"Focus" on Vision and Vision Loss
The “Focus"  website is a resource of the MCB/DDS Partnership Project for Orientation & Mobility/Low Vision Services, a cooperative effort between the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) and the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
Read more about MCB/DDS Services and Resources. 
“Focus” Talks  
  • Free, on-demand learning opportunities
  • Some sessions from 16th Annual “Focus” Conference are now available. 
Vision Loss Support Groups
Caregivers Individuals
Train the Trainer: Human Guide and Vision Loss Sensitivity
Join us and become a Trainer on Human Guide and Vision Loss Sensitivity to then train your co-workers at the agency where you are employed.  Successful completion of this training will enable you to provide training for new staff and/or refresher training for existing supervisors and staff. This Train the Trainer Project for HGVLS is virtual and free, just an application is required! 
17th Annual "Focus" on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference: Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Vision Loss
Save the Date: Tuesday, October 7, 2025
  • 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
  • Four Points by Sheraton, Norwood, Massachusetts
​Registration information coming soon!
Call For Posters
  • Do You Have a Great Idea to Share at the "Focus" Conference on October 7, 2025?
    • Create a Poster, Display, "Hands On" Demonstration, etc. Highlight your work and display on a table or easel
    • Space for 10 "Posters" is available! 
·      Please contact [email protected] by April 11, 2025 with your idea.
Eye Surgery Preparation and Post Op Planning for Individuals with Intellectual Disability
Keeping Healthy and Safe: Focus on Orientation & Mobility Techniques, Glasses, Canes, Devices and More
In this busy and trying time, all of our energies and attention are on keeping our loved ones and ourselves healthy and safe.  Highlighting vision loss, we have put together three resources focusing on Keeping Healthy When Using Orientation and Mobility Techniques, COVID-19 Protocol for Use of the Human Guide Technique, and Keeping Glasses, Canes, Visual Aids, Cell Phones and Devices Spotless and Sanitized.  We hope that these three additions to our collection of downloadable resources will be a help to you.  We encourage you to send the links and/or download to share. Together we can help each other to stay healthy and safe. 
For more information please contact: 
Lisa DiBonaventura,  M.A.,  COMS
Statewide Director Vision & Vision Loss Services
Department of Developmental Services  (DDS)
131 Emerald Street, Wrentham, MA 02093
Email: [email protected]
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"Focus" on Vision and Vision Loss: Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability