MDE RBLV has a team of education consultants who are available to provide consultation for families and school districts serving students who are blind/low vision (BLV).
Our consultants are highly qualified professionals who can provide training and support in areas related to BLV.
Consultation Services Guidelines
Before submitting a request, please keep in mind:
- Our office will provide consultation when the parent/legal guardian and the local district or intermediate school district (ISD) special education administrator/designee agree to work collaboratively throughout the process.
- Our education consultants will consult on current programs that are outlined in the student’s individualized educational program (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP). However, they will not serve as participants or decision-makers for the development of the IEP or IFSP.
- We will not respond to a request for consultation if a complaint, due process hearing, or disagreement about a previous evaluation or educational service exists.
- Our office does not provide independent educational evaluations (IEE).
Consultation Areas for Students Who Are BLV
Our specialists can provide consultation in the following areas:
- Observation and consultation
- Learning Media Assessment (LMA)
- Functional Vision Assessment (FVA)
- Students with multiple impairments
- Career education/transition
- Assistive technology
- Independent living skills
- Orientation and mobility
- Cortical visual impairment
- Health education
- Braille
- Low vision
- Social skills
- Early childhood
How to Submit a Request for Consultation
A request can be initiated by a parent/guardian, teacher, or special education administrator/designee from the local district or ISD. However, the request must be signed by all three.
When a request comes in, our education consultants work in collaboration with the family as well as staff from the local district or ISD.
- Fill out and sign the BLV Consultation Services Request Form [PDF], which includes a consent to release information component. Please do not include student names on the form. (Students who are of majority age may sign the form.)
- Email the completed form to [email protected].
- After we receive the form, a staff member will contact the requester within 3 business days to acknowledge that we received the request.
- An education consultant will work with everyone who signed the form to create an action plan for the request.