Low Vision and Blindness
Tyler Stewardson
Definition and Description
Definition and Description
Low Vision- Reduced level of function vision that cannot be fully corrected with correctional glasses, contact lenses, or surgery
Blindness- No functional vision and may only be able to perceive shadows or movement
Major Characteristics
Intellectual characteristics- students with visual impairments have cognitive, academic, social and emotional, and behavioral effects depending on the severity of there condition
Play and social interaction skills- Due to not be able to see well children often miss out on developing social skills, students will often engage in solitary play and may not understand nonverbal cues
May be less assertive than there peers- might have difficulties making friends since they lake the social interaction skills
Become disoriented by quick and sudden movements
Prevalence
Between 0.04% to 0.1% of children have visual disabilities and receive special education
About two-thirds of children with visual disabilities have more than one disability.
Digital or electronic textbooks and Audiobooks
Digital or electronic textbooks, and audiobooks can be used by low vision and blind students to read by Enlarging text or translating text into braille, adjust the contrast or listen to the passage.
Visual Aids, Opaque Projector, 3D Models
Visual Aids, Opaque Projector, 3D Models also allows visually impaired students to engage in class by using sensory specific strategies to learn, see, and interact with what is going on around them in the classroom.
http://aim.cast.org/learn/disabilityspecific/sensory_blind_lv
Use Contrasting Colors/Making the Classroom safe
Locate objects easier in the classroom, put dark letters against bright backgrounds and attach brightly colored objects to frequently used items in the classroom.
Make sure students are pushing in chairs, Keeping classroom doors open, keep the classroom free of clutter, and warn student of the potential objects that are on the floor and around them.
http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/classroom-design-tips.html
Household Accomidations
Lighting- add extra lighting and light hazardous areas like entries and stairways
Contrast- Paint objects in the house to make them stand out (electrical sockets, thermostats, oven dials, switch plates)
Label and Mark-Post bold black lettering to label household items and mark dangerous areas like stairs or doorways with bright paint or tape.
Arrange furniture so it does not stick out, do not keep doors halfway open, and remove electrical cords and other objects the child could trip on from walking areas.
Resources
Classroom Design Tips for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.teachingvisuallyimpaired.com/classroom-design-tips.html
Message for screen reader users. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://www.tsbvi.edu/instructional-resources/142-vision/3657-vision-accommodations