The mission of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) is to provide services and resources which empower individuals who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind to achieve their desired levels of employment, education, and personal independence.

The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired envisions a world in which blind, vision impaired and deafblind people can access all that society has to offer and can, in turn, contribute to the greater community. We believe this is achievable.

• Recognize the abilities of blind people:

              We value the contributions of people who are blind, Deaf blind, and vision impaired.

• Exemplary work habits:

             We value integrity, honesty, teamwork, and dedication.

• Equal access:

              We value equal access to all life activities including information, education, training and employment

• Diversity:

            We value diversity, respect for the individual and personal choice

• Employees:

           We value our employees for their dedication and expertise

• Professional Boundaries:

           We value healthy, appropriate relationships with the poeple we serve.

The Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) Headquarters, Library and Resource Center (LRC) and the Virginia  Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired (VRCBVI) are located on thirty two acres of donated property at 397 Azalea Avenue in Henrico County; the complex consists of eight buildings and an abundance of wooded areas.  DBVI includes three distinct divisions including Services, Administration, and Enterprises and finds its statutory authority in Title 51.5, Chapter 12, of the Code of Virginia.   

The Services Division includes the provision of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Rehabilitation Teaching/Independent Living (RL/IL), Deafblind (DB), Low Vision (LV), Education Services (ES),  Orientation and Mobility Instruction (O&M), Rehabilitation Technology (RT, and Library Services to eligible individuals who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind (customers). These programs and services assist customers to acquire essential skills which lead to the confidence and positive attitudes they need to become independent contributing members of Virginia’s communities. Services are provided to agency customers, including students and youth, working age adults, and older adults through DBVI’s six regional offices (Richmond, Fairfax, Bristol, Staunton, Norfolk and Roanoke) and the VRCBVI.

Vocational Rehabilitation services to eligible and potentially individuals, including students and youth, are authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014; subsequently DBVI is a core partner in the Commonwealth’s Workforce Development System. DBVI VR services are in direct alignment with the objectives and priorities of Virginia’s Career Works system ensuring that the state workforce meets current and anticipated economic development needs by making sure that individuals who  blind, vision impaired and deafblind have the requisite skills and credentials to become members of a highly qualified and relevant workforce.  Agency priority alignment with workforce activities also includes addressing in-demand skill sets associated with economic growth and prosperity of workers and employers to support growth in the public and private sectors. VR services include counseling, vocational evaluation and exploration, career training, paid and unpaid work experiences, job development, placement, post-employment, and other services to assist consumers in obtaining jobs in the public and private sectors. Individuals receiving services from DBVI acquire work related skills, attain industry recognized credentials, and achieve quality employment outcomes.  At the present time, the VR program is operating under an order of selection, meaning that if adequate funds and resources are unavailable to serve all eligible individuals, a waiting list will be maintained.  Individuals with most significant disabilities are served first under the order of selection.

VRCBVI provides adjustment to blindness training in the areas of activities of daily living, personal and home management, mobility, and communications including use of Braille, and assistive technologies. Through the DBVI regional offices, specialized programming is available to seniors with vision loss for the purpose of maintaining or increasing their independence. 

DBVI provides LV services to individuals of all ages who have limited vision to assist them in utilizing their remaining vision more effectively and to greater benefit by providing training, optical aids, and devices. Most customers of DBVI have some residual vision and find low vision services to be highly beneficial. The agency contracts with a network of eye care professionals throughout the Commonwealth to assist in providing low vision services.

The LRC  provides Braille, large print and recorded materials, and produces and procures all Braille textbooks used in school divisions. DBVI is the Virginia sponsor of Newsline for the Blind which allows eligible individuals to access newspapers, periodicals and job information via the telephone and computer. 

The ES program collaborates with parents, schools and early childhood specialists in school divisions to assist in the education and development of blind, deafblind and vision impaired students.

Technological solutions for accessing information are provided for agency customers including businesses employing persons with disabilities through RT services.

The Enterprise Division, in conjunction with VR services, provides training and licensure for qualified individuals who are blind to manage food service operations on public and private property as part of the Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program, also known as the Virginia Enterprises for the Blind (VEB).

Also part of the Enterprise Division are the Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB) which provide employment opportunities to individuals who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind through operations at twenty four locations across the Commonwealth including its Charlottesville and Richmond plants,  several supply store operations on Virginia military installations, and contract support services provided to various governmental entities.Specialized assessments and technical assistance is available to assist consumers and service providers to meet the needs of individuals who are deafblind or who experience significant losses of both vision and hearing.

The Administration Division provides support services to DBVI including administration and management, physical plant maintenance services, capital outlay, and citizen participation in agency services. General management includes direction and leadership to agency programs and services, strategic planning, program evaluation, program reporting, review and development of regulatory action for the administration of agency programs, coordination of agency legislative activities and monitoring of legislation before Congress and the Virginia General Assembly including development of impact statements on proposals that potentially impact individuals blind, vision impaired, and deafblind.  Other services include administrative support to the Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired and coordination of real estate management in cooperation with the Division of Real Estate Services within the Department of General Services.  

The Administrative Division also manages capital budget development, buildings and grounds maintenance of the DBVI Azalea Campus, VIB Charlottesville and Richmond locations, building repair, janitorial, security, HVAC Service and groundskeeping.  Additionally, this division obtains administrative support for information systems, human resource management, fiscal management, purchasing and procurement services, and transportation management of pool cars.

