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![]() Western PA School for Blind Children Offers Extensive Outreach Services
WPSBC's Outreach Program covers a wide geographic area, reaching into Beaver, Mercer, Fayette, Indiana, Westmoreland and Butler counties plus the Pittsburgh Public Schools. In addition, the program serves pediatric hospitals and rehab facilities and Early Intervention agencies. WPSBC's Outreach Program currently serves 20 school districts; 5 Intermediate units; 5 private contractors; 4 Early Intervention programs; one charter school and 5 cyber charter schools. The program includes a lending library, equipment loan program, Braille instruction, independent living skills instruction and staff seminars. All resources, consults and evaluations are provided at cost, with no administrative fees. According to Ramella, 80% of the children served by WPSBC have Cortical Visual Impairment, or CVI, which means they are visually impaired as a result of an injury to the brain and not a condition of the optic nerve or the eye itself. CVI can be due to birth anoxia, head injury, a genetic syndrome or a neurological disorder. The Outreach Team offers CVI Range assessment and functional visual assessment. For Ramella and the Outreach team, their work is about much more than providing a range of services. "Children who have visual impairment are entitled to learn just like every other child," she says. "They deserve the same learning opportunities, but too often, they get much less because they don't receive information and education in the way that other kids do, as there aren't enough teachers available who have the skills to do this. What we are doing is helping and supporting their teachers and giving these children access to a curriculum which their sighted friends have, so that they can participate fully. They have dreams for themselves just like any other child and we help make that happen." To learn more, visit www.wpsbc.org. To contact Beth Ramella, call (412) 621-0100 Ext. 379 or email her at ramellab@wpsbc.org. ![]() |
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![]() Western Pennsylvania Guide to Good Health. All rights reserved. |