vision loss, education, employment, technology, Braille and more.
Americans with Disabilities Act
Information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Blindness-related resources on the Web and beyond
Blindness Resource Center
Resources to Blindness Organizations.
Braille School
Braille School, also known as BRL (Blindness Related Learning) is the leading provider of web-based communication learning tools for the visually impaired, their friends and family.
Enable Link
Enable Link is an online community just for visually impaired adults and their families. You will find breaking news, music reviews, lifestyle articles, technology features and much more.
EyeCare America Children's Program
The Children's EyeCare Program (CEP) is designed to educate parents on how to recognize the symptoms of eye diseases and disorders in their children between newborn and 36 months of age.
Foundation for the Junior Blind
Provides information about blindness, programs, and services for children and adults who are blind or visually impaired and their families to achieve independence and self-esteem.
International Center for Disability Resources on the Internet
Provide education, outreach and training on quality resources and best practices for blind and visually impaired.
Low Vision and Blindness: Such a Sight
This page contains Low Vision and Blindness related sources and resources such as organizations, agencies, vendors, and individual's web page.
MN-NFB Parents of Blind Children
Contact Carrie Gilmer at: 612-872-0100 or 763-784-8590.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
Central source of information on: disabilities in infants, toddlers, children, and youth, IDEA, which is the law authorizing special education, No Child Left Behind (as it relates to children with disabilities), and research-based information on effective educational practices.
National Federation for the Blind
Provides education about blindness, information and referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness, aids and appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, advocacy services and protection of civil rights, development and evaluation of technology, and support for blind persons and their families.
National Federation for the Blind of Minnesota
The National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota (NFBM) is the state's largest and oldest organization of the blind. We provide individual counseling, advocacy, and education through a number of programs.
To reach them by phone: 612-872-9363
Resource for the Blind, Visually Impaired, Disabled and Interested Parties
Websites related to blindness or vendors of adaptive hardware/software for the blind, visually impaired, and disabled.
State Services for the Blind (SSB)
Information about vision loss and about programs and resources available through SSB for persons who are blind or visually impaired.
Vision Simulation Presentation
II. Deafblind
American Association of the DeafBlind-AADB
Of, by, & for DeafBlind Americans.
DB-Link State Resource Sheet
Provides information about the State Deaf Blind Project, family support organizations, educational and technical assistance programs and service and rehab programs for persons who are deaf blind.
Deafblindinfo.org
Minnesota's Online Resource about Combined Vision and Hearing Loss.
Deafblindness Resources on the Net
A comprehensive list of resources available on the internet for persons who are deaf blind.
Deafblind Services Minnesota
This website provides information about DeafBlind Services Minnesota, an award-winning non-profit organization, dedicated to serving deafblind children, adults, and their families throughout the state of Minnesota.
Helen Keller National Center
This is the site for the Helen Keller National Center for Deafblind youths and adults.
MN DeafBlind Association – MDBA
Providing information, education, advocacy and other services to persons who are deafblind, family members, parents of deafblind children, allies and professionals.
MN DeafBlind Technical Assistance Program
To continue current programs and develop activities in early intervention, educational and related services, technical assistance to children and youth with deaf-blindness, their parents and siblings, and educators and other service providers that have made the Minnesota Deaf-Blind Project one of this country's most valuable resources. 203 children and youth are currently identified as having deaf-blindness in Minnesota. The project will serve all identified children and youth with deafblindness in Minnesota, with a special emphasis to be placed on identifying and serving such children living on American Indian reservations.
National Family Association for DeafBlind-NFADB
The National Family Association for Deaf-Blind (NFADB) is a non-profit, volunteer-based family association. Our philosophy is that individuals who are deaf-blind are valued members of society and are entitled to the same opportunities and choices as other members of the community.
National Information Clearinghouse on Children who are Deafblind
Information to nurture, empower, and instruct children who are deaf-blind.