.

DBVI’s priorities continue to be focused on expanding and improving upon the specialized training and services to eligible or potentially eligible Virginians who are blind, vision impaired and deafblind resulting in continued positive outcomes in employment and independence. 

DBVI is engaged in several initiatives that support these positive outcomes. Currently, the agency is analyzing its quality control processes seeking greater efficiency and effectiveness along with setting objective measures and implementing evidence based decision making across its operations. VIB has obtained ISO-9001 certification for its manufacturing processes in Charlottesville and Richmond and the agency is exploring application of this standard to all management functions. As a result of a comprehensive study and subsequent strategic planning developed with key stakeholder involvement, Randolph-Sheppard vending facility program is being re-engineered.  A technology laboratory has been established and is growing in its ability to demonstrate technology to consumers and professionals including less expensive off the shelf alternatives. 

As the buildings on the Azalea Avenue Campus are renovated to be fully accessible and modernized, the agency is seeing an increase in the number of individuals and disability services organizations requesting to use these facilities.  The agency is increasing its efforts to reach more potential consumers of services and businesses as human and other resources are redirected towards this end. DBVI will continue to expand partnerships with private and public entities in ways that leverage its resources to benefit more people.

The programs offered at VRCBVI are increasingly more focused on employment with an emphasis on improving health and wellness of consumers as they continue to provide skill development to Virginia residents with vision impairments.

DBVI is a member of the Disability Services Agencies group, meaning that management and oversight of  IT services provided by VITA/NG for in-scope and out of scope services is managed by the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services. 

DBVI’s current initiatives in information technology include working toward upgrading the staff computer operating systems to the Windows 7 platform from the Windows XP operating system and  adopting eight (8) gigabytes of memory as the standard for all agency staff computers.  Field staff are  issued laptops to increase their productivity and cellular telephones are assigned to this mobile group of employees. This same group has been  provided with GPS navigating systems to use in their assigned state vehicles as a fuel saving measure. DBVI has and continues increased utilization of Video Teleconferencing (VTC) which has proven savings for the agency in travel and meeting related costs; a challenge to the agency is keeping up with technological improvements to the platform and managing the investment in the systems. DBVI  has also installed wireless access points throughout the various buildings on the Azalea Avenue campus and  in agency  field offices. DBVI plans to gradually expand the wireless service for both in-scope and out of scope computers and provide full coverage throughout agency facilities.

To curtail cost, the agency has consolidated server storage for three sites and continues to monitor storage needs for all sites. DBVI has transitioned telephone systems at the Azalea Avenue campus to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and eliminated the utilization of various phone services at the one location. The agency is progressing toward implementing the updated VoIP system to the six regional offices.

DBVI has and continues to experience challenges in maintaining adequate staffing levels of qualified employees to provide direct services to blind, deafblind, and vision impaired customers. Historically, the agency has had problems recruiting for O&M Instructors due to a nationwide shortage of individuals who are certified to provide this service.  The problem for DBVI is often exacerbated by private and federal entities who offer more robust pay incentives for the relatively few professionals available in this field. The agency is working to identify and improve future non-pay incentives that would be attractive to potential applicants.

In recent years, DBVI has experienced challenges maintaining Azalea Avenue Campus facilities that exceeded their anticipated useful life span. Over the last three biennium the General Assembly approved funding for the renovation of deteriorating and non- accessible buildings on the campus including renovation of the VRCBVI Administrative building and dormitory, Recreation Building, and the Headquarters building; the projects have been completed. Roofs on five of the seven buildings on the campus have been replaced. Equipment in the Cafeteria used to prepare and serve food has been replaced to improve efficiency in meal preparation while meeting health and safety requirements. Sidewalks have been configured across the campus to improve the entrance and address the safety and convenience of clients, employees and visitors.

Using earmarked non-capital outlay funds, an on-site maintenance building has been constructed which facilitates more efficient storage of maintenance equipment and products while allowing better utilization of an understaffed building and grounds team.

DBVI continues to anticipate increasing requests for services, especially from older Virginians who are blind or vision impaired and seeking to remain independent in their homes and maintain their quality of life. Additionally, there are greater demands for essential Braille textbooks and support materials required for students to achieve optimal educational success;  historically, DBVH has loaned Virginia schools systems the Braille textbooks needed to teach students who are blind. Over the past decade the cost of Braille textbooks has substantially increased, requiring the agency to be creative in exploring new avenues of providing Braille textbooks. Subsequently,  keeping pace with advances in technology and providing materials and  training to blind and vision impaired citizens in utilizing new technology to increase their independence remains a central focus for the Agency.

DBVI anticipates changing demographics in personnel as many long term employees transition into retirement in the next biennium leaving a gap of institutional knowledge and high levels of skills.  Agency management is working on strategies to meet this challenge.

As noted in the Workforce section of this document, DBVI is keenly aware of the highly competitive environment that exists around hiring qualified O&M Instructors. Understanding the limitation in hiring, DBVI is examining ways to attract these highly sought after professionals. 

