Within the New Hanover County School system, itinerant vision instructional services and orientation & mobility related services are offered to support the education of students with low vision and blindness.
Itinerant Vision Services
The Teacher of Students who are Blind/Visually Impaired (TVI) reviews medical eye reports, observes, assesses and, if needed, provides direct, collaborative, and/or consultative intervention, as determined by the IEP team, based on each individual student’s needs.
From the NC Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities:
Visual impairment, including blindness, means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness. A visual impairment is the result of a diagnosed ocular or cortical pathology.
The disability must have an adverse effect on educational performance and require specially designed instruction.
Orientation and Mobility
As a related service to students with a qualifying visual impairment, O&M instruction enables students…“ to attain systematic orientation to and safe movement within their environments in school, home, and community.” (NC Policies Governing Services for Students with Disabilities, NC 1500-2.28)
The Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) conducts observations, assessments, and teaches skills associated with safe travel for students who are blind/visually impaired, including orienting to an environment; use of specific travel techniques, such as sight/human guide; and travel tools, such as the long cane.