Date post: | 15-Jul-2015 |
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Education |
Upload: | priyanka-chaurasia |
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Definition Visual Impairement is defined as ‘’the consequence of a functional loss of vision rather than the eye disorder itself.’’
There are four types of visual impairments. They are:
1. Partially sighted
2. Low Vision
3. Legally Blind
4. Totally Blind
Partially SightedThere is some type of visual problem that has
resulted for the child to need special education
Low VisionRefers to severe visual impairment (does not only include distance vision)
Would apply to people who are unable to read at a normal viewing distance even with glasses
Use vision and other senses to learn
May need accommodations such as larger print, more lighting and sometimes Braille
Legally Blind and Totally BlindWhen a person has less than 20/200 vision in their better eye
Very limited field of vision. Only 20 degrees at the widest point
Learn by using Braille and other non-visual media
Signs of Visual Impairment consistently sitting too close to the TV
holding a book too close
squinting
tilting the head to see better
frequent eye rubbing when your child is not sleepy
sensitivity to light
excessive tearing
closing one eye to read
Problem AreasChildren learn most things by visual cues, so if the child is unable to see those cues some areas are going to be difficultAcademic Performance may suffer a bit, particularly in reading and writingIn math and science many diagrams and pictures are needed to solve problems that the students will now have to imagine.In math it will be difficult for the student to understand every step of the problem since they cannot see itIn social studies it may be difficult for the students to visualize where things are on maps and how things looked in the past since they cannot see the pictures. This may make the lesson more difficult to understand
AssistanceSome ways to assist these students in your classroom are:
Braille textbooks
Recorded notes
Sitting students in the front of the room
Using a lot of verbal cues
Pairing the student with another student who has good vision and they can ask questions from throughout the lesson
Assistive technology
Results from Visual ImpairmentsSocially immature
Isolated
Less assertive with their peers than other kids their age without vision problems
Because of the difficulties these children face they may develop a low self esteem
StrategiesHave your classroom arranged in groups so the student will always be able to ask a classmate for further assistance if there is something specific they need described
Meet with the student once a week to discuss how they are doing, if they need any extra help and if they have ideas if there is anything else you can do in the classroom that would help them to learn better
Assistive TechnologyBraille translation software and equipment: converts print into braille and braille into print. Braille printer: connects to a computer and embosses braille on paper. Screen reader: converts text on a computer screen to audible speech. Screen enlargement software: increases the size of text and images on a computer screen.Braille notetakers: lightweight electronic note-taking device that can be connected to a printer or a braille embosser to produce a printed or brailled copy.Optical character reader: converts printed text into files on a computer that can be translated into audible speech or Braille with appropriate equipment and software.Electronic braillewriter: produces braille, translates braille into text or synthetic speech.Talking calculators: calculates with voice output.Closed Circuit Television (CCTV): enlarges an image to a larger size and projects it on a screen Magnifiers: enlarges images Telescopes: used to view distant objects