Like other organizations serving individuals who are blind, vision impaired, and deafblind, DBVI recognizes that it must revamp its training programs to address provision of services to individuals who have significant secondary disabilities. Especially at VRCBVI, DBVI must determine how to best meet the multifaceted needs of these individuals. In order to adequately serve individuals, agency staff will require an increased knowledge base and skill sets related to other disabilities in addition to blindness.

A constant for DBVI is addressing accessibility issues arising from changes in technology and the requirements for staff and customers to utilize mandated  systems that may or may not be accessible. Solutions to address the accessibility issues often require a substantial investment of time and funding.

With an ever increasing demand for agency services to businesses and other organizations DBVI is challenged to meet the needs of various customers with limited human and fiscal resources

VIB contracts with the Federal Government to provide contract closeout services as well as operate supply stores on Federal properties. Changes in Federal Government spending can directly affect VIB revenue.  Management is constantly examining new ventures that provide continuing revenue streams for this self-supporting enterprise program which allow it to fulfill its primary mission of providing quality jobs for Virginians who are blind.

DBVI closely monitors legislative changes that potentially impact its operations and the ability to serve a growing customer base. Management strives to be proactive in identifying solutions to issues that directly affect the agency’s ability to serve individuals who blind, vision impaired, and deafblind

DBVI’s ability to provide services is limited by insufficient funds. Agency programs which rely largely on grants from the federal government no longer experience funding increases as readily as previous years. Additionally, reductions in the appropriation of general funds make it difficult for DBVI to come up with sufficient state match to levy available federal funds. The lack of funding translates into limited human resources which directly impact service delivery.

DBVI receives federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitative Services Administration for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Other Federal Grants from the department include the Independent Living/ Older Blind federal grant and the Supported Employment federal grant. The agency receives indirect cost recovery from administering the federal grants and these funds are integral in providing the state’s required match for the federal grants received. Enterprise fund revenue derives from the Virginia Industries for the Blind sales and service contracts. Trust and Agency non general funds represent funds made available to the agency by the VA Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired. Request for funding to the Board, by the Agency and other entities that support our mission, is made on an annual basis and the Board votes to approve expending funds that represent accumulated donations made to the agency’s Endowment Fund. 

Data from the American Community Survey (ACS) 2017 one year estimate, conducted annually by the U.S.. Census Bureau, updated in September 2018, indicate that in 2017 approximately 190,000 Virginians have vision difficulty as compared with 165,000 in 2016. This steady increase supports the agency's expectation of an increase in request for services. The agency strives to serve vision impaired Virginians of all ages, historically, the working age group has consistently been the majority of clients served, at approximately 50%. In 2017 the agency received 420 applications for the Vocational Rehabilitation program. There are two emerging populations of clients that the agency anticipates will require increased services. The first population is the older vision impaired age group. The 2017 ACS results show that 176,160 Virginians with vision impairments are 18 years or older; however, 73,861 equaling almost half (42%) of those are 65 years or older. This supports the agency's expectation of an increase in request for services from individuals of traditional retirement age of 65 or older. The second emerging population is among children. The 2017 ACS data indicate that approximately 14,157 children in Virginia are vision impaired which is an 13% increase over the 2015 finding of 12,476. This supports the agency's expectation of an increase in the number of children requiring education services. The agency will continue to align its resources to be poised to serve all groups of vision impaired Virginians.

No data

The agency provides Vocational Rehabilitation services to include evaluation and assessment, pre-employment transition services for students with disabilities, vocational training, rehabilitation engineering services, orientation and mobility services, and transition services to blind, vision impaired, and deafblind consumers. The Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program (also known as the Virginia Enterprises for the Blind or VEB) provides for the training and licensure of persons who are blind as qualified managers of businesses located on federal, state, and other properties under permits and contracts held by the department. Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB) creates employment opportunities for individuals who are blind through the manufacture and sell of various products and services to federal and state agencies as well as private entities. VIB also operates office supply centers on federal properties and provides contracted support services to federal and state agencies.

Through the Department’s independent living services, Virginians who experience significant vision loss are able to receive assessment and direct instruction in skills for home management, activities of daily living, orientation and mobility, communication, Braille reading and writing, use of assistive technology, and application of aids and techniques to maximize use of remaining vision. Counseling and support is offered to assist consumers with the adjustment to vision loss. Low Vision Services maintains a central inventory of special optical devices and items such as magnifiers, lighting appliances, reading systems, telescopes, bioptic systems, and microscopic glasses. Training, technical assistance and consultation to agency staff, teachers of the visually impaired and other professionals are offered through this program. The agency contracts with and provides training to a network of sixty-five Low Vision examiners throughout the state.

The Library and Resource Center is a regional library affiliated with the National Library Service of the Library of Congress. General Library Services include the loan of library books, magazines, and playback equipment for recorded materials and provides access to over 400 newspapers and several popular magazines through the NFB- NEWSLINE. It also produces and/ or purchases Braille textbooks for loan to Virginia schools for use by blind and vision impaired students. The Education Services program provides consultation, technical assistance, and training to support blind and vision impaired infants, children and youth and their families.

The Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired measures its service performance through performance measures tied to the goals and objectives developed to help the agency accomplish its mission. The fiscal year 2017 average hourly wage of individuals who have completed their Vocational Rehabilitation program and were closed as employed was $15.60, which is significantly higher than the current $7.25 federal minimum hourly wage. In 2016 the agency reached a target of 98% of Virginians who completed a Vocational Rehabilitation program and were employed having a wage greater than minimum wage.  In 2017 the agency continued to increase the number of infants, children and youth served through our partnership with families, early childhood service providers, and school division staff by serving 2,367 through Education Services.

