Vision Loss Resources

Vision Loss Resources is a nonprofit provider of training, classes, social activities and support groups for people with vision loss living in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area.

Mission Statement
Creating a community of services, skills, and support for people with vision loss.

Vision Loss Resources Programs:

Senior Program: Adapt to vision loss with independent living skills classes. Learn techniques to age in place and stay independent.|

Adjustment to Blindness (ATB): Learn the skills you need to return to work, go back to school, and live independently. The Adjustment to Blindness Training Program at Vision Loss Resources helps you learn adaptive techniques. Subjects include technology, typing, orientation and mobility, Braille, cooking, and tasks of daily living.

• Build your own training plan
• One-on-one and small-group classes
• Attend classes in person at our Little Canada facility, or study remotely via Zoom sessions — it’s your choice
• Flexible schedules: full-time, part-time, or as needed
• Social and emotional support during weekly group discussions and learning sessions
  
  DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM): DeafBlind Services Minnesota advances the independence of children and adults with combined hearing and vision loss. DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM) brings one-to-one support to deafblind individuals of all ages, throughout Minnesota. Our trained support service providers (SSPs) work with adults, while our interveners teach communication skills to infants, children, youth and adults.
  
  Adult Community Services
  This program provides community support to self-determined deafblind adults age 22 and up (or age 18 and up if not on a school IEP), living throughout Minnesota. Support Services Providers (SSPs) assist deafblind adults with activities of daily living such as grocery shopping, banking, running errands, reading mail and filling out forms. SSPs also help with participating in community life and accessing information.
  
  Children, Youth and Family Services
  We provide support, information, referral, training and advocacy to deafblind children (ages 0-21 while in school on an IFSP/IEP) and their parents, family, educators and other service providers. Our interveners are trained staff who work with deafblind children so that they may learn about their environment and community, meet childhood developmental goals, and develop communication strategies. Interveners assist families with techniques for communicating with their child, developing appropriate expectations of and for their child, and collaborating with educators, schools, and service providers.
  
  Deafblind Club
  Important updates about Deafblind Club! There will be no Deafblind Club in April. Then starting in May, Deafblind Club will meet on the third Saturday of each month from 11am to 1:30pm at its new location: St. Peder’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4600 E 42nd St., Minneapolis, MN 55406. Note that Deafblind Club will no longer meet at Bread of Life Deaf (BOLD) church, do not go to the BOLD location anymore for Deafblind Club because no one will be there! 
  
  Come join members of the Deafblind community for announcements, fun and games, lunch and socializing! Lunch is usually pizza, bring $5.00 if you plan to eat. On months where lunch is a potluck please bring a food item to share or $5.00. You are also welcome to bring your own lunch for yourself.
  
  Deafblind Club is open to anyone experiencing combined vision loss and hearing loss as well as ASL/Interpreting students, volunteers and anyone interested in learning more about the Deafblind community! Support Service Providers (SSP) and ASL Interpreters are on hand to offer support and facilitate communication as needed.
  
  Adjustment to Blindness/Deafblindness Training
  We offer a variety of training activities and classes focused on the unique needs of deafblind people. This training is offered through the rehabilitation training center at Vision Loss Resources. For more information, visit our Adjustment to Blindness Training. Referrals are typically made by a consumer’s State Services for the Blind counselor. Private pay is also possible.
  
  Professionals & Caregivers
  Understanding Vision Loss: Training for Professionals - Are you and your team ready to serve people with vision loss? 
  Get empowered with a training from Vision Loss Resources.
• Identify your clients’ needs: understand the common signs and causes of vision loss
• Understand what your clients are going through: learn about the emotional impact of vision loss
• Strengthen your services and communications: learn about accessibility
• Be a leader: learn about resources to share with your clients
  
  CEUs available:
• Board of Nursing (MN) – 1 Contact Hour – Online and In-Person – Pricing starts at $45/attendee with discounts for larger groups
• Board of Executives for Long-Term Services and Supports (MN) – 1 Contact Hour (Online) – Pricing starts at $45/attendee with discounts for larger groups