Special Education Services: A Manual of Policies, Procedures and Guidelines

H.2.3 Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI)

Terms of reference
The Ministry of Education has established a central pool of essential specialized and adapted learning resources which may be borrowed at no cost by school districts and Group 1 and 2 independent schools enrolling students with visual impairment. In addition, PRCVI is able to access resources held in all other educational resource centres for the visually impaired in Canada, through a national interlibrary loan agreement.

It is expected that schools will supply commonly available items, such as minor aids and larger items required by the student. Loan periods are for the duration for which the student requires the resource and the student is enrolled in the school. For information regarding services to students with a print disability, see below (Referrals to PRCVI - Students with a Print Disability).

Services provided by PRCVI

• The loan of alternate format instructional materials (e.g., Braille; electronic text; talking and enhanced print versions of provincially recommended learning resources) will be made available as resources and production capacity allow
• Long-term loan of specialized equipment (e.g., Braille writers; talking calculators; recorders)
• Short-term loans of professional literature and videos on Visual impairment and deaf blindness to teachers
• Outreach services
• Consultation services on the use and choice of materials and equipment
• In-service training
• On a partial cost-recovery basis, audio tape and electronic text versions of provincially recommended learning resources are available for students designated as print disabled

Referrals to PRCVI - students with visual impairments
To be eligible for loan services from PRCVI, a student must be certified as visually impaired by an ophthalmologist, optometrist or orthoptist. The requesting school district or independent school must submit a completed "Certification of Eligibility for Vision Resources" to PRCVI to establish eligibility. Services, materials and equipment will only be provided for students for whom PRCVI has an approved copy of the "Certification of Eligibility for Vision Resources". Loans are requested by completing the consignment sheet, "Request For Loan of Alternate Format Instructional Materials", and forwarding it to PRCVI. Loans are for the school year and renewals can be requested.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

The Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired
106 - 1750 West 75th Avenue , Vancouver , B.C. V6P 6G2
Phone: (604) 266-3699
Main Fax: (604) 261-0778
Orders Fax: (604) 269-0495

A full listing of services for students with visual impairments is available through PRCVI.

The Vision Services area of the web site contains an on-line catalogue of all alternate format materials currently available from PRCVI and is updated on a monthly basis. All order and certification forms can be downloaded from “Forms” and leisure reading lists can be downloaded from “Lists”.

Returns
School districts or independent schools are responsible for the proper care and storage of the materials, equipment, packing materials and shipping cartons borrowed, and for the return of all items when they are no longer required. Loss or damage of items must be reported to the PRCVI immediately. The borrower will be assessed the replacement cost of all damaged or lost items.

Referrals to PRCVI - students with a print disability
To be eligible for PRCVI Print Disability Services, a student must be certified as print disabled on the appropriate PRCVI form by the School District Superintendent or designate or the designated authority of an independent school. Print disability students are students who, because of a sensory, physical or neural disability, cannot effectively use print materials.

A full listing of services for students with a print disability is available through PRCVI.

The Print Disability area of the web site contains an on-line catalogue of all audio books and e-text currently available from PRCVI, for purchase on a partial cost-recovery basis, and is updated on a monthly basis. All purchase order and certification forms can be downloaded from “Forms” and the tapes and e-text lists can be downloaded from “Lists”. The audiotape and e-text titles become the property of the school or district that orders them. Copyright regulations require the restriction of the use of these materials to students who are print disabled. It is the responsibility of the ordering agency to ensure compliance with the copyright restrictions. When materials are ordered the student's name must be indicated on the purchase order. Copies of audiotapes and e-text will only be provided for students for whom PRCVI has a certificate of eligibility for Print Disability Services. Orders may be sent to the above address.

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