SOurces for Special Education

For Children

Each local school system has a vision program to assist blind and visually impaired students to receive instruction along with their sighted peers.  Most vision programs will provide services to students from infancy through high school graduation or age 21.  Parents who need advocacy, assistance, in obtaining appropriate services for your child should consult Know Your Rights, Education and for parents. Parents may also wish to contact Lisa Wright who is the vision expert at the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education, lwright@msde.state.md.us.  Here is a list of the vision programs in the local school systems in Maryland.  

Allegany County Public Schools

Vision Program
c/o Cash Valley Elementary
10601 Cash Valley Road
LaVale, MD  21502
Phone: 301-724-6632

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Vision Services
2644 Riva Road
Annapolis, MD  21401
Phone: 410-222-5479

Baltimore City Public Schools

Dept. of the Visually Impaired
200 E. North Avenue, Room 326
Baltimore, MD  21202
Phone: 410-396-8562

Baltimore County Public Schools

Vision Program
SE Office-Battle Grove Elementary
7828 St. Patricia Lane
Baltimore, MD  21222
Phone: 410-887-7502

Calvert County Public Schools

Vision Program
Hunting Creek Annex
4105 Old Town Road
Huntingtown, MD 20639
Phone: 410-414-7034

Carroll County Public Schools

Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Hampstead Elementary School
3737 Shiloh Road
Hampstead, MD  21074
Phone: 410-751-3420

Cecil County Public Schools

Vision Teacher
Elkton Middle School
615 North Street
Elkton, MD  21921
Phone: 410-996-5010

Charles County Public Schools

Teacher of the Visually Impaired
F.B. Gwynn Center
5998 Radio Station Road
La Plata, MD  20646
Phone: 301-934-7200 extension 192535

Frederick County Public Schools

Vision Programs
Glade Elementary
9525 Glade Road
Walkersville, MD  21793
Phone: 240-236-8945

Garrett County Public Schools

Teacher of the Visually Impaired
40 S. Second St.
Oakland, MD  21550
Phone: 301-334-8916

Harford County Public Schools

Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Fallston High School
2301 Carrs Mill Road
Fallston, MD  21047
Phone: 410-638-4120

Howard County Public Schools

Vision Program
Faulkner Ridge Center
10598 Marble Faun Court
Columbia, MD  21044
Phone: 410-313-7022

Counties of Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot and Dorchester:

Mid-Shore Special Education Consortium
12 Magnolia Street
Easton, MD  21601
Phone: 800-462-1614

Montgomery County Public Schools

Vision Program
Gaithersburg Middle School
2 Teachers Way
Gaithersburg, MD  20877
Phone: 301-670-2250

Prince George's County Public Schools

Vision Program
Oxen Hill Staff Dev. Center, Ste D
7711 Livingston Road
Oxen Hill, MD  20745
Phone: 301-567-8600

Somerset and Worcester Counties:

Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Stephen Decatur High School
9913 Seahawk Rd.
Berlin, MD  21811
Phone: 410-641-7121

St. Mary's county Public Schools

Teacher of the Visually Impaired
St. Mary's County Public Schools
23160 Moakly Street
Leonardtown, MD  20650
Phone: 301-475-5511 extension 216

Washington County Public Schools

Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Marshall Street Education Center
1350 Marshall Street
Hagerstown, MD  21742
Phone: 301-766-8517

Wicomico County Public Schools

Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Pemberton Elementary
Pemberton Drive
Salisbury, MD  21801
Phone: 410-677-5810

Maryland School for the Blind

3501 Taylor Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21236-4499
Pone: (410) 444-5000
Fax: (410) 319-5700
Web site: www.mdschblind.org
E-mail: info@mdschblind.org

The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB) is a private, non-profit school housed on a 95-acre campus in the Parkville area of Baltimore. It is the only residential and day school in Maryland for students who are blind or visually impaired. Students must be referred by their local school district. They attend tuition-free. Criterion for referral is a visual impairment which, even with correction, adversely affects educational functioning.

Ninety percent of MSB students have multiple disabilities in addition to blindness or visual impairment.

The school provides services for individuals from birth to age 21. Students participate in vocational rehabilitation services while transitioning from MSB to the community and employment. Independent Living services include:

  • personal management
  • Braille
  • Handwriting
  • Typing
  • Home management
  • Orientation and mobility training

Employment services include:

  • Prevocational evaluation
  • Career and skill counseling
  • Occupational skill development
  • Vending stand training
  • Consultation with other organizations

FOR ADULTS

Hadley School for the Blind

700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093-2554
Toll free: (800) 323-4238
Phone: (847) 446-8111
Fax: (847) 446-9916
Web site: www.hadley-school.edu
E-mail: info@hadley-school.edu

The Hadley School for the Blind offers more than 100 distance education courses free of charge to those who are blind, their families, or blindness professionals. Students can select from a variety of courses and study anytime, anywhere.

Courses are offered in six core areas:

  • Academic and high school studies
  • Braille and other communications skills
  • Technology
  • Independent living and life adjustment
  • Recreation and leisure time
  • Parent/family education

Courses are available in Braille, large print and audiocassette. Call for a catalog or visit the web site for additional information.

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