NDVS/SB

What NDVS/SB does

North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB) is a division of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction under State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler, providing statewide leadership, center-based programming, and regionalized outreach services for persons of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. The organization operates from its Grand Forks headquarters (500 Stanford Road) with seven additional regional offices (Fargo, Bismarck, Minot, Jamestown, Rugby, and Dickinson), deploying itinerant services into schools, homes, and communities across North Dakota. NDVS/SB delivers assessment, instruction, and support across the Expanded Core Curriculum, including orientation and mobility, assistive technology, independent living skills, vocational training, and braille. Service lines include center-based short-term residential programs (Elementary Summer Camp, Teen Programs, Focus on Life, VILLA vocational), adult week programs with on-site lodging, the Vision Resource Center library, the Braille Access Center for transcription, the Golden Guides video series, TSVI virtual training recordings since 2020, and accessibility consulting on WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance. End users range from infants (ages 0-3) and preschool (3-5) to K-12 students (5-21) and adults of all ages; services are provided at no cost to North Dakota residents with a $250 out-of-state summer program rate.

The organization's technology footprint centers on assistive technology distribution and content publishing. NDVS/SB's The Store resells a catalog spanning OrCam devices (OrCam Read, MyEye Pro, Powerbank, Bluetooth Headphones), Eschenbach digital magnifiers (Smartlux Digital, Visolux Digital HD, Visolux Digital XL FHD), MaxEvents telescopic glasses, mobility canes with multiple tip configurations, daily living aids (talking clocks, scales, blood pressure monitors), braille and tactile labeling systems, accessible games with braille and tactile modifications, touch and bump dots, and accessibility-focused office supplies. Content assets include the Vision Resource Center library (large print, braille, twin vision, audiobooks, descriptive DVDs, professional resources), the Golden Guides YouTube channel, and TSVI virtual training recordings. Since 2020 the agency has hosted virtual professional development on document accessibility, CVI assessments, APH products, Active Learning, and braille instruction. Public API, SDK, or developer integration surfaces are absent; the organization operates a public information website and a phone/online retail channel with no AI/ML proprietary stack.

NDVS/SB's business model is principally government-funded through state budget appropriations to the Department of Public Instruction; revenues include supplementary The Store e-commerce sales of assistive technology and merchandise, and donations channeled through the affiliated nonprofit NDSB Foundation. Pricing is universally free for North Dakota residents (programs, assessments, training); out-of-state summer program participation is $250 per student; APH items are funded through the federal quota program. Store products have phone-quoted unit pricing (e.g., bar magnifiers $20-$50, hand magnifiers $30-$100, stand magnifiers $100-$300, talking clocks $20-$50, kitchen aids $10-$50, health monitors $30-$80). The organization does not operate a traditional commercial go-to-market motion, has no private investors, no venture capital involvement, and no private equity exposure.

Name

NDVS/SB

Legal name

North Dakota Vision Services

Website

https://ndvisionservices.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind (NDVS/SB) is a state-government division providing statewide vision rehabilitation, educational, and support services to infants, children, and adults who are blind or visually impaired across North Dakota, at no cost to residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vision Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

Keywords

• Vision rehabilitation services
• Assistive technology products
• Blind and low vision support
• Braille transcription services
• Special education visual impairment

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Forks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: NDVS/SB is a division of the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction under State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler. Primary funding comes from state government budget appropriations.
2. The Store Product Sales: The Store sells assistive technology products, canes, magnifiers, braille supplies, daily living aids, and merchandise. Products available via phone order at 701-795-2700 or 1-800-421-1181.
3. Foundation Donations: NDSB Foundation collects donations including proceeds from merchandise sales (t-shirts, sweatshirts, tumblers) and foundation cards designed by students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NDVS/SB is a state government division that delivers statewide vision rehabilitation, special education, and outreach services to infants, children, and adults who are blind or visually impaired across North Dakota. Itinerant TSVI coordinators, center-based residential short-term programs, adult week programs, a Braille Access Center, a Vision Resource Center library, virtual TSVI training, and a small online store of assistive technology products (OrCam, Eschenbach magnifiers, canes, daily living aids) constitute the core offerings.

