Rhode Island Vision Education and Services Program (RIVESP)

The Rhode Island Vision Education and Services Program at the Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities at Rhode Island College, supported by the Rhode Island Department of Education, provides specialized teaching and consultation services to children who are legally blind or visually impaired, their families, and educational staff. (A visual impairment is defined as visual acuity of 20/70 or less in the better eye (with correction) or a visual field of 20 degrees or less.)  Direct and consultative services are provided by state certified Teachers of Children with Visual Impairments and Orientation and Mobility Specialists using an itinerant model. The array of services available encompasses educational, social, recreational, and vocational skills needed for successful integration.

For further information contact:

Katrena Traut-Savino, Program Coordinator

Sherlock Center on Disabilities
600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue
Providence, RI 02908
Telephone (401) 456-8910
Email: ksavino@ric.edu
www.sherlockcenter.org

Phyllis Meloro
RI Department of Education, Office of Special Populations
Telephone (401) 222-4693

 Email Phyllis.Meloro@ride.ri.gov

The websites listed below are included for information only. When searching the internet for accurate information, it is often good practice to confine the search to national institutes, national organizations, hospitals and medical schools. These resources listed below will provide information and links to other sites. Please note this is not a comprehensive list but merely some sites to help begin a search for information. The Rhode Island Department of Education has no control over information at these sites. Views and opinions of these organizations are not necessarily those of the Rhode Island Department of Education.

National Agenda for the Education of Children and Youths with Visual Impairment, including those with multiple disabilities
www.tsbvi.edu/agenda/index.htm

Rhode Island Parents of Blind Visually Impaired Children
www.ripbvic.com

Rhode Island National Federation of the Blind
www.nfbri.org

· American Foundation for the Blind
www.afb.org

National Family Association for Deaf and Blind
www.nfadb.org

Rhode Island Department of Health
Early Intervention
http://www.health.ri.gov/family/ei/Home.htm

Rhode Island Department of Human Services
Office of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
www.ors.state.ri.us/SBVI.htm

Vision Services Program in PDF format

Vision Resources List