1. Chapter 10 Blindness and Low Vision

2. Definitions of Visual Impairment
Legal definition of blindness
The legal definition is based on visual acuity and field of vision
A person whose visual acuity is 20/200 or less after the best possible correction with glasses or contact lenses is considered legally blind
A person whose vision is restricted to an area of 20 degrees or less is considered legally blind
Educational definitions of visual impairments
The IDEA definition emphasizes the relationship between vision and learning
Totally blind: Receives no useful information through the sense of vision
Functionally blind: Learns primarily through the auditory channel
Low vision: Uses vision as a primary means of learning

3. Causes
Causes of visual impairments: Damage or disturbances to any part of the eye’s optical, muscular or nervous system
Refractive errors: Myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness)
Structural impairments: Cataracts, glaucoma, nystagmus, strabismus
Cortical visual impairments: Suspected damage to parts of brain that interpret visual information

4. Characteristics of Students with Visual Impairments
Cognition and language
Impaired or absent vision makes it difficult to see the connections between experiences
Motor development and mobility
Visual impairment often leads to delays and deficits in motor development – low motivation to move
Physical Stereotypy
Social adjustment and interaction
Children with visual impairments interact less and are often delayed in social skills
Many persons who have lost their sight report that the biggest difficulty socially is dealing with the attitudes and behavior of those around them

5. Educational Approaches
The age of onset has implications for how children with low vision should be taught
Visual impairment can be congenital (present at birth) or adventitious (acquired)
Special adaptations for students who are blind
Braille
Tactile aids and manipulatives
Computer technological aids for reading print
Hardware/software that magnifies screen images
Speech recognition software
Software that converts text files to synthesized speech

6. Special Adaptations for Students with Low Vision
Functional vision
Teaching a child to use the vision that she has
Optical devices
Glasses
Contacts
Small hand-held telescopes
Magnifiers
Print reading
Approach magnification
Lenses
Large print
Classroom adaptations
Special lamps
Desks with tilting tops
Off-white writing paper
Chairs with wheels

7. Expanded Curriculum Priorities
Orientation and mobility training (O&M)
Cane skills
Guide dogs
Sighted guides
Electronic travel aids
Listening skills
Functional life skills
Cooking
Personal hygiene
Shopping
Financial management
Transportation
Recreational activities

8. Educational Placement Alternatives
86% of children are educated in public schools
Itinerant teacher model
Most students who are included in general education classrooms receive support from itinerant teacher-consultants
The most important factor to the successful inclusion of students with visual impairments is the regular classroom teacher’s flexibility
Other important aspects
Peer acceptance and interaction
Availability of support personnel
Adequate access to special supplies and equipment
Residential schools
About 7.5% of school-age children with visual impairments attend residential schools

9. Current Issues and Future Trends
Specialization of services
Children with visual impairments are likely to receive special education services in the future in both regular and residential schools
Greater emphasis will be placed on intervention with infants and young children and on training older students for independence
Emerging technology and research
It is hoped that all people with visual impairments will benefit from new technological and biomedical developments
Artificial sight may be possible in the future
Fighting against discrimination and for self-determination
Career opportunities will likely expand as individuals with visual impairments become more aware of their legal and human rights