The Library Resource Center has consistently served over 10,000 patrons during the last two years. With the advent of e-Books, the expectation is that more people will utilize the Library services.

By assisting blind citizens to obtain employment in their communities at competitive wages they will improve their economic independence. This contributes to the available work force in Virginia and promotes economic growth. This aligns with the long-term objective of enhancing our economy.

Facilitate competitive and integrated job placements for blind and vision impaired individuals including individuals who are veterans.

• To collaborate with other workforce entities to create seamless transitions for Virginia's Veterans with high quality education and workforce services that accelerate career opportunities for these Veterans by maintaining a presence at the state and local level in workforce partnerships.

To increase competitive and integrated employment outcomes by collaborating with Virginia's workforce partners in order to meet and anticipate business demand with career pathways and training solutions for current and future individuals who are blind, vision impaired, and deafblind who are dislocated and underemployed by increasing networking with business to determine market needs, providing business with resources and technical assistance to assist them in meeting the needs of their current employees.

By assisting blind citizens to obtain employment in their communities at competitive wages they will improve their economic independence.  This contributes to the available work force in Virginia and promotes economic growth.

• Continue to expand manufactured product offerings and to improve manufacturing methods to provide adaptation as necessary to permit offering opportunities to visually impaired candidates. • Continue to market the federal supply stores to increase employment opportunities. • Work with the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) to seek service opportunities within the Commonwealth. Expand product and service offerings into commercial sales opportunities.

Empowering blind citizens to gain the skills to be independent promotes personal responsibility and control for their life decisions.  This decreases the need for public assistance, dependence on family members and others, and improves their quality of life.  This aligns with the long-term objective of supporting Virginians toward healthy lives and strong and resilient families.

Assure awareness of DBVI program services and referral process throughout the Commonwealth.

• Develop marketing materials

• Disseminate information

Seniors who experience a vision loss often find themselves unable to maintain their independence because they are not aware of the alternative techniques or adaptive equipment available that allows blind individuals to safely perform common everyday tasks. DBVI’s Independent Living Program works with blind and vision impaired citizens in their homes/communities to learn how to continue to live independently in spite of their vision loss. Instruction is individualized to address the specific tasks that our consumers identify as being important to maintaining their personal independence. Services can include learning how to effectively use adaptive equipment such as magnifiers to maximize the use of one’s remaining vision or devices such as clocks and glucometers that have speech output. Seniors who are blind or visually impaired and are experiencing hearing losses can also benefit from information and instruction on how to maximize their usable hearing. Examples include using hearing aids and cochlear implants effectively, using amplified telephones or relay services, and using a variety of personal assistlve listening devices that make it easier for them to communicate with others one on one or in small groups. Instruction in non-visual techniques to accomplish activities of daily living is also often very helpful. As seniors learn to incorporate these skills into their daily routine many find that they can continue to live independently and not be forced into more confining living arrangements or require support services from local social service agencies or their families.

• Provide comprehensive assessments of consumers to identify areas that require training. • Develop appropriate plans of services to meet identified needs. • Utilize other community resources to provide assistance when possible. • Ensure that agency staff is provided appropriate training to maintain skills. • Promote timely and courteous communications with agency consumers. •Provide comprehensive Rehabilitation Teaching / Independent Living (RT/IL) services to consumers and their family members.

Assisting children and adults in reaching their maximum levels of educational attainment promotes personal and economic independence. A well educated citizenry benefits communities and increases the available work force. This aligns with the long-term objectives of enhancing our economy and elevating the level of educational attainment of our citizens.

Assist infants, children and youth who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind in all localities and economic climates to achieve their maximum educational potential by partnering with families, infant service providers, school division staff, and other VA Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired personnel.

• Agency staff will partner with special education directors (or designee) and teachers of the vision impaired in all school divisions and early intervention systems to help students who are blind and vision impaired receive appropriate education.

• Agency staff will work with pre-kindergarten and infant and toddler programs across Virginia to collaboratively serve young Virginian's who are blind, vision impaired and deafblind.

• Agency staff will offer guidance and/or technical assistance to the parents, teachers and public/private service providers of infants, children and youth.

• Agency staff will offer professional development activities for teachers of the blind and vision impaired and early intervention service providers who serve infant, children and youth who are blind, vision impaired and deafblind.

Providing consistent administrative support to our staff to ensure their success directly contributes to the agency’s success in meeting its mission. Implementation of sound business practices, efficient agency operations and ethical values ensures effective administration of agency programs. This aligns with the long-term objective of Virginia being recognized as the best-managed state in the nation.

To provide all agency employees with effective supervision that will enable them to meet or exceed their annual employee objectives established in their employee work profiles each year.

• Each employee's Employee Work Profile (EWP) will be updated annually so that they will be made aware of performance expectations

• Employees will be encouraged to improve service delivery through their creativity and problem solving skills

• Employees will be encouraged to take advantage of training opportunities to improve their knowledge base

• Employees will receive periodic reviews of their performance to identify any issues that need to be addressed during the year

Through our statewide library services, blind and physically disabled Virginians have access to books, materials and information in accessible formats. Access to information develops independent and informed citizens, who can participate in and make decisions about their communities and government.