National Technical Assistance Consortium for Children and Young Adults Who Are Deaf-Blind
Provides technical assistance to families and agencies serving children and young adults who are deaf-blind (ages birth to 22 years).
III. Early Childhood/Education
Early Childhood Services
A directory of services available to children with disabilities in Minnesota.
The FAPE Site (Free Appropriate Public Education)
This site is intended to be a beginning point for research by parents, educators, state and federal staff members, and other interested parties into a wide range of issues involving disabilities and disability law.
Follow Along Program Early Childhood Intervention System
The Follow Along Program helps you to know if your child is playing, talking, growing, moving, and acting like other children the same age.
Metro ECSU Low Incidence Project
The Minnesota Low Incidence Project is designed to assist school districts across the state in fulfilling federal requirements in the areas of implementation of the IDEA, professional development and insuring the availability of high quality staff in the low incidence areas of Special Education.
Minnesota Department of Education
From the homepage, users can access a variety of school-related information.
Minnesota State Academy for the Blind
The Minnesota State Academy for the Blind (MSAB) is a statewide public school that provides educational services on a 24-hour basis for enrolled students, based on legally mandated individual education plans (IEP's) when the local school district of residence cannot meet the educational needs of the student. Non-enrolled students are eligible for educational services in support of maintaining attendance within their local school district of residence and are served either at MSAB or within their local district.
National Agenda for the Education of Children and Youths with Visual Impairments, including those with multiple disabilities
The National Agenda is the result of parents, teachers, and administrators working as partners to make changes for students with visual impairments.
Northeast Service Cooperative
Provides technical assistance, long-range planning, priority programs and needed services to eligible members, (schools, cities, counties and public agencies) throughout Northeast Minnesota. (Koochiching, Itasca, Aitkin, St. Louis, Carlton, Lake and Cook counties).
WRIGHTSLAW (FAPE)
If you have a child with a disability, your child is entitled to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). This page has Qs & As, articles, law, cases, books, and other resources about FAPE.
IV. Advocacy
Advocating Change Together (ACT)
Advocating Change Together (ACT) is a grassroots disability rights organization run by and for people with developmental and other disabilities. ACT's mission is to help people across disabilities to see themselves as part of a larger disability rights movement and make connections to other civil and human rights struggles.
A Guide to Disability Rights Laws
This guide provides an overview of Federal civil rights laws that ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
Families and Advocates Partnership for Education
A partnership that aims to improve the educational outcomes for children with disabilities. It links families, advocates, and self-advocates to information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( IDEA).
Making Your Case
A self-study course designed to help people with developmental disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy.
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
An organization that enables parents to find information and resources for their children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities.
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
The Education of Children and Youth with Special Needs: What do the Laws Say? Information about federal laws regarding special education and related services, vocational education, and civil rights.
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
A national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children reaching out to each other to give vital support, encouragement, and information.
Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER)
Provides information to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life of children and young adults with disabilities and their families, based on the concept of parents helping parents. Provides leadership in securing a free and appropriate public education for all children.
V. Adjustment to Blindness
BLIND, Inc.
BLIND, Incorporated is an adjustment to blindness training center that teaches the skills that blind people need to become independent and employable such as braille, home management, the use of the white cane, and computers with screen reading software, etc.
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
Authorized by an Act of Congress in 1967, the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC) is a national rehabilitation program serving youth and adults who are deaf-blind.
Lighthouse for the Blind
The Lighthouse is an adjustment to blindness training center. The Lighthouse exists to foster the independence of people who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf blind, thereby helping them to realize their full potential.
Vision Loss Resources
Vision Loss Resources, an adjustment to blindness training center, assists people who are blind or visually impaired in achieving their full potential and to enrich the lives of all persons affected by blindness or vision loss.
VI. Transition
Hennepin Community Transition Interagency Committee
Connects youth/young adults with disabilities and their families to community resources; empowering them to strengthen advocacy skills in order to navigate their life plan.
