USC Upstate

USC Upstate: "USC Upstate’s Special Education – Visual Impairment Program Awarded $497,675
11- 03- 2009
Spartanburg, S.C. - The year 2009 is “the bicentennial anniversary year of the birth of Louis Braille, who, by inventing the means of reading by touch, opened the world of literacy to individuals who are blind,” points out James Kirby, Commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind.
How appropriate, then, that the University of South Carolina Upstate’s Special Education--Visual Impairment Program in the School of Education recently received a grant for $497,675 from the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the United States Department of Education. This grant will enable USC Upstate’s Visual Impairment Program, in collaboration with the South Carolina Vision Education Partnership, to significantly increase awareness of Braille and knowledge of how best to teach it.
The grant will also create activities and programs for South Carolina individuals who are blind or visually impaired in order to promote the knowledge and use of Braille and non-visual access technology. Building literacy skills and proficiency in Braille and access technology leads to independence and competence in many areas of life for young people and adults with visual impairments. And for these individuals, independence leads to improved skills in personal care and home management, as well as to increased opportunities for employment."