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Learners with Blindness or Low Vision

Learners with Blindness or Low Vision. Stephanie Kortan Jordan Majewski. Definition. Legal Definition: Legally Blind : a person who has visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye even with correction (eye-glasses )

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Learners with Blindness or Low Vision

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  1. LearnerswithBlindnessorLowVision StephanieKortan JordanMajewski

  2. Definition • Legal Definition: • Legally Blind: a person who has visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye even with correction (eye-glasses) • Low Vision: persons who have visual acuity falling between 20/70 and 20/200 in the better eye with correction • Educational Definition: Individuals who are blind are so severely impaired they must learn to read Braille

  3. Prevalence • Blindness is primarily an adult disability • Fewer than .05% of students from age 6-17 are identified as visually impaired

  4. Causes • Some conditions affect both adults and children • Glaucoma • Cataracts • Diabetic retinopathy • Some conditions affect primarily children • Cortical visual impairment • Retinopathy • Optic nerve hypoplasia • Retinispigmentosa

  5. Psychological and Behavioral Characteristics • Language Development • Motor Delays • Orientation and Mobility (O & M) • People with visual impairment can process spatial information either sequentially or as a cognitive map; the latter is more efficient • Two myths are that people who are blind have an extra sense and that they automatically develop better acuity in their other senses • Phonological Awareness • Stereotypic (repetitive) Behaviors • Social Adjustment

  6. Dos and Don’ts for Teachers DO DON’T Be afraid to touch visually impaired students Overprotect Be afraid to require a student’s best work Be afraid to require the same requirements Hesitate to ask students what something looks like to them • Feel comfortable using vision words, such as “look,” “see,” and “watch” • Use the students’ name when calling on them • Read out loud what you are writing on the board • Encourage independence • Include visually impaired students in as many class activities as possible • Give explicit directions

  7. Educational Considerations • The ability to read braille is a crucial skill • The use of remaining sight is an important skill • Listening skills are important • O & M skills are of critical importance • Guide Dogs • Tactile Maps • Human Guides • Technological aids are available for communication

  8. Assessment and Accommodations • Teachers can monitor progress in Braille skills involved in reading and mathematics using curriculum-based measurement (CBM) • O and M instructions can monitor travel skills using GPS devices • Professionals can assess academic outcomes using Braille versions of standardized academic tests

  9. Important Considerations for Early Intervention • Intensive intervention should begin as early as possible • Inclusive settings can be beneficial, but it is important that the teacher facilitate interactions between students with visual impairments and sighted students • Try to involve parents • Many authorities now recommend that preschoolers be taught cane techniques

  10. Transition to Adulthood • Lead very independent lives • Emphasis on inclusion? • Sighted society needs to be careful not to treat those with visual impairments as helpless • Explicit teaching of independent living skills is essential • Transition programming should be intensive and extensive • Job accommodations are essential

  11. Resources • Council for Exceptional Children. (2003). What every special educator must know: Ethics, standards and guidelines for special educators (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: Author. • Erin, J. N. (2006). Teaching social skills to elementary and middle school students with visual impairments. New York: American Foundation for the Blind. • Hatlen, P. (1998). A report to the nation: The national agenda for the education of children and youths with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities. New York: AFP Press.

  12. Picture Resources • Brailleduino. (14, July 2009). Retrieved from http://www.epokh.org/blog/?p=235 • DeRoo, K. (n.d.). Low vision awareness. Retrieved from http://ktderoo.com/lowvision/pages/cataracts.html • kluciole. (18, February 2011). Angry mother says people unkind to her blind toddler, assuming his white cane is a toy. Retrieved from http://blog.luciolepress.com/2011/02/18/angry-mother-says-people-unkind-to-her-blind-toddler-assuming-his-white- cane-is-a-toy.aspx • Li, M. (n.d.). Dr. mike li optometry-photo gallery. Retrieved from http://www.drmikeli.com/photo_gallery • Texas school a key partner in developing resources for blind & visually impaired students. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.readnaturally.com/company/news_brailletx.htm • The right to sight. (28, November 2009). Retrieved from http://www.vision2020.org/main.cfm?type=WSD08AR

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