Washington State Department of Services for the Blind

Mission, Vision, and Values

Inclusion, Independence, and Economic Vitality for People with Visual Disabilities.

Our Vision

Highest quality customer Service

Powerful partnerships

Dynamic agency culture

Effective business processes

Outstanding outcomes

Powerful Partnerships

We are the national leader in promoting the skills and abilities of people who are blind and visually impaired. Our community partners view us as a premiere resource. We actively team with participants, the community, and fellow staff members.

Dynamic Agency Culture

Our culture embraces and rewards creativity, risk taking, and leadership from everyone. Every employee is important to and involved in creating the big picture. We hold ourselves individually accountable and personally responsible. We are committed to continuous self-assessment and improvement. We actively seek opportunities to educate and be educated. We honor and celebrate our differences while providing safe environments. Communications are clear, direct, and with positive intent. Employees are recognized and valued and enjoy working here.

Effective Business Processes

Our programs are models of best practices, continuous improvement, and reinvention. We are a model of accessibility in our physical spaces and our service delivery. We are successful in capturing all the resources necessary to accomplish our mission.

Outstanding Outcomes

We create the highest quality outcomes for our participants by meeting the full-range of customer needs in each of our programs. People who are blind and visually impaired go to work in careers of their choice. Participants exit with all the skills needed to manage their lives and careers.

Our Values

We value and encourage a culture where:

Teamwork,
Respect,
Accountability,
Innovation, and
Nurturing

(TRAIN) thrive and are demonstrated at all levels of the organization.

TEAMWORK is demonstrated through partnering and collaboration with staff, participants, and the community. Flexibility to deal with each partner and customer as an individual is a key to successful teamwork.

RESPECT means treating employees and customers with dignity, and treating others as they would want to be treated; demonstrating compassion for all; honoring differences.

ACCOUNTABILITY for fairness in delivery of services and treatment of people; for customer service that exceeds all expectations; for promoting the skills, abilities, and potential of people who are blind and visually impaired; and for demonstrating ethics, integrity, and honesty.

INNOVATION comes from an environment where it is safe to take risks and be creative. We embrace change and continuous process improvement. We learn from our mistakes.

NURTURING means encouraging employees to be their best through coaching and mentoring; investing in our human resources by encouraging and supporting training, education and opportunities for continuous growth; reinforcing uplifting attitudes; modeling positive intent; and celebrating successes, small and large.

For more information on DSB agency policy, philosophy, or protocols, click on the following links:

• DSB Management Roles and Guidelines
• Distinction Between Title I, Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and Title VII, Independent Living Services
• 2009-2015 DSB Strategic Plan.