L.I.F.E. – Learning Independence-summer school program
The L.I.F.E. program is designed to provide functional learning experiences for visually impaired students between the ages of 16 to 21 who have transitional needs that require on-going training or are unable to have their needs met during the regular school year.
Looking Ahead - Pacer
A newsletter for youth with disabilities and their families.
Summer Transition Program
A two-week residential program for students who have completed the 10th grade that provides experiences to address the unique transition needs of students who are blind, low vision, or deaf blind.
Tami Schweisthal, Blind and
Visually Impaired Resource Center
507-332-5510
1-800-657-3859
VII. Volunteer Organizations
Lions Clubs International
Lions are recognized worldwide for their service to the blind and visually impaired.
VIII. Book/Video Services
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is a service agency which specializes in providing to blind people help which is not readily available to them from government programs or other existing service systems. The services of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults are planned especially to meet the needs of blind children, the elderly blind, and the deaf-blind.
American Printing House for the Blind
The world's largest source for adapted educational and daily living products - since 1858.
Benetech Bookshare.org
Bookshare.org dramatically increases the accessibility of books for people with visual or other print disabilities.
BrailleInk
BrailleInk. is a new non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the experience of reading by providing materials with both print and braille in a unique, easy-to-use format that encourages shared reading and promotes braille awareness.
Library of Congress
National Library Service for Blind Children and Adults.
Media Access Group at WGBH
The Media Access Group at WGBH has been pioneering and delivering accessible media to disabled adults, students, and their families, teachers, and friends for over 30 years.
National Braille Press
National Braille Press is a Boston-based nonprofit braille printing and publishing house.
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic
Anyone with a documented disability-including a visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability which makes reading standard print difficult or impossible-is eligible to use RFB&D's audio textbooks but in order to access our library, you need to become a member.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to increasing the opportunity for literacy by providing high quality, low cost braille books for children.
Six Friends
Books (and Other Materials) in Alternative Formats.
State Services for the Blind-Communication Center
The Communication Center of State Services for the Blind is a special library and transcription service providing reading material in alternate formats, (audio services, braille, radio talking book and newspapers) to citizens of Minnesota who have difficulty reading normal print. This provides them with the tools needed to enrich their lives and gain personal independence through access to information.
Volunteer Braille Services - Minnesota
The mission of VBS is to train and support volunteer braille transcribers, improving the accuracy and effectiveness of their braille transcriptions through continuing education, and to provide transcribed materials for braille readers.
Volunteer Braille Services was incorporated in 1968 for the purpose of training sighted volunteers to transcribe print into braille. We are a chartered non-profit 501c3 organization in the state of Minnesota.
- Looking to get involved? We are always looking for volunteers to train as certified Braille transcribers.
- Need materials brailled? We will braille textbooks, math, library, and foreign language materials.
- Looking for something to read? Check out our Very Bumpy Stories, a print/Braille and bound volume library for visually impaired children and young adults.
IX. Support for families
Family Support America
A type of grassroots, community-based program designed to prevent family problems by strengthening parent-child relationships and providing whatever parents need in order to be good nurturers and providers.
Hadley School for the Blind
The Hadley School for the Blind offers more than 90 distance education courses to blind adults (14+ years of age), relatives of a blind or visually impaired child, family members of a blind or visually impaired adult, or professionals in the blindness field free of charge.
Meld
Meld is a national non-profit family service organization. Meld has been making a positive difference for 30 years in the lives of families with children—nurturing the crucial connections between parents and children by building skills, knowledge, support systems, and confidence. Through this work with Meld, parents get what they need to raise nurtured, competent children.
Minnesota Help
Use this directory to locate community resources.
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
"Parents must regard themselves as the long-lasting resource and the only consistent persons who continually have the child's interest at heart throughout their lifetime. This organization now is a means to help them fulfill that function." - Lee Robinson.
