1. Situation of Children with Visual Impairments in Ethiopia

2. Presentation Layout Understanding visual impairment
Prevalence and etiological conditions
Developmental effects of visual impairment
Educational situation of children with visual impairment
Early Identification and Intervention practices
Inclusive Education : The Way of the Future

3. 1. Understanding Visual Impairment
Children with Low Vision
Educated using sight
Enlarged prints & magnification
Visual acuity measure :20/200-20/70

4. Visual acuity & Behavior
Visual Acuity- distant and near vision measures
Visual Behavior (educator’s focus)
Personal factors
Intelligence
Motivation
Environmental factors
Family background

5. Educational definition
Educated using other channel from sight,
Tactile and haptic perceptions (static and dynamic)
Visual Acuity measure : >20/200 (Shnellen chart)

6. DEGREE OF IMPAIRMENT & ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
Category of vision
Degree of Impairment
Alternative Definitions
Normal Vision
None -
Slight
Near normal vision
Low Vision
Moderate
Moderate low vision
Severe
Severe low vision. Counting fingers at 6m or less
Blindness
Profound
Profound low vision or moderate blindness. Counting fingers at 3m or less
Near-total
Severe or near total blindness counting fingers at 1m less or hand movements at 5m or less
Total
Total blindness (including absence of the eye)

7. 2. Prevalence of Visual Impairment in Ethiopia
Incidence and prevalence of visual impairment in Ethiopia
Onset of Visual Impairment
Age
0-2
3-5
6-9
10-12
13-15
15-25
No RES
Per cent
32%
16% 8%
Prevalence :30 %

8. 3. Etiological conditions of visual Impairment
3.1 Disabling factors & types of Visual Impairment
Visual Impairment can be because of :
Congenital conditions &
Acquired conditions
Types of Visual Impairment
Trachoma (irritation and scaring of cornea)
Cataract (cloudiness of the lens)
Glaucoma (pressure within the eye)
Refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy etc.

9. 3.3 Causes of VI Ethiopia

10. 3. 4. Developmental Profile of Children with Visual Impairment
4.1 Language Development
(The Blind & The Child with Low vision)
a) Motor and physical development b)Cognitive & language
c) Social-emotional conditions

11. 4.2 Cognitive and Learning Characteristics
Impact of lack of Interaction
Psychosocial situation (cognitive, emotional & behavioral factors)
Learning Characteristics
Onset/family & social environment
Visual acuity & Visual Behavior
The Blind
The Low vision

12. 5. Educational Status of Children with Visual Impairment (special class in Bahir Dar)

13. 5.1 Educational Status of Children with Visual Impairment

14. 6. Educational Status of Children with Visual Impairments
(blind and low vision)
Type of schools
Special schools
Special classes
Inclusive schools n
Challenges
Space & facilities
Teachers qualification

15. 7. Early Intervention and inclusive practices
Traditional practices
Home-based services
Early childhood education
Inclusive Practices
Discussions
Challenges of IE

16. Areas of enhancement for the Blind
Orientation and mobility  
Listening skill training
Braille training (braille writer, slates & styles)
Talking books and calculators

17. Areas of educational intervention
Residual Vision Training
Enlarged prints (enhanced image devices
Closed - circuit TV (enlarge print materials)
Optical aids

18. QUESTIONS TO PONDER
What is the difference between visual acuity and visual behavior? (Psychology students)
How do people in your community perceive persons with visual impairment? How do you assess the engagement of the blind people in the community ? (Social work and international students)
Identify the differences in the educational consideration of the blind and the child with low visions. (Pedagogy and education students)

19. QUESTIONS TO PONDER
Discuss about speech and language development of the blind and the low vision. (Language students)
Discuss about the psychosocial conditions of persons with visual impairment? Consider the situation of the blind and the low vision . (Anthropology students )

20. Thank You !!