Washington State School for
the Blind
Strategic Plan -
2000 - 2007
"We will provide
world-class educational services
to the visually impaired and
blind"
Introduction:
The primary
purpose of the State School for the Blind is to educate and train visually
impaired and blind children (RCW 72.40.010) throughout the state of
Washington. The School is unique in
the fact that it is both a public school and a state
agency.
The School for
the Blind has a rich history of providing quality services to blind and visually
impaired children from throughout the state. The school was established in 1886 as a
territorial school and has provided leadership and direction in the development
of services to the blind and visually impaired for over 100 years. The school is nationally accredited by
the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and serves as a statewide
demonstration and resource center providing direct and indirect services to
students both on campus and in the child's local community. Services are
provided to families, educators, blind consumers and others interested in
assisting visually impaired youth in becoming independent and contributing
citizens. Independence is probably
the best single word to describe the school.
As
philosophical views have changed over the years, so has the school for the
blind. Over the past 10 years the
school has changed service delivery models from one of primarily a residential
model to one that meets children, parents, and local school districts needs not
only on the campus, but throughout the state. Since 1990 the school for the blind has
increased the number of children being served by over 500% through a
diversification of service delivery models.
Under the
direction of the Board of Trustees and in consultation with parents, students,
and personnel throughout the state, WSSB has continued to examine it's role to
make sure that customers needs now and in the future are being
met.
The WSSB
strategic plan represents a commitment from many individuals over the years in
making sure that the School for the Blind continues to provide strong leadership
and direction in the development of quality services for blind and visually
impaired children.
Mission
Statement:
To provide
specialized quality educational services to visually impaired youth ages birth
to 21 within the State of Washington.
The School
serves as a statewide demonstration and resource center providing direct and
indirect services to students both on campus and in the children’s local
communities. Services are provided
to families, educators, and others interested in assisting visually impaired
youth in becoming independent and contributing citizens.
Philosophy:
WSSB believes
all students have the right to a safe and stimulating learning environment and
the right to an appropriate education. We also believe that all students can
benefit from intensive short-term placement options and a menu of services that
can be provided through partnerships with LEAs and ESDs. Conceptually, the School for the Blind
is like a revolving door that allows students to enter, learn a skill and exit
back into their local district and then re-enter for additional intensive
learning and then exit again. It is
this ease of movement between LEAs, ESDs, and WSSB, which helps improve the
overall programs for blind and visually impaired within the entire state. No
one school or agency can accomplish what these children need without this spirit
of cooperation and sharing.
Future
Direction Statements:
·
Improve
statewide services through effective partnerships.
·
Place more
emphasis in actively involving parents in their child’s
program.
·
Continue to
place a heavy emphasis on WSSB as a hub of service delivery for the state as a
demonstration center for “Best Practices.”
·
Develop
programs to assist students in developing positive self-image about
blindness.
·
Strengthen
Educational and Residential programs through short-term placement with all goals
leading toward independence.
·
Continue to
set high expectations for all students.
·
Strengthen
programs by making sure that each student accepted for enrollment has vision
loss as a primary disability. (It
is important to note that this is not an acuity dependent issue, but dependent
upon each child’s independent evaluation and functional/performance-based vision
assessment.)
·
Work with all
consumers of services in developing school and agency
pride.
·
Continue to
develop creative solutions through on-campus and outreach services in providing
for the needs of students, parents and LEAs throughout the
state.
Value:
·
Comprehensive
skill development and high expectations for each blind and visually impaired
child to include: Braille, independent travel, social skills, use of technology,
personal management, use of low vision aides, and job
skills.
·
Literacy for
all those who are blind and visually impaired.
·
Helping
families support and understand their visually impaired and blind
children.
·
Development of
collaborative partnerships.
·
Efficient and
effective use of resources.
·
Trained and
competent personnel.
I.
Leadership - Promote and
provide leadership in the development and improvement of quality services to
blind and visually impaired children throughout the state of
Washington.
1.
Provide
quality services that are cost effective and efficient in meeting customer
needs.
2.
Facilitate
cooperative partnerships that promote improvements in efficient and effective
quality services to blind and visually impaired children.
3.
Provide
leadership in the development of safe quality state-of-the-art facilities that
will meet the needs of children today and in the future.
4.
Provide
children with a safe and stimulating learning environment that will encourage
independence and success.
5.
Secure private
and other public funding sources to help meet the needs of blind and visually
impaired children throughout the state.
II.
Academic
Achievement - All
students will be provided a stimulating, and safe environment that will lead
toward high student achievement, and strong self-confidence and self
esteem.
1. Maximum student achievement of Individualized Education Programs (IEP).
2. Students graduating from the school will be successfully employed.
3. Students will be competent in the use of technology that provides access for successful integration into our society.
4. Maximize student skills in the areas of daily and independent living to allow for successful integration into our society.
5. Assist students in developing positive self image and self-confidence.
III. Best
Practice -
Serve as a
statewide center of best practice for information and services for blind and
visually impaired children.
1.
Provide
leadership in the development of access technology for blind and visually
impaired children.
2.
Provide
equipment and materials (textbooks and appliances) in a timely manner to LEAs
throughout the state.
3.
Develop a cost
effective and efficient system for the sharing of resources (equipment,
textbook, and materials) for the state.
4.
Assist in the
facilitation of research to promote and improved services and service delivery
models to the blind and visually impaired.
5.
Assist in the
development of appropriate assessment instruments to measure academic
achievement of blind and visually impaired children.
IV. Service
Provider/Parent Training
- Enhance pre-service and inservice training
for all vision related personnel and parents.
1.
Assist in a
development of a model that will provide a pool of highly qualified teachers of
the blind and orientation and mobility specialists for our
state.
2.
Expand
training opportunities for parents of blind and visually impaired
children.
3.
Assist with
the facilitation of yearly training opportunities for service providers
throughout the state.
4.
Gather input
from customers throughout the state on their inservice
needs.
5.
Expand
partnerships with university programs to improve training options within our
state.
V.
Public
Education/Awareness -
Increase
awareness, and educate the general public about blindness and visual
impairment.
1.
Utilize
state-of-the-art technology to facilitate improvements in awareness of services
and programs.
2.
Increase staff
participation as speakers to civic groups and at state and national
conference.
3.
Continue to
expand WSSB's interaction with the community and throughout the
state.
VI. Communications - Improve
communication with families and service providers involved in the education of
blind and visually impaired children throughout the
state.
1.
Gather input
from customers throughout the state on ways of improving
communications.
2.
Increase
feedback to all groups associated with the school.
VII. Safe
Environment - Provide
safe, quality facilities for the education and training of children, parents and
personnel.
1.
Provide a
state of the art facility that allows for the efficient and effective use of
educational strategies in improving children and staff
performance.
2.
Implement the
school's ten year plan, which is based upon feedback from all
stakeholders.
Acknowledgements:
The Washington State School for the Blind Board of Trustees
would like to thank all the individuals and groups that have provided input in
the development of this Strategic Plan.
Information for this plan is the result of a culmination of data from
numerous stakeholders over many years, including the results and from
self-studies as part of National Accreditation through the Northwestern
Association of Schools and Colleges.
Participants:
Bonda Albers
Jim Bickford
Lynnda Biek
Sue Bishop
Annabelle Fitts
Rod Humble
Dennis Mathews
Craig Meador
Janet Merz
Robb Peck
Terry Robertson
Dean Stenehjem
Tim Stolle
Carrie Straub
As
Stated by Helen Keller:
"Alone
we can do so little; together we can do so much"