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Statewide Family Services
c/o Iowa Braille School
Phyllis McGowan, Family Services Specialist Phone: 800-645-4579, ext. 1028 website:
BrochuredevelopedthroughtheIOWAAGENDAfortheEducation ofChildrenandYouthwithVisualImpairments,IncludingThosewith MultipleDisabilities,acollaborativeeffortoftheIowaDepartmentof Education and the Iowa Braille School. –Rev.
isVisuallyImpaired
WhatNext...
childhasavisualimpairment.We
wantyoutoknowthatthereare peopleandresourcestohelp.
When your child has been diagnosed with a visual impairment, you may wish to speak with the parent of another
child with a similar eye condition. Call the Family Services Specialist at the Iowa Braille School. She will be able to connect you to another parent.
There are numerous organizations in the state and nation serving the needs of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired.The Family Services Specialist can also direct you to them.
Phone:1-800-645-4579,ext.1028, PhyllisMcGowan,
FamilyServicesSpecialist
We want you to know that there are options available to your family and opportunities waiting for your child with a visual impairment.
Takethefirststep.
EducationAListofIowa’sEducationAgencies
Whatisa
VisualImpairment?
Yourchildmayqualifyforavarietyof educationalservicesstartingasearly asanewborn.Theseservicesmaybe providedinyourhome,atyourchild’s daycare,thelocalschool,ortheIowa BrailleSchool.Tofindoutmoreabout educationalprogramsandservices, youwillneedtocontactyourlocal AreaEducationAgency(AEA).When youcall,asktospeakwithateacher
ofstudentswithvisualimpairments. Thisteacherisspeciallytrainedtowork withchildrenwithreducedvision.This teacherwillworkwithyoutocoordinate servicesforyourchildandfamily.
KeystoneAEA1
14002ndSt.NW Elkader52043
563-245-1480
AEA267
CedarFalls Office
3712CedarHeightsDr. CedarFalls50613
800-542-8375
ClearLake Office
9184265thSt.,SuiteB ClearLake50428
800-392-6640
Marshalltown Office
909South12th StreetMarshalltown50158
800-735-1539
NW AEA
13824thAve.NE
SiouxCenter,51250-
2131
800-572-5073
PrairieLakesAEA8
12355thAvenue South
FortDodge50501
800-669-2325
Mississippi BendAEA9
72921stStreet Bettendorf52722
800-947-2329
GrantWoodAEA10
4401SixthSt.SW CedarRapids52404
800-332-8488
IowaBrailleSchool
1002GAve. Vinton 52349
800-645-4579
Heartland AEA 11
6500CorporateDr. Johnston50131
800-362-2720
DMPS VisionDepartment
1421 Walker Street
DesMoines50316
515-242-7533
NW AEA
1520MorningsideAve. SiouxCity51106
800-352-9040
Green Hills AEA
ManawaRegionalOffice
Box 1109
CouncilBluffs51502
800-432-5804
GreenHills AEA
257 Swan Street
Creston50801
800-432-5804
GreatPrairieAEA
2814NorthCourtSt. Ottumwa52501-1194
800-622-0027
Great Prairie AEA
3601WestAvenue Burlington52601
800-382-8970
Foreducationalpurposes,visualimpair- mentisreducedvisualabilitythataffects learning.Visualimpairmentdoesnot necessarilymeanthatyourchildis“blind”.
Achildmayhavedifficultyseeingdue toaproblemintheeyeitself,suchas cataracts,glaucomaoraretinal detachment.Visualproblemsmayalso becausedbydamagetotheopticnerve.
Insomecases,achildcanhaveahealthy, normaleyeandstillhaveproblemsseeing becausethebraindoesnotunderstand
themessagesentfromtheeye.Thisis corticalvisualimpairmentorCVI.
If you do not understand the cause of your child’s eye condition and visual impairment, please ask your eye doctor.