Vision Services

About This Program

Denver Public Schools has a team of Teachers of the Visually Impaired, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists, braillists, and vision paraprofessionals who support students with a visual impairment, including blindness, through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). In support of inclusive special education practices, itinerant vision staff support students in their schools. 

Referral Information

If you suspect your child has difficulty seeing, please provide a current eye report to the school nurse. If the child is not yet enrolled in Denver Public Schools, contact Child Find. For students with a documented visual impairment, which includes a deficiency in visual acuity and/or visual field and/or visual functioning, the assigned Teacher of the Visually Impaired will conduct assessments to determine eligibility for a visual impairment, including blindness through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Little kid wearing glasses and a backpack sitting on some stairs.

Support from the vision team can take a few forms:

  • Vision Services: Teachers of the Visually Impaired work directly with students on skills that are documented in their IEPs which may include:

    • Learning to read and write braille

    • Learning assistive technology to access the curriculum such as magnification tools, text to speech, and electronic book readers

    • Expanded core curriculum, including daily living skills and self advocacy skills

  • Orientation and Mobility Services: Orientation refers to knowing where one is in space, and mobility refers to moving from place to place. Some students with visual impairments need direct support from a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist to develop their orientation and mobility skills, which can include:

    • Developing spatial and directional concepts

    • Utilizing a white cane

    • Navigating the school

    • Independent traveling in the community, including crossing streets and taking public transportation

  • Consultative Services: Teachers of the Visually Impaired and Orientation and Mobility Specialists work with other educational team members to ensure that the students with a visual impairment, including blindness have access to the general education curriculum and the related services that are identified on their Individualized Education Programs.

  • Material Adaptations: Our team, including braillists and vision paraprofessionals, can assist with material adaptation in braille and large print for students with visual impairments.

Eligibility for Vision Services

Contact Us

  • P: 720-423-2400

  • Email ESS

  • Manager: Michelle Chacon

  • Contact: michelle_chacon@dpsk12.net