Visual Impairment

Definitions

My Own Words:

Any level of visual limitations (including blindness) that negatively affects one's academic performance in school, even with glasses or contacts.

NYSED, Part 200 Regulations:

"An impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a student's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness."

Notes

The Inclusive Classroom:

• General Information:

  • 0.4% of students under IDEA

  • Legal AND educational definition

    • Legal is based on acuity assessments*

      • Legally blind has visual acuity of 20/200

      • Partially sighted had visual acuity of 20/70

    • Educational is linked to learning to read*

      • Students with low vision learn to read with enlarged print

      • Students who are totally blind learn to read using braille or by ear

  • Can be present at borth or acquires

• Characteristics of Visual Impariments:

  • Trouble seeing

  • Rely on tacticle and auditory imput

  • Repetative behaviors

    • Not physically harmful, but socially harmful (attract unwanted, negative attention)

  • Range in mobility skills

    • Some use mobility aids (canes, guides, dogs)

• Adaptations for Students with Visual Impairments:

  • Adapt the Physical Environment:

    • Wide, clear isles

    • Extra space for braille equipement or enlarged print materials

  • Adapt Instructional Materials:

    • Enlarge and enhance print

    • Print in braille

    • Use technology available

      • Descriptive video services

      • Oral-output devices

    • Use tactile and three-dimensional models

  • Adapt Instruction:

    • Be explicit when giving oral presentations

    • Address students with their names first

    • Provide time for students to complete class activities

    • Teach and use time orientation

    • Describe upcoming barriers

  • Adapt Assessments:

    • Allow sufficient time to complete tests

    • If allowed, use a teacher to administer the test

• *even with corrective lenses

Special Education in Contemporary Society:

• General Information:

  • Includes visual impairments and blindness

  • One of the least preventable disabilities

  • First step in making an IEP is to assess the pupil's present functional vision

• Characteristics of Visual Impairments:

  • Socially appropriate behavior must be intentionally taught

  • Indpendent and safe travel requires training

Experiences

Field Work:

• N/A

Personal:

• Church

  • There is a student in my church who is blind and has to use a cane as a mobility aid. She needs the visual part of videos explained to her and instructions read multiple times (as we do not have a machine that can type in braille).

Lingering Questions

• If a degenerative visual impairment is present, how often is their IEP updated?

• If needed, who is the one required to print in braille?

Additional Resources:

• Child Grows Up Blind -- The Planson Family -- Our Special Life -- Episode 2