Product overview

NDVS/SB operates as a state agency (division of the Department of Public Instruction) providing a comprehensive range of services and products for people who are blind or visually impaired across North Dakota. The core offerings include an online store selling assistive technology devices (OrCam, Eschenbach magnifiers), mobility products (canes, tips), daily living aids (talking devices, health aids), eyewear, games, labeling products, magnifiers, office supplies, and tactile markers. Services include regional outreach coordination across eight regions, center-based short-term educational programs, virtual TSVI training recordings, accessibility consulting, Golden Guides video tutorials, braille transcription, and a vision resource center library.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Store: Online retail store providing assistive devices, magnifiers, canes, braille products, daily living aids, and other products for people with visual impairments
• Golden Guides
• Vision Resource Center (VRC)
• Braille Access Center

Products and services

• Regional Outreach Services
• Short-Term Center-Based Programs
• Braille Access Center
• Vision Resource Center (VRC)
• TSVI Virtual Training Recordings
• Accessibility Consulting and Training Services
• Adult Services Program
• The Store - Assistive Technology and Daily Living Products

Quantifiable outcome

• No cost services for North Dakota residents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Printing House for the Blind (APH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPH provides educational materials funded through the federal quota program. NDVS/SB distributes APH items to students registered on the APH Annual Census. Partnership includes access to APH Hive learning platform for professional development.
• Leader Dogs for the BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeader Dogs for the Blind runs Teen Summer Camp in Michigan. NDVS/SB students attend this camp for mobility training including dog guide experience. NDVS/SB covers costs for students to attend.
• Annie's House at Bottineau Winter ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative outdoor recreation partnership for adaptive skiing, snowboarding, tubing, and snow-shoeing activities for NDVS/SB students during winter programs.
• NDSB FoundationcoreOthersNon-profit foundation supporting NDVS/SB. Receives donations and proceeds from merchandise sales (cards designed by students, t-shirts, tumblers). Funds statue project and supports programs.
• ND State LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with North Dakota State Library for summer reading program themes. Elementary summer program curriculum follows the state library's Summer Reading Program.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Printing House for the Blind (APH): Federally chartered nonprofit providing accessible educational materials to students with visual impairments. NDVS/SB explicitly partners with APH and distributes APH products through the federal quota program — comparable mission and constituency.
• Leader Dogs for the Blind: Rochester Hills, MI-based nonprofit providing guide dog and mobility training. NDVS/SB explicitly sends students to Leader Dogs' Teen Summer Camp — direct peer in orientation & mobility services.
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI): Texas state agency providing statewide educational and outreach services to students with visual impairments; comparable in scope, statutory authority, and service mix (outreach, short-term programs, professional training). Most direct structural analogue.
• California School for the Blind (CSB): State-funded residential and outreach program serving K-12 students with visual impairments in California; comparable agency model with center-based programming and statewide service area.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Private nonprofit serving blind and visually impaired students with educational programs, professional development, and outreach — operates national professional training analogous to NDVS/SB's TSVI virtual trainings.

Broad incumbents

• Lighthouse Guild: National nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, behavioral health, and assistive technology services. Comparable in assistive-tech distribution and vision rehabilitation services, but operates in metropolitan markets rather than a single state.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Largest US membership organization for the blind, providing advocacy, training, and resources nationally. Broader in scope (advocacy-driven) but addresses similar constituent needs in independent living, education, and employment.

Others

• Eschenbach Optik: Germany-based manufacturer of magnifiers and low-vision aids that NDVS/SB resells. Adjacent vendor in the assistive-tech supply chain rather than a service competitor.
• OrCam Technologies: Israel-based maker of AI-powered wearable assistive devices (OrCam Read, MyEye Pro) that NDVS/SB resells through The Store. Adjacent supplier/enabler in the same vision-tech ecosystem rather than a direct service competitor.

Regional players

• State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies (e.g., ND Vocational Rehabilitation): Other state agencies providing vocational and rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities, including vision rehabilitation. Comparable public-sector disability services model though with broader disability eligibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCeFZRB42LbdYJskXcGfrAPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/NorthDakotaVisionServicesSchoolForTheBlind
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-dakota-vision-service-school-for-the-blind

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NDVS/SB