The focus of the November 2025 monthly report is DSB's Birth through 13 (B-13) program, also known as the DSB Explorers. DSB Explorers provides parent education and support and opportunities for youth under the age of 14. The program is in its first full year of programming and currently serves 79 customers.
The monthly Parent Connection Zoom meetings from June through November have provided 12 hours of parent instruction by vision professionals and leaders in the field. Some parents also participated in a book study during the summer to learn about resilience and grit to help kids acquire durable skills for the future.
In-person programs focus on experiences that build skills leading to success as they move into Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR). The program collaborates with Pre-ETS and VR counselors to understand and anticipate the needs of incoming customers.
Interview with Birth through 13 Program Manager, Sara Logston
Sara talks to Michael MacKillop about the success of the Parent Connection Zoom meetings and the Family Jam retreat weekend.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The B-13 program continues to build and strengthen partnerships around the state to expand access to services and to support already established programs. In the past few months the team partnered with WSSB (Washington State School for the Blind) to support the Abacus Bee and "Day of Code”, supported the NFB BELL (National Federation of the Blind Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning)
Academy to build literacy skills, orientation and mobility skills, daily living skills and advocacy, and has also begun to collaborate with the DeafBlind Project at WSSB to provide more support for the Deaf-Blind community.
Parent Education and Support
The virtual parent groups and in-person sessions have allowed the B-13 program to provide families with resources from the Center for Assistive Technology and Training team (CATT-NW), Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) low vision clinic, Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, mental health counseling services, and much more. Youth Programs and Experiences
Programs like self-defense and blind tennis provide opportunities for confidence building and opportunities to set and reach goals. When the kids were challenged with breaking a wooden board, one parent commented, “I thought the instructor was crazy when they brought out the boards, but it was amazing to see the kiddos break through that barrier.” Check out this video of Kaleb breaking a board in class.
Many in-person programs provide a chance to try new things such as blind tennis, but the ultimate goals for the youth include things such as learning advocacy skills, providing opportunities to experience various places of potential employment in the future, practice goal setting, and dealing with failure. Programs also provide social connection and experience that shapes a positive self-identity.
Family Jam Retreat/Conference
The first Family Jam Retreat kicked off in June 2025 with 15 families and representatives from American Printing House (APH), OHSU, Washington Low Vision clinic, WSSB, and additional educators and vision professionals. In total there were 64 attendees sharing resources, experiencing adaptive sports, learning literacy tools, and building a community.
Letters from Parents
The following excerpts are from letters received from parents who describe the impact of the Birth through 13 programs on their kids and families over the past year. Each title is a link to the full letter.
Resources and helpful recommendations received
"The DSB team has done a phenomenal job putting together a great mix of in-person and virtual events that allow families like mine to access vision resources and form connections with other families impacted by vision impairments and blindness. In particular, their recent speaker from Blind Kitchen was very helpful to our family."
Invaluable connections to professionals and other parents
"The monthly Parent Connection meetings by Zoom, gives me an opportunity to be a part of a group from different parts of the state where professionals in the field of low vision and blind, provide information on hygiene, IEP process, developmental stages, and technology to name a few."
Finding friendships and confidence with the DSB Explorers
"The Mariner's game was an incredible opportunity. Peter found the OneCourt technology to be a way to finally engage with baseball. He has never enjoyed going to games before but that game he stayed all the way to the end and had a great time.
Support and connection at all levels for the whole family
"The DSB Explorers Program provides my son with the ability to meet other children that are low vision or blind. In the rural community, he does not have anyone else that can relate to his vision impairment."