Belief Statements:

• All children can learn and we value their individual talents.

• Independence is the right and ultimate goal of every student who is blind or visually impaired.

• NMSBVI is the leader in the field of educating students who are blind or visually impaired.

• NMSBVI supports the education of all students with blindness and visual impairment in the state.

• Parents and students who are blind or visually impaired need to be provided current information about all aspects of the education of their children.

• Education begins with families and continues throughout the lives of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

• Education of individuals who are  blind or visually impaired  encompasses not only academic skills, but also specialized skills of blindness and visual impairment including  compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes, orientation and mobility, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, sensory efficiency skills, self-determination

• Children who are blind or visually impaired should have the ability and the choice to be integrated into their communities.

• We believe that all children learn best when provided with the appropriate level of specialized instruction and the appropriate educational environment.

• The most effective way to teach is through collaboration with one another and other partners.

• We hold ourselves accountable for excellence in preparing students to lead independent lives.

• We believe that NMSBVI should remain a separate entity to serve b/vi students.

• Independence is the right and ultimate goal of every student who is blind or visually impaired.

• NMSBVI is the leader in the field of educating students who are blind or visually impaired.

• NMSBVI supports the education of all students with blindness and visual impairment in the state.

• Parents and students who are blind or visually impaired need to be provided current information about all aspects of the education of their children.

• Education begins with families and continues throughout the lives of individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

• Education of individuals who are  blind or visually impaired  encompasses not only academic skills, but also specialized skills of blindness and visual impairment including  compensatory or functional academic skills, including communication modes, orientation and mobility, social interaction skills, independent living skills, recreation and leisure skills, career education, use of assistive technology, sensory efficiency skills, self-determination

• Children who are blind or visually impaired should have the ability and the choice to be integrated into their communities.

• We believe that all children learn best when provided with the appropriate level of specialized instruction and the appropriate educational environment.

• The most effective way to teach is through collaboration with one another and other partners.

• We hold ourselves accountable for excellence in preparing students to lead independent lives.

• We believe that NMSBVI should remain a separate entity to serve b/vi students.

Strategies:

• We will foster an atmosphere of creativity that results in innovative practices and programs.

• We will create a training system that results in sufficient numbers of specialized staff in the field of blindness and visual impairment for the state of  New Mexico.

• We will create a system to convey and receive information about blindness and visual impairment educational services, trends, research, etc. to all those involved or interested in serving students who are blind or visually impaired.

• We will build a system of data-driven decision making that will be used collaboratively to determine goals, services and settings for educating New Mexico students with blindness or visual impairments.

• We will develop a system that supports the successful transition of students with blindness or visual impairment and their programming across settings.

• We will acquire community support and the resources essential to advance the success of each student with blindness or visual impairment.

(The above mission statement, beliefs, and strategies are part of the Strategic Plan currently under development. They were reviewed by the board in April, 2011, but have not been approved pending finalization.)