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SDSBVI Logo: Silhouette of a group of two adults and three children walking hand in hand away from a big oak tree, led by a child using a long cane.

South Dakota School
for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Angled view of the front and side of the SDSBVI building. The front displays SDSBVI in large letters with braille.
SDSBVI building from the front

South Dakota School for the

Blind and Visually Impaired

Welcome from the Superintendent

Dr. Jessica Vogel.jpg
Dr. Jessica Vogel.jpg

Welcome to the South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. As Superintendent, I am honored to lead a dedicated team committed to providing students who are blind or visually impaired with the education, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.

At our school, we focus not only on academic achievement but also on the development of essential functional skills of blindness—including orientation and mobility, assistive technology, daily living skills, and braille literacy. These core competencies empower our students to navigate their world with independence and confidence.

We believe in creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where every child can learn, grow, and succeed. Our programs are tailored to meet each student’s individual needs, fostering both their strengths and their sense of self. We work closely with families and communities to ensure our students are prepared for life beyond the classroom.

 

Thank you for visiting our website. We invite you to explore and learn more about the life-changing work being done at SDSBVI.

Sincerely, 

Jessica Vogel, Ed.D. 
Superintendent 

Upcoming Events

  • 04/24/2026

    NE Area Swimming Competition at Prairie Lakes Wellness Center in Watertown, SD

    05/01/2026

    Area Spring Games (Track & Field) at Milbank High School in Milbank, SD

    05/14-16/2026

    State Summer Games at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD

  • 07/06-24/2026

    July ESY Session

    06/01-18/2026

    June ESY Session

  • July 24 - 25, 2026

    “Game On, Challenge Accepted”​

    Our theme this year is playing games as a strategy for problem solving, group interaction, and life skills strategies

  • October 13 - 15, 2026

    "Falling into L-AER-ning"

    Watch for our flyer coming soon! Please contact aerdakotas@gmail.com for any questions. 

A young boy smiles at the camera with a large green hill in the background_
A young girl in a wheelchair laughs while playing with a toy_
A young man wearing a cowboy hat and a bull riding vest_
A young boy in a wheelchair sits beside a horse trailer_
A woman leans beside a young woman who smiles while standing on dry macaroni_
A young girl paints using a small sponge_
A woman smiles beside a horse while a young woman, wearing an equestrian helmet, sits in t
A young boy smiles while playing with a bell that has a short red cord_

Upcoming Events

  • Spring

    04/24/2026 NE Area Swimming Competition at Prairie Lakes Wellness Center in Watertown, SD

    05/01/2026 NE Area Spring Games (Track & Field)  at Milbank High School in Milbank, SD

    05/14-16/2026 State Summer Games at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD

    • June 1 - 18, 2026 June ESY Session

    • July 6 - 24, 2026 July ESY Session

A young boy smiles at the camera with a large green hill in the background
A young girl in a wheelchair laughs while playing with a toy
A woman smiles beside a horse while a young woman, wearing an equestrian helmet, sits in the saddle
A young boy smiles while playing with a bell that has a short red cord
A woman leans beside a young woman who smiles while standing on dry macaroni
A young girl paints using a small sponge
A young boy in a wheelchair sits beside a horse trailer
A young man wearing a cowboy hat and a bull riding vest
A young woman shopping for juice in the grocery aisle assisted by her teacher
A young woman is ice skating with the aid of a wheeled walker while a crowd of students, a teacher, and Wings hockey players watch
A young boy is smiling as he receives help from an instructional assistant with a green paper tissue craft
A young woman has locked arms with an instructional assistant as they walk across the dock at Mina Lake, SD
A young boy being silly with an instructional assistant as the boy shows off his cool wiggly eyes
A young girl smiling as her fingers touch the pudding and graham cracker mixture on her tray
Two young girls enjoying indoor recess on the floor, with one girl having her arm around the other
A young man on downhill skis holding onto a slider device for balance, standing with his guides after a fun run down the hill at Ski for Light in Black Hills, SD
A young man independently vacuums the carpet in the library
Students gathered around a table with their teacher tasting different flavors of applesauce
Young boy standing next to a life-sized stuffed buffalo at the Dakota Prairie Museum in Aberdeen, SD
A young girl plays the game Sorry assisted by her Instructional Assistant
A group of three young men a standing behind a cart filled with individual brownies to sell around school as part of their small business project
A young girl feeling the vending machine in the hallway during an O&M lesson with her teacher
A group of five young students sitting in a line on top of a brick wall in front of Dacotah Bank Stadium on the campus of Northern State University
A young woman taking a dirty towel out of the bin at a local hair salon in Aberdeen, SD, as part of her job skills training
A young boy smiling while holding a curled up ball python in his hands during community based instruction
A young girl riding her horse Zeva at SPURS with her teacher as her sidewalker
A young boy smiling while he explores a glowing pop tube toy held up by staff
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