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"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. |
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18th Annual "Focus" on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference:
Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Vision Loss
October 6, 2026
8:00am-4:00pm
Four Points by Sheraton - Norwood, MA
Registration Now Open! Register before July 31, 2026 to save $10.
Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Vision Loss
October 6, 2026
8:00am-4:00pm
Four Points by Sheraton - Norwood, MA
Registration Now Open! Register before July 31, 2026 to save $10.
- "Focus" Registration Brochure PDF / "Focus" Registration Brochure RTF
- Paying by Credit Card? Please register online.
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!
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!
- August/September 2026 Holyoke, MA
- Hybrid/Online Class begins August 18, 2026.
- In-Person 3-Hour Session: September 16, 2026
- Applications due by August 14, 2026 (Limited to 10 participants)
Vision Loss Support Groups
Caregivers
Caregivers
- Caregiver Support Group (VIRTUAL)
- We look forward to connecting with you at our next virtual Caregiver Support Group.
- Group is held virtually every month January-September
- Join us for our next group:
- Tuesday, July 14 - 10:00am-11:00am OR Wednesday, July 15 - 4:00pm-5:00pm
- Topic: Fall into "Focus"- Learn about "Focus" Conference with Georgia Wattendorf-Guiney, M.Ed., COMS, DDS Southeast Region
- Interested to join a Support Group? Please complete the registration form, and send to [email protected]
- We look forward to connecting with you at our next virtual Caregiver Support Group.
- Allston, MA - DDS/VI SUPPORT GROUP: Always Exploring, Never Lost…
“Focus” Talks
- Free, on-demand learning opportunities
- Recorded sessions from the 2025 "Focus" Conference are now available!
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
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.
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.
- COVID-19 Protocol for Use of the Human Guide Technique (PDF) updated December 2020
- COVID-19 Protocol for Use of the Human Guide Technique (RTF) updated December 2020
- Keeping Healthy When Using Orientation and Mobility Techniques (PDF) updated December 2020
- Keeping Healthy When Using Orientation and Mobility Techniques (RTF) updated December 2020
- Keeping Canes, Visual Aids, Cellphones and Devices Spotless and Sanitized (PDF)
- Keeping Canes, Visual Aids, Cellphones and Devices Spotless and Sanitized (RTF)