Our School for the Visually Impaired

FBC has the largest Preschool for Visually Impaired students in the country. Serving students at all levels of need, we teach our students how to learn using adaptive methods, so they can be ready for the transition to kindergarten. Specialized teachers, councilors, and therapists teach our students how to relate to the world, how to move in the world, and how to understand the world around them. We also have a small K-4^th Grade school for students who are either not quite ready to move to public school or whose local districts lack the resources to help them.

Our goal is to get our students back into their local public schools, but our support does not stop when they leave our campus. FBC provides Itinerant Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Assistive Technology, and Braille on Demand services to students around Arizona. Additionally, students and teachers have access to FBC’s Library of Braille and Large-Print books—the largest of its kind in the country.

Our Programs for the Blind & Visually Impaired

FBC’s programs help people of all ages with a vision loss diagnosis. Our Infant and Toddler (Early Intervention) program provides parents of a blind infant the counseling and training necessary to raise a blind child. FBC staff teach parents how to teach their infant, so they can help their child learn by seeing the world in a different way.

When the child grows up a little, they can join FBC’s SHARP program, where they will engage in adaptive sports and recreational activities to develop hobbies, skills, friends, and confidence. SHARP activities have included rock climbing, ice skating, cooking classes, and art projects, among many more. Older students can participate in the Teen-to-Work, College Prep, SOAR, and Trailblazers programs to gain the skills and experience necessary to go to college and go to work.

Adults who lose their vision later in life can join our Adult Program, where they will learn how to adapt and continue living independently. The program trains students in things needed for daily living such as cooking, cleaning, and orientation and mobility. It also helps them develop the skills needed to retain or gain a job, including how to read braille, how to use assistive technology, and how to adapt a job to their needs.

Blind & Visually Impaired Services & Resources

FBC extends its support throughout the community in numerous ways. Below you will find just a few our of Services & Resources:

• Need help maximizing your usable vision? Make an appointment at our Low Vision Clinic, where our specialized Optometrist will assess your vision and help you get the tools that will benefit you the most.
• The Southwest Center for Assistive Technology Training provides access to assistive technology and training for students, parents, and teachers.
• Learn about what a Teacher of the Visually Impaired does and how to become one.
• Our Braille Library is the largest in the country, providing tens of thousands of braille and large-print books to people throughout the country.
• Our ever-growing collection of Webinars, on a variety of topics, is a great place to learn catch up on everything from the latest in technology to recent events.