My Education, My Profession

by Marian Minar

Visual Impairments

Definition

Visual impairment is a generic term that covers a range of difficulties with vision and includes the following categories: blind, legally blind, partially sighted, low vision, and cortically visually impaired.

For educational purposes, a student with visual impairment is one whose visual acuity is not sufficient for the student to participate with ease in everyday activities. The impairment interferes with optimal learning and achievement and can result in a substantial educational disadvantage, unless adaptations are made in the methods of presenting learning opportunities, the nature of the materials used and/or the learning environment.

Symptoms and Assessment

Schools personnel should recommend to parents that their child see an Optometrist whenever they suspect a student is experiencing difficulties or is having trouble learning which may be due to vision problems.

Health Authorities vary in the services they provide in communities to identify vision problems in young children. A case finding approach that identifies children who may be at risk is preferable to annual screenings.

In order to plan the educational program the teacher of the visually impaired should conduct a functional vision assessment to identify the educational implications of the student's vision loss. In the case of students with a severe visual impairment, a qualified orientation and mobility instructor should also assess the students' skills in orientation and mobility.

Strategies

With appropriate support services, many students can follow the curriculum with adaptation of learning resources or instructional methods. When necessary, however, the curriculum should be modified to reflect individual needs. The student's educational requirements and any special measures that are to be taken in order to help meet those requirements should be documented in a formal Individual Education Plan.

When an IEP is developed, the following needs should be considered:

  • orientation and mobility skills;
  • visual skills;
  • specialized skills in reading (e.g., Braille, taped books, enhanced print, CCTV);
  • specialized skills in mathematics (e.g., abacus, Nemeth Code);
  • access to technology (e.g., Braille 'n Speak, tape recorders, computers);
  • daily living skills;
  • social skills;
  • vocational planning and skill development;
  • study skills and note-taking strategies; and
  • concept development.

External Links

Rationalle