Library Services directly reflect the Agencies mission to enable individuals who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind to achieve their maximum level of employment, education, and personal independence. Library Services offer access to a myriad of materials and information through magazine subscriptions, non-fiction books about current events and history, self-help volumes, and literature.

o Loan of library books, magazines, and playback equipment for recorded materials. Materials are in a variety of formats, to include 98,183 audio titles, 22,407 Braille titles, 3,660 large print titles, and 204 DVD titles.



o Information and Referral - Many citizens look to the DBVI Library and Resource Center (LRC) as a resource for information, guidance and direction, and consultation regarding access to information and appropriateness of materials in adaptive format. The LRC routinely fields calls and provides this type of information to the public.



o Access to newspapers through NFB-NEWSLINE®. The department contracts with the NFB-NEWSLINE to provide access to newspapers and other information to blind Virginians. The 2005 Appropriation Act included state funding to DBVI for this service.

Funding for the General Library Services Program Service Area consist of 99% state funds and 1% federal and special funds.  The changes to the base budget represent the distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to the agency budgets. Funding remains level for each of the two fiscal years.

Education Services operates a resource center which houses an inventory of textbooks that are loaned to local school divisions throughout Virginia for use by blind and visually impaired infants, children and youth. The Resource Center provides Braille textbooks, workbooks and novels for use by blind and vision impaired
students in their local school districts. Textbooks are produced in Braille or are purchased from another state, and are loaned for the school year. Textbooks are returned to the central inventory at the end of the school year and are loaned for use by another student the next school year. Local school divisions are charged replacement costs for textbooks they do not return.

Braille textbook services supports the Agency’s primary mission of enabling individuals who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind to achieve their maximum levels of education.

Production Braille textbooks - Print textbooks are transcribed into Braille upon receipt of orders from teachers of the vision impaired who work in Virginia's school divisions.



Braille textbook inventory - The Library Resource Center (LRC)  maintains an inventory of all textbooks that have been transcribed into Braille and produced in Virginia.  Textbooks are redistributed annually to school divisions for use by other blind and vision impaired students.



Purchase of available Braille textbooks - The LRC purchases Braille textbooks from national transcribing agencies if they have been previously transcribed or if LRC staff are unable to produce the Braille transcription in time for the school year.



Loan of Braille textbooks to Virginia's school divisions - Braille textbooks are loaned to school divisions statewide, free of charge, for use by the blind and vision impaired students in their schools.



Information and referral - The LRC receives frequent calls from parents, teachers, and citizens looking for information on other services, asking for guidance and direction and requesting consultation regarding access to information and appropriateness of materials in adaptive formats.



Consultation with teachers, parents, school administrators - Classroom teachers and special education teachers, as well as parents and school administrators call in seeking guidance and direction with regard to access to information, materials, resources, and educational programming.

Funding for the Braille and Large- Print Textbook Program Service Area for fiscal year 2013 and 2014 consist of sixty three percent general funds and thirty seven percent federal funds.  Changes to the base budget represent a distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to agency budgets.  Funding remains level for each of the two fiscal years.  

Education Services assists infants, children, and students who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind to prepare for academic success and to function independently in order to recognize their full potential. Information is also provided to families in order to assist them in navigating the educational system. The program also helps students age 14 through 22 who have not exited the school system prepare for a successful transition from school into the world of work by facilitating access to transition related opportunities.

This service area aligns with DBVI’s mission to enable infants, children, and students who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind to achieve their desired levels of employment, education, and personal independence.

Referral and Consultation - Education Services Program staff facilitate referrals and complete intakes of students who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind. The staff also provides consultation, technical assistance, and training for families as well as for early intervention professionals, school staff, and other stakeholders who teach or provide related services to infants, children, and students who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind. In addition, information including but is not limited to educational programs, adaptive materials, community resources, transition related programs, vocational planning, independent living skills and recreational programming is also provided. 

Technical assistance, functional vision assessments, and training to the local service systems - As members of the “Infants and Toddlers Connection of Virginia;” Virginia’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-Part C Early Intervention service delivery system, the agency's Education Coordinators offer support and technical assistance to infants, their families, and infant development program staff. Specifically, the Education Services program offers resources that will increase parents’ awareness of the needs of infants, children, and students who are blind, vision impaired, or deafblind; information about independent living skills, communication skills, orientation and mobility, and visual development as they relate to infants, children, and students with visual disabilities; and suggestions and guidance for parenting a child who is blind, vision impaired, or deafblind. 

Consultation with Virginia’s schools- Education Services program staff serve as a liaison between DBVI and the local school divisions and provide comprehensive programming for students who are blind, vision impaired or deafblind with special attention to those divisions that do not employ a teacher of the visually impaired. 



Professional development activities for Virginia’s teachers of the vision impaired and early intervention service providers- Provide training annually on DBVI services for newly-hired Teachers of the Vision Impaired in conjunction with staff from the Low Vision Services program, Rehabilitation Technology, and the Library Resource Center. Sponsor at least two professional development activities annually in each of DBVI’s six regional service areas to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of  Teachers of the Vision Impaired and Early Intervention service providers. Collaborate with the Virginia Dept. of Education, the Virginia Deaf-Blind Project, the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Outreach Program, and other agencies and organizations to provide additional competency based programming. 