Social Security Online
Information about disability and SSI. Do you qualify? How to apply for disability benefits, and more disability information.
V.I. Guide
This site contains information on many topics pertaining to parenting and teaching a child with visual impairments.
X. Aides and Devices
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
The world's largest source for adapted educational and daily living products.
Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc.
A variety of products dedicated to people with vision loss.
Duluth Lighthouse for the Blind
Twin Ports Low Vision Store – magnifiers, CCTV’s, kitchen aids, playing cards, talking watches, and other aids for the visually impaired.
FlagHouse Special Populations
Call the number below or use the e-mail to obtain a product catalog.
Independent Living Aids, Inc.
Low Vision Products for an active independent life.
1-800-793-7900
LearnMoreShop.com
Kids canes and walkers, educational toys, low vision aids, sports games, watches and clocks, tactile games, talking toys, write and Braille products, and just for fun items.
Lots of Dots
Product line offered for kids through the American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
Minnesota Sources of Aids and Devices
Additional resources as listed on the State Services for the Blind website.
XI. Recreation
Achilles Track Club
Encourages disabled people to participate in long-distance running with the general public.
American Blind Skiing Foundation
ABSF is committed to serving visually impaired children & adults, giving them the opportunities and experiences in skiing that builds confidence & independence that can last a lifetime.
Beep Baseball
Describes beep baseball.
The Blind Readers Page
Sports, games, and recreation.
Blind Shooting System
A system developed as a biathlon shooting system for visually impaired.
Camps
A directory of camps prepared by The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services.
International Blind Sport Federation
Their goal is the full integration of the blind and visually impaired through sport at all levels.
Judo for Blind Athletes
Describes rules for visually impaired in Judo competition, coaching tips for visually impaired athletes, and more.
My Summer Camps
Visually impaired camps for boys, girls, children, kids, youth, teens, juveniles, in the US and Canada including camp jobs.
National Association of Blind Athletes
The mission of the United States Association of Blind Athletes is to increase the number and quality of grassroots-through-competitive, world-class athletic opportunities for Americans who are blind or visually impaired.
Recreation Activities
Recreation guide for persons with visual impairments.
Skating Association for the Blind and Handicapped
Teaches children, youth, and adults with all types of disabilities to ice skate.
XII. Mental Health
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
The National Academies of Science estimates that roughly one in five children in America experiences some form of diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. The Bazelon Center works to protect, promote and advance the rights of children with mental or emotional disorders.
Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
The National family-run organization dedicated exclusively to helping children with mental health needs and their families achieve a better quality of life.
Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health
Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for children with mental health disorders and their families.
MN Children’s Mental Health
Children's Mental Health staff help children and adolescents with severe emotional disturbance. They work with counties and Children's Mental Health Collaboratives to establish a comprehensive, integrated, and accountable mental health delivery system that meets the mental health needs of children and youth and helps people become as self-sufficient as possible.
NAMI-The Nation’s Voice on Mental Illness
NAMI’s Commitment to Children & Adolescents with Mental Illnesses and their Families
National Center for Mental Health in Schools
Operating under the auspices of the School Mental Health Project at UCLA, the national Center for Mental Health in Schools was established in 1995. Our mission and aims are to improve outcomes for young people by enhancing the field of mental health in schools.
National Institute of Mental Health
Many children have mental health problems that interfere with normal development and functioning. In the U.S. today, one in ten children suffer from a mental disorder severe enough to cause some level of impairment.
National Mental Health Association
The country's oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans, especially the 54 million people with mental disorders, through advocacy, education, research and service.
National Mental Health Information Center
Like adults, children and adolescents can have mental health disorders that interfere with the way they think, feel, and act. Mental health influences the ways individuals look at themselves, their lives, and others in their lives. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life.
Children Services Documents
Contact Information
Mike Newman
Rehabilitation Couns Supv 4
(651) 642-0843
(651) 649-5927 - Fax
michael.newman@state.mn.us
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