• The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) was founded in 1848 and is located on an 18-acre campus in Jacksonville,approximately 35 miles west of Springfield.
  
  
• The mission of ISVI is to serve as a statewide educational resource, offering students with visual impairments quality services which will enable them to become personally productive, self-sufficient citizens.
  
  
• ISVI is accredited by the North Central Association and is in compliance with state and federal policies which are monitored by the Illinois State Board of Education.
  
  
• Students must have the primary disability of Blind or Visual Impairment for admission.
  
  
• ISVI offers a comprehensive curriculum that emphasizes independence and vocational skills, instruction in Braille, daily living skills, orientation and mobility training, assistive technology, adaptive physical education, home economics, and industrial arts.
  
  
• ISVI offers a transitional living program that teaches students how to live independently. Students learn money management, meal planning and preparation, housekeeping, decision making, and accessing community resources.
  
  
• Class size is normally limited to a student-faculty ratio of 7 to 1.
  
  
• Students may participate in mainstreamed education classes at local public schools.
  
  
• ISVI offers a broad array of social and recreational activities to all students through the residential living programs during evenings and weekends.
  
  
• Extracurricular activities include track, cheerleading, swimming, wrestling, goalball, choir and forensics.
  
  
• Direct and consultative services are provided to parents of children (0-3) with vision loss.
  
  
• Employment opportunities are available for students in both on and off-campus settings.
  
  
• Educational services are provided at no cost to parents. Personal belongings, health care, and spending money are the responsibility of parents. Schools are responsible for transportation costs for homegoing breaks and one-on-one aides, if necessary.
  

 

For more information, contact the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired
(217/479-4400 V/TTY 217-479-4415/1-800-919-5617) or visit the ISVI website at www.isvi.net