Funding for the Educational Services Program service area consists of 100% general funds for service delivery plus agency endowment trust funds that are used exclusively to support the annual Super Summer Camp. 

Low Vision Services provides technical assistance, low vision examinations, optical aids, consultation, and training to Virginians with impaired vision, agency staff, contracted examiners and teachers of the visually impaired located in local school divisions.

Providing appropriate optical aids that enhances customers’ abilities to use their residual vision enables them “to achieve their maximum levels of employment, education and personal independence”.

Maintain a central inventory of special optical devices and items such as magnifiers, lighting appliances, closed circuit televisions (CCTV) reading systems, telescopes, bioptic systems, and microscopic glasses.



Training to DBVI staff, Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) in the school divisions statewide, and contracted low vision examiners.



Technical assistance and consultation to the general public, DBVI staff, Teachers of the Visually Impaired and the medical community.

Low Vision Services is funded 37% federal funds and  63% special funds. 

DBVI Vocational Rehabilitation Services assist eligible blind, visually impaired, and deafblind individuals, including transition aged students and youth, veterans, and adults of all ages, in obtaining, regaining, or maintaining competitive integrated employment. An Individualized Employment Plan (IPE) is developed.  The IPE identifies a specific vocational goal which is developed in collaboration by the eligible individual and the qualified vocational rehabilitation counselor.  The plan outlines individualized services and activities which will  lead to employment. The IPE is based on the unique needs of each individual, services may include but not be limited to vocational guidance and counseling, vocational training, job development, job placement and job training.  Other services may include adjustment to the loss of vision, rehabilitation technology services to include assessment and evaluation of job sites, assistive technology, supported employment, and services to business.

Empowering blind, visually impaired, and deafblind individuals to achieve their desired level of

employment is a key element of the DBVI mission. The goal of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program is competitive integrated employment for eligible individuals receiving DBVI Vocational Rehabilitation services.

Vocational Rehabilitation services may include evaluation and assessment of an individual’s eligibility for the VR program, potential for employment, and determination of a vocational goal consistent with the individual’s unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice. Additionally, evaluation and assessment help determine the nature and scope of services to be provided to reach the individual's employment goal. Vocational training to prepare an individual for a specific job or career, job development to identify potential positions in the community and job placement are provided to assure the individuals are qualified to meet the requirements of jobs in the market place at any given time. Rehabilitation Technology services assist the blind job seeker in identifying assistive technology that may be required to enable the individual to participate in a vocational training program or function successfully in the job market. Orientation and mobility services may be provided to assure that the individual has the skills necessary to safely and independently travel to and from the job site.  VR provides transition services to youth aged 14 to 24 to assist them in moving successfully from high school to college or a job.  Pre-Employment Transition Services are also provided to students aged 14-21 to assist with counseling on opportunities for enrollment in comprehensive transition or postsecondary educational programs, career exploration, independent living skills, self-advocacy and work place readiness skills.

Funding for the Vocational Rehabilitation Services Service Area consist of 87% federal funds and 13% special funds. Changes to the base budget represent the distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to agency budgets in federal funds and appropriation adjustments to reflect anticipated non-general fund revenue in special funds.

Rehabilitation teaching and independent living services provide people who are blind, visually impaired or deafblind with specialized training, goods and services that enable them to achieve their maximum level of personal independence. Technical assistance and support services are also offered to families, friends, advocates and others who want to assist individuals who are blind to achieve independence. Most consumers that successfully complete this training continue to live in their own homes, and have less need for assistance from family members and other community or health related organizations. Also included in this service area is Orientation and Mobility instruction. This service teaches the skills to travel independently in a variety of environments and has been shown to be a critical component in developing overall independence and feelings of self-worth.

The services provided by the RT/IL program directly support the agency mission . . . to empower individuals to achieve their desired levels . . . of personal independence.

Assessment and direct instruction in home management skills, daily living skills, orientation & mobility skills, use of low vision aids, communication skills , Braille reading and writing and adjustment to blindness counseling to blind, visually impaired and deafblind citizens of the Commonwealth.



Technical assistance and consultation services are provided to doctors’ offices, hospitals including teaching hospitals (VCU, UVA, EVMC), retirement communities, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, other state and local agencies and private organizations that may serve Virginians with vision loss and combined vision/hearing loss.

Funding for Independent Living Services service area consists of 46% general funds and 50% federal funds 4% endowment trust funds.  Changes to the base budget represent the distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to agency budgets in federal funds and the adjustment to the appropriation to reflect anticipated nongeneral (special fund) fund revenue.  Funding remains level for each of the two fiscal years.

This service area implements the federal Randolph-Sheppard (Act) Program in the Commonwealth under the name of the Virginia Enterprises for the Blind (VEB). This service area collaborates with DBVI’s and VRCBVI’s vocational rehabilitation resources; recruits, evaluates, and trains private Virginia citizens who are blind wishing to become licensed vendors; issues licenses to persons determined to be qualified and who successfully complete training as   vendors; researches and evaluates potential business opportunities for  vendors in federal and state facilities and private entities; designs, furnishes, and installs appropriate food service facilities and other business enterprises for operation by   vendors; maintains and upgrades existing facilities to enable licensed   vendors to meet competition and demand; provides essential management support services for licensed vendors; holds contracts, permits or memoranda of understanding with host facilities owners; and protects the Commonwealth from liability in operation of the program.

