• The vision support program has a child centered philosophy for educating students who are blind and visually impaired. A variety of educational approaches and strategies are utilized and individualized according to each student’s needs. For children with a diagnosed visual impairment that adversely affects their education, the vision support program is dedicated to developing individual strategies and providing instruction in the visual compensatory skills necessary for them to access their educational program.

• According to The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004, children who have a measured visual acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better eye with correction or who have a visual field of 20 degrees or less are eligible for visual support.

• The itinerant vision support program provides services to support the established curriculum for visually impaired students from early intervention through high school that are enrolled in regular or special education classes. Vision support teachers evaluate each student's needs and abilities, participate in team meetings, develop strategies and provide instruction necessary to implement programming for children who exhibit vision difficulties that adversely affect their educational achievement.

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

• Itinerant vision support teachers provide input for evaluation reports (ER) and along with the educational team, complete Individual Education Programs (IEPs) and maintain student records, including data on the instructional program, progress and attendance. Itinerant vision support teachers conduct learning media assessments and functional vision assessments to ensure students have an appropriate educational program.

• Teaching activities focus on acquisition of specific skills which aid the student in compensating for their visual loss. Specialized materials, technical assistance, technology support, assessment, acquisition and training in the use of assistive devices for the visually impaired are provided based on individual needs.

• The Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) provides a framework for instruction in a specialized set of vision-related skills for students who are blind or visually impaired. While students who are blind or visually impaired are expected to follow the same core curriculum as their sighted peers, there are certain areas in which they need specific instruction because of their vision loss. These areas are referred to as the Expanded Core Curriculum: Compensatory Skills, Orientation and Mobility, Social Interaction, Independent Living, Recreation and Leisure, Sensory Efficiency, Assistive Technology, Career Education, and Self-Determination.

• Orientation and mobility training is offered as a related service to eligible students enrolled in the vision support program. This training prepares students to negotiate safely, efficiently and independently in both indoor and outdoor familiar and unfamiliar environments.

• Vision support is provided within the educational setting to students who have a documented visual impairment that adversely affects educational performance. Students may receive instruction in compensatory skills relating to blindness or visual impairment.

• Vision therapy is the training and rehabilitation of the eye and brain connections involved in vision. It is a series of progressive therapeutic procedures where individuals develop or recover normal visual skills. This therapy is performed outside of the school setting by a medical professional certified in this field.