Roles and supports
The Alberta government provides resources to students in the K to 12 education system who are blind or visually impaired.
Government also manages the braille transcription of authorized student basic textbooks in the 4 core subject areas (language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science). Learn more about Braille supports for students.
School authorities access the services of a teacher for the visually impaired through Regional Collaborative Service Delivery.
The Vision Alberta website supports the education of children and youth who are visually impaired and has many resources or links to resources designed for students, parents and school teams.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible to borrow alternate format resources or student equipment, a student with a visual impairment is required to be assessed and registered with Supports for students with visual impairments (SSVI) by a qualified specialist in the field of educating students who are visually impaired. The individuals who are able to do this work can be accessed from the school jurisdiction or the local Regional Collaborative Service Delivery office.
Resource catalogue
The Services for Students with Visual Impairments catalogue provides support personnel for registered students with the ability to search for and request resources in alternate format, specialized technology or specialized learning kits.
How to access services
- Loan Periods (PDF, 139 KB)
- How to Return Items Your School has Borrowed (PDF, 240 KB)
- Request for UEB Braille Production Form (PDF, 241 KB)
- Transfer Form (PDF, 234 KB)
Director’s dashboard
The Director’s Dashboard enables Superintendents and Principals to access and track “real time” information regarding the equipment that is on loan to their schools for use by students with visual impairments.
How to use the dashboard
Please contact the SSVI area for information on using the dashboard.
Digital textbooks
LearnAlberta is a digital repository that supports teaching and learning in Alberta schools. As part of the LearnAlberta collection is a set of digital resources to support the learning of students with identified print disabilities.
It contains the following digital versions of grades 4 to 12 textbooks:
- language arts
- mathematics
- social studies
- science
The goal of this repository is to improve access to digital learning resources and reduce the need for school staff to scan individual textbooks.
LearnAlberta also has a select number of resources in DAISY and MP3 formats. These files are restricted for students with identified perceptual disabilities whose educational programming is governed by an Individualized Program Plan (IPP).
Contact
Connect with the SSVI area:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-4681
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]
Advocate for Persons with Disabilities
If you are part of the disability community in Alberta and need advocacy support to navigate and access government or community resources, contact the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities at 780-422-1095.
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