This service area directly aligns with DBVI’s mission of enabling individuals who are blind to achieve their

desired levels of employment by providing entrepreneurial opportunities in the operation and management

of small businesses throughout the Commonwealth.

Services to  vendors include evaluation and training for licensure. Placement at a facility under permit or contract by the Agency after successful completion of training, certification, and probationary training for licensure. Continuing managerial support including   repair and maintenance of equipment, purchase of replacement equipment as needed, purchase of new equipment and renovation of facilities, and provision of certain fringe benefits such as health insurance coverage and a retirement program.



Services to Federal Property Managers, State and Municipal Property Custodians, and Private Sector Property Managers – Furnishing and Installation of full service operations that comprise cafeterias, snack bars, Micro-Markets, sundry shops, and vending machine. New offerings such as Safety Equipment Inspection Services (SEIS) are broadening the service offerings outside traditional food services.



Services and Products to retail customers who patronize the vending facilities operated by   licensees – food stuffs both prepared on site and prepackaged, beverages, confections, tobacco products (by permit), newspapers, periodicals, and other articles and services dispensed manually or automatically and prepared on or off premises in accordance with all applicable health laws, and including the vending or exchange of chances for an lottery authorized by State law and conducted by an agency of a State within such State. [34 CFR Part 395.1(x)]

Funding for the Vending Stands, Cafeterias and Snack Bars program service area consists of 14% general funds and 78% federal funds and 8% special funds.  Changes to the base budget represent the distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to agency budgets and adjusted appropriation to reflect anticipated nongeneral fund revenue.  Funding remains level for each of the two fiscal years.

This service area provides support to the Agency’s rehabilitation, education, and residential rehabilitation services activities. Support services include regional office administration and management including direction and supervision of direct customer services and leasing of office space. Direct supervision is provided to the Regional Managers in each of our six regional offices located throughout the state as well as Program Directors for the agency’s Vocational Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Teaching, Education, Low Vision and Deafblind program areas. The managers, in turn, provide supervision and direction to both the field staff that deliver services to our blind, vision impaired and deafblind customers and the administrative support staff in each facility. The agency has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) to provide accounting, budgeting, payroll, information services, purchasing, internal auditing, and human resources services that are utilized by the agency’s six regional offices and Rehab Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired.

This service area directly supports the agency’s mission of empowering blind, vision impaired, and deafblind citizens of the commonwealth to achieve their desired levels of employment, education, and personal independence through the support and direction of staff that provide direct customer services.

This service area provides direct supervision and direction to regional office and rehabilitation center management staff to insure that agency services are delivered in an efficient and effective manner and in compliance with state, federal and agency policies and procedures

Funding for the Regional and Area wide Assistance program service area consist of 54% state funds and 46% federal funds.  Changes to the base budget represent the distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to agency budgets .  Funding remains stable for the two fiscal years.

This service area provides support services to all DBVI service areas and includes administration and management, physical plant maintenance services, capital outlay, and citizen participation in Agency services through the Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired.

This service area directly aligns with DBVI’s mission by supporting efficient and effective agency operations

and customer service delivery

General Management services includes direction and leadership to all agency programs and services; adoption of regulations for administration of agency programs; implementation of internal controls to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and state policies; coordination of the agency’s legislative activities and monitoring of legislation before Congress and the Virginia General Assembly and development of legislative impact statements on proposals with potential impact on services to blind citizens; administrative and staff support to the Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired; and coordination of real estate management in cooperation with the Division of Real Estate Services within the Department of General Services.



Capital Budget Development - The department partners, via a cooperative agreement, with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services' Office of Architectural & Engineering Services for technical services in capital outlay and non-capital outlay design and construction services to include, budget development, technical assistance in building maintenance, procurement and award of architectural and engineering and construction contracts, and construction contract administration.



Buildings and Grounds Maintenance - Department staff maintains the buildings on the Azalea Avenue campus including building repair, janitorial, security, HVAC service and grounds keeping.



The department obtains the following administrative support services from the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) via a cooperative agreement: information systems support Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA); human resources management; fiscal management; comprehensive purchasing and procurement services; transportation management of state pool cars; and ,internal audit services by request.

• General Management services includes direction and leadership to all agency programs and services; adoption of regulations for administration of agency programs; implementation of internal controls to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and state policies; coordination of the agency’s legislative activities and monitoring of legislation before Congress and the Virginia General Assembly and development of legislative impact statements on proposals with potential impact on services to blind citizens; administrative and staff support to the Board for the Blind and Vision Impaired; and coordination of real estate management in cooperation with the Division of Real Estate Services within the Department of General Services.


• Capital Budget Development - The department partners, via a cooperative agreement, with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services' Office of Architectural & Engineering Services for technical services in capital outlay and non-capital outlay design and construction services to include, budget development, technical assistance in building maintenance, procurement and award of architectural and engineering and construction contracts, and construction contract administration.


• Buildings and Grounds Maintenance - Department staff maintains the buildings on the Azalea Avenue campus, Virginia Industries for the Blind Richmond and Charlottesville location  including building repair, janitorial, security, HVAC service and grounds keeping.


