New Mexico School for the
Blind and Visually Impaired

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 

Why should I consider the Residential Campus for my child?

• 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 2^nd 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

Who should be referred to NMSBVI?

• 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