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Residential Program

Banner Residential campus with animated letters

 

Alamogordo Residential Campus

 

 

Instruction on the residential campus includes emphasis on the Expanded Core Curriculum: O&M, technology, recreation & leisure, independent living, social skills, compensatory / access skills, self determination, career education, and sensory efficiency skills plus the development of any individual specific skills that will prepare the student for educational success in their home school district or in post-educational settings.

About the Residential Program:

  • located at our historic campus in Alamogordo, New Mexico

  • provides intensive compensatory skill development to give blind and visually impaired students access to education and opportunities for independence

  • students from around the state attend school Monday – Friday noon, then travel home for weekends, holidays, and summer vacation (very young and local students continue to live at home and are day students only)

  • short-term (1-2 week) programs for skill building are also available 

 

 

Wideshot of student on campus

 

 

 

Why should I consider the Residential Campus for my child?

NMSBVI student uses a chisle to shape the wood as it spins on a lathe for a pen he is making in the NMSBVI wood shop.

  • at the heart of all instruction is the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC), which addresses the unique educational needs of students who have visual impairment
  • NMSBVI’s Continuum of Education extends from preschool through graduation and beyond with transition services that prepare students to move from school to adult life
  • NMSBVI’s professional educators are trained and licensed to teach specialized skills for blind and visually impaired students that are often not available through the public school system
  • NMSBVI’s Instructional Resource Center (IRC) is located on the Alamogordo campus, giving students rapid access to Braille books and materials as well as assistive equipment to access educational resources
  • the residential campus provides opportunities to reinforce social skills, life & employment skills, travel skills, recreation/leisure, and self advocacy
  • a transition plan (back home) is in place from day one, to assure that the home school district receives support and is prepared to receive the student at the end of their placement on the main campus
  • students are amongst peers going through similar struggles and successes who can relate to the challenge of living with visual impairment 

 

 

 

What services does NMSBVI’s Residential Campus offer?

  • academic, modified, and ability option programs (New Mexico Common Core and expanded grade band standards are used for all programming)
  • day programming and residential programming for preschool through high school (preschool through 2nd grade are day students only)
  • inclusion program (opportunity to take classes in local public schools)
  • Expanded Core Assessment and Instruction, Orientation and Mobility instruction, assistive technology, braille instruction, and all other components of blindness/VI education
  • physical, speech and occupational therapies
  • nursing and nutrition
  • counseling
  • assessment related to vision specific needs; 3 yr. re-evaluations
  • music instruction (including private lessons)
  • household skill-building such as meal-planning, cleaning, and laundry
  • recreational/leisure opportunities such as skiing, swimming, Goal Ball, bike riding, camping, sewing, arts and crafts
  • transportation to and from school each weekend and holiday so that students can be with their families
  • placement and services are developed in a joint IEP with participation by family, the student’s local education agency (LEA) and NMSBVI

 

 

Picture of the NMSBVI Rose Garden

special programs including:

    • Post Secondary Program:  post high-school skill development in one or more areas of independent living, community-based instruction, or employability skills
    • Short-Term Stay:  1-2 week on-campus stays available throughout the year to reinforce specific vision/ECC focus areas (Click here for more information on short term programs)
    • weekend activities – various activities include braille competition, sports, music, camping, recreation, etc.
    • summer camps:  week-long camps offered on NMSBVI campuses and around the state to reinforce ECC skills and introduce new recreation and leisure interests (Click here for more information on summer camps

 

 

 

Who should be referred to NMSBVI?

Alamogordo Campus Entrance Sign

 

 

  • New Mexico students who have an assessed visual impairment that impacts their learning and who need intensive instruction in skills such as braille, O&M, life skills, and technology)
  • a student whose school has been unsuccessful hiring or replacing its teacher of the visually impaired (TVI)
  • a high school student who has finished school, but is not prepared for the next life step
  • a middle or high school student who could benefit from an extra year to prepare for high school or college (determined by the team)
  • a high school student who needs credit recovery
  • a student who needs a 3-year re-evaluation or a 45 day placement to help a district determine the benefit of intensive instruction specific to the student’s visual impairment

 

 

 

What happens after an inquiry is made?

 

  • NMSBVI will request an eye report, current IEP, a functional vision/learning media evaluation, and any other needed assessments
  • NMSBVI staff will then interview the family and LEA team to determine the vision-specific focus areas for placement (the NMSBVI admissions team will travel to the student’s school district to observe if needed)
  • all placements must include discussion of the following:
    • specific vision-related objectives and goals
    • visual needs related to academics and the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC)
    • safe transportation for the student to and from the residential campus

Who can make a referral to NMSBVI?

  • exploration of placement possibility can begin with as little as a phone call from the school district or a family member

A picture of the the Linda Lyle administration building

For more information about the Residential Program, Short-Term Programs or general Admissions:

An image of Julie Johnson

Julie Johnson

Admissions/Outreach Coordinator