• The department obtains the following administrative support services from the Department for Aging and Rehabilitation Services (DRS) via a cooperative agreement: information systems support Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA); human resources management; fiscal management; comprehensive purchasing and procurement services; transportation management of state pool cars; and internal audit services by request.

Funding for the General Management and Direction program service area consists of 44% state funds and 56% federal and special funds.  Adjustments to the base budget include the distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to the agency and adjustments to the appropriation to reflect anticipated nongeneral fund revenue, and fund changes to state employee worker's compensation premiums. 

Information Technology Service for the Agency is managed by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services through a Memorandum of Understanding.  Network services, communication services, computer hardware and software for all in-scope agency activities are provided by VITA.   

Information Technology Services provides computer applications development and support, web services, and computer operations. Both in partnership with Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) and Northrop Grumman VITA/NG and independently for education, video teleconferencing and client related technology services, Information Services provides systems engineering services including voice and data communications networks, and hardware and computer support services.

Funding for the Information Technology Services program service area consists of 100% Federal funds.  Funding remains level for the two fiscal years.

Capital outlay management

Heating ventilation and air conditioning services (HVAC)

Facility management

Emergency Preparedness

Safety in the workplace

Funding in fiscal year 2013 for the Physical Plant Services program service area consists of 57% state funds, 16% federal and 27% special funds.  Fiscal year 2014 funding consists of 78% state funds, 8% federal funds and 14% special funds. Changes to the base budget represent the distribution of Central Appropriation amounts to agency budgets and funding to purchase equipment using the state's Master Equipment Lease Purchase program. 

The Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB) currently has operations in twenty four locations throughout the Commonwealth. VIB job opportunities exist in either manufacturing our service areas. Two manufacturing plants are located in Charlottesville and Richmond. Services include both retail operations and service contracts. Service contracts are found in ten locations in northern, central, southwest, and southeast Virginia. Retail operations are found in ten Base Supply Centers (BSC) on military bases and in federal office buildings across the Commonwealth. While VIB’s state Customer Service Team is co-located with the Charlottesville Plant, VIB has one federal Customer Service Team in southeast Virginia. Finally, an administrative office is located on the DBVI Campus in Richmond.

VIB is part of the state use program in Virginia and the AbilityOne program with federal government customers.

VIB provides quality employment for qualified individuals who are blind and vision impaired in support of the agency’s mission to enable Virginians who are blind or vision impaired to achieve their desired levels of employment and independence. All, but the front line direct labor roles in the two manufacturing plants are designated as competitive integrated employment under the criteria of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).  All roles pay at least minimum wage and all salaried employees receive benefits.

• Charlottesville Products:
  
  
  
  • Mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows, and shower curtains for customers including the Department of the Navy, Department of Corrections, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, Department of Conservation and Recreation, and multiple state colleges and universities.
  
  
  • High-visibility safety garments including safety vests, long and short-sleeved tee shirts, and winter/rain coats for the Department of Transportation and other state agencies.
  
  
  • Cotton mop heads for both federal and state government customers and urinal cakes for state customers.
  
  
  • Additional sewing products as they become available and are deemed worthwhile to pursue.
  
  
  
  


• Richmond Products:
  
  
  
  • Exam gloves and cut-resistant knit work gloves for state and private customers with the largest customer being the Virginia Distribution Center (VDC).
  
  
  • Fire extinguisher re-certification.
  
  
  • LED lighting fixtures for federal, state, and private institutions.
  
  
  • Mop handles (wood and fiberglass).
  
  
  • Soap/Sanitizer dispensers and refills.
  
  
  • Spices, coffee, and flour packaging and distribution to state and private customers.
  
  
  • Warehousing and mail fulfillment.
  
  
  • Writing instruments with over 200 styles of pens.
  
  
  
  


•  


• Service Contracts: 
  
  
  
  • Three Contract Management Closeout (CMS) Teams with one hosted at the Defense Contract Management Agency in Chester, another co-located at the Richmond plant, and the last in commercial property outside Fort Belvoir in northern Virginia.
  
  
  • Switchboard operations at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Salem,
  
  
  • Consolidate warehouse services at the Norfolk Navy Base.
  
  
  • Kit assembly operations for a federal customer in Virginia Beach.
  
  
  • Postal operations at Joint Base Langley in southeast Virginia.
  
  
  • Two storeroom operations for the Defense Contract management Agency in central Virginia.
  
  
  • Court Debt Collection services for the Virginia Department of Taxation in Richmond.
  
  
  
  


• Base Supply Centers (BSC):  VIB operates ten Base Supply Centers on Department of Defense (DOD) installations or in federal office buildings. These stores provide a variety of general use office supplies, cleaning supplies, and some MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Operations) items for sale.  
  
  
  
  • Northern Virginia BSCs include: The Pentagon, Fort Belvoir, Mark Center Federal Building, Defense Health Headquarters,  Hoffman II Federal Building, and Taylor Building.
  
  
  • Southern Virginia BSCs include: Fort Lee, Defense Supply center – Richmond, Fort Eustis, Joint Base Langley, and Naval Air Station Oceana.
  
  
  
  

VIB is self-supporting, operating from the revenues generated from sales to state and federal agencies.