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Visual Impairment Classroom Strategies

This document discusses visual impairments and strategies for teaching students with visual impairments. It defines three categories of visual impairment: low vision, blindness, and legal blindness. It provides examples of specific visual impairments like loss of central vision, night blindness, and color blindness. The document also presents a case study of a student named Trevor and discusses appropriate classroom strategies like preferential seating, reducing glare, allowing extra time, and encouraging peer relationships. It lists assistive technology and provincial resources teachers can utilize.

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65 views15 pages

Visual Impairment Classroom Strategies

This document discusses visual impairments and strategies for teaching students with visual impairments. It defines three categories of visual impairment: low vision, blindness, and legal blindness. It provides examples of specific visual impairments like loss of central vision, night blindness, and color blindness. The document also presents a case study of a student named Trevor and discusses appropriate classroom strategies like preferential seating, reducing glare, allowing extra time, and encouraging peer relationships. It lists assistive technology and provincial resources teachers can utilize.

Uploaded by

api-371835039
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Bring in the light?

Shawnee Shane Caley Erin


ACTIVITY #1
Visual Impairment
-Not just about the blind.
-Includes any student whose visual
acuity is not sufficient to “participate
with ease in everyday activities” and
whose impairment “can result in a
substantial educational
disadvantage, unless adaptations
are made” (Hutchinson 2017)

-Fair differentiation is YOUR


responsibility as teachers!
What situations?
Categories of Visual Impairment
Three Types of Vision Impairments
- Low Vision: Between 20/70 and 20/400

- Blindness: 20/400 or worse

- Legal Blindness: 20/200 or worse

Examples of some of the specific issues that fall within


these

Categories are . . .
Other Types of visual Impairment
- Loss of Central vision: This creates a blur or
- Night Blindness: Inability to see
blindspot in the centre of one’s vision
outside at night or in dimly lit situations
- Loss of peripheral vision: The opposite of the indoors, such as theatres or restaurants
above, the sides of one’s vision is unclear, while or dimmed classrooms
the centre remains clear
- Color Blindness: Colors are still seen,
- Blurred Vision: Both near and far are out of but perception of them is limited and
focus inaccurate

- Generalized Haze: A film or glare that extends - Issues With Depth Perception: Causes
over one’s vision blurry vision particularly in one eye
making it difficult to gauge distance of
- Extreme Light Sensitivity: Regular levels of object
lighting are overwhelming, producing a
[Link]
washed-out image or glare
CASE STUDY
Trevor*
(name changed for confidentiality purposes)
Discussion
ACTIVITY #2
Discussion
Classroom Strategies
- Read student’s IPP BEFORE they enter your
classroom.
- Give low vision students preference for seating in
the classroom. A place that best meets their needs.

- Keep classroom simply organized and make sure


the student knows where to find everything they
may need.
- Reduce glare from windows and and lights as much
as possible for low vision.
- Keep common areas predictable such as pathways,
desk orientation, book shelves.
- Provide multi-sensory experiences; learn by doing.
Classroom Strategies
- Understand that students will usually require more time to
complete tasks.

- Allow the student to explain their visual issues to you in their


own words (builds relationship) and have check-ins on a regular
basis.
- Always call on the student by their name.

- Expect same quality of work, rather than same quantity of work.

- It’s important to remember, the emotional needs of a visually


impaired student are the same as any other student.

- Encourage other students to be friends, not helpers.


Resources
Real World Classroom Resources

- Be My Eyes - Physical Learning Kits


- Instagram Alternative Text - Audiobooks
- LookTel: Money Identifier - Descriptive Video
App - Adaptive Technology
- KNFB Reader App - Speech to Text
- TapTapSee: Object - Screen Readers
Identifier - Screen Magnifiers
- Color ID Free - Word Processors
- Alarmed: Reminders and - Braille Watches
Timers - Braille Printers
Resources
- Alberta: [Link]/teacher/resources/prb/ssvi

- Atlantic Provinces: [Link]

- British Columbia: [Link]

- Manitoba: [Link]/k12/specedu/blind

- Ontario: [Link]/eng/schools/wross/[Link]

- Quebec: [Link]/?langue=en

- Saskatchewan: [Link]/Vision

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