The FAQS of Vision Impairment
A What Do You Do When…Document
1. What does visually impaired (VI) mean?
Students who are visually impaired have met your state’s criteria for a special education disability category. Many states define visual impairment as an acuity of 20/70 or less with the best correction possible, OR a visual field of 20 degrees or less, OR a degenerative eye disease. The label visually impaired applies to students’ functional abilities which range from appearing to see very well to appearing totally blind. In fact, students with vision impairments who have the same etiology and acuity may have vastly different functional vision abilities making them, as a group, more heterogeneous than homogeneous.
2. Where are students with vision impairments educated?
Today, most nearly 87% of students with vision impairments are educated in the regular classroom for all or a portion of their day. Approximately 13% are educated in schools for the blind or some other non-neighborhood school or setting. Resource rooms for students with vision impairments only may be an option used as well in areas that are more populous.
3. What about schools for the blind?
Students attending schools for the blind may have only vision impairment while others have additional disabilities. Some schools for the blind offer short courses for students to learn Braille and other disability specific skills as well as weekends or summer camps. Schools for the blind can be an excellent additional resource for school administrators, teachers, counselors, the students and the students’ families.* (For the school for the blind in your state, see the resources and references document .) *Most states have a school for the blind. Several states combined their schools for the blind with the schools for the deaf.
4. Who teaches students who are visually impaired?
The regular classroom teacher is responsible for teaching students with vision impairment the same content that the other students in the classroom are expected to learn. However, itinerant teachers of the visually impaired (TVI)--usually traveling between schools or even school districts-- support that teacher. Together, they modify how academic and functional material is taught. Additionally, the TVI has specialized equipment which gives the student with vision impairment equal access to the information being provided to the rest of the class.
5. What else do Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI) do?
Students without vision impairment tend to learn many skills and concepts incidentally by watching others. Students with vision impairment must learn these explicitly. TVIs teach these skills and concepts explicitly to students with vision impairment, so they can participate in the regular classroom without the TVI. These skills and concepts-- known as the Expanded Core Curriculum--include using assistive technology, interacting with other students in a socially appropriate manner, and maximizing the vision they do have to the best of their abilities. (For an explanation of the Expanded Core Curriculum areas, please refer to the resources and references document and see Hatlen, P. (1996)).
6. Will the student use a white cane?
A teacher certified as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist assesses students with vision impairments to determine whether they need a white cane and will instruct them in its use. Additionally, the use of a cane may be indicated on the student’s IEP. The administrator notifies all staff members regarding the need to allow the student to use his or her cane to travel anywhere within the school, on field trips, or other school-related activities.
7. How about Braille?
Students with visual impairment typically access classroom materials through a combination of Braille, print, and assistive technology devices. A student’s need to read in Braille is a decision made on a student-by-student basis each year at the student’s IEP meeting. When students read Braille, the TVI orders the Braille books and Brailles the daily worksheets. To facilitate this, regular classroom teachers must inform the TVI regarding what texts the students will need and give the TVI copies of the daily work sheets, both in a timely manner. Other professionals called Braillists Braille materials for students with vision impairments. The TVI assigned to the student in your school will inform the administrator as to how the student will get Braille materials.
8. Will the student need an aide in the classroom?
Again, this is a decision that is often made at an IEP meeting. Many school districts are moving away from assigning an aide to a particular student. However, recognizing that the classroom teacher teaching students with visual impairments may need more planning time or time to get materials ready for the TVI, some districts assign an aide to the classroom to assist with the teacher as necessary.
9. Where do I find a Teacher of the Visually Impaired?
There are several places to find a TVI. School districts in medium to large metropolitan areas typically employ TVIs. In that case, contact your district’s special education department. If your school district does not employ TVIs, contact the equivalent of your state’s intermediate school district or regional services provider. Another place is your state’s school for the blind. (For a complete list, see the resources and references document.) If your state does not have a school for the blind, contact your State Department of Education.