Blind and Low Vision Fact Sheet
What we can do to help
Some Important Facts
A condition or partial or total impairment of sight or vision that even with correction affects educational performance adversely.
When creating Lessons, teachers need to consider adding demonstrations, differentiating their presentations by adding tactile elements and being creative to try and increase engagement.
Learning in the classroom
Use assistive technology (closed-circuit television and computers to enlarge and darken print)
Use other media sources for delivering information (audio cassette, voice file)
Use physical models or concrete materials
Use oral tests or allow for a scribe.
Offer Alternatives to Visual Information
Setting Up Your Classroom
If items need to be moved, you must inform the student guide them to the new area.
Technology Resources
Alternative Control: Braille Keyboard and Display
Using a Braille keyboard allows a student who is blind to write in Braille and when attached to an appropriate printer will allow them to print in either Braille or in print that is readable by a teacher who cannot read Braille.
http://www.freedomscientific.com/Products/Blindness/Focus40BrailleDisplay
Alternative Display: A Braille Display attached to a computer and converts the text on the screen into Braille so a student can read a website.
With our increasing reliance on technology for research, this is an excellent way for a student who is blind to look up information and be able to read it. Another option is a scanner that converts written text to speech. This has the added benefit for students who cannot read Braille. This option would be better for students with low vision.
http://humanware.com/en-canada/products/blindness/braille_displays
Augmentative Processing: Text to speech software allows digital text to be read aloud. There are several different programs available. These have the added benefit of highlighting the section that is being read, changing the contrast or size of the text to make reading easier and the ability to change the speed at which the text is being read.
http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.html