Visual Impairment
“Visual Impairment,” including blindness, is impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a student’s educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness. Visual impairment for any student means:
- A visual impairment, not primarily perceptual in nature, resulting in a measured acuity of 20/70 or worse in the better eye with correction; or
- A restricted visual field of less than 20°; or
- A physical eye condition that affects visual functioning to the extent that special education placement, materials and/or services are required in an educational setting.
PROCESS FOR MAKING A REFERRAL
1. Detection. Family members, teachers or therapists might observe unusual visual behaviors or unusual appearance of the eyes or a student fails a vision screening at school.
2. Parents take student to have an exam by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist or optometrist).
Before VI specific assessments can be performed, a recent eye examination by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist must have been performed. Evaluation and interpretation of this report has a direct bearing on how VI teachers conduct assessments. In order to meet the eligibility criteria for a visually handicapping condition, a student must have been found to have no vision as a result of an eye examination performed by a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist, or to have a serious visual loss after correction.
3. Parents sign a release/exchange form to have eye report form completed and returned to the SPED department. All forms mentioned are available from MCESC or your local school district special education department.
4. After the SPED department has received a current eye report (within one year), the parents sign permission for a Functional Vision Evaluation to be conducted by a Teacher of the Visually Impaired.
5. A Functional Vision Evaluation/Learning Media Assessment is conducted by a Teacher of the visually Impaired.
6. Meeting is held to discuss results of the Functional Vision Evaluation and to discuss eligibility and need for services along with recommendations.
Teacher of Visual Impairment
A certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) is a licensed special education teacher who has received specialized training in meeting the educational needs of students with visual impairments. The role of the TVI is to provide direct and/or consultative special education services specific to vision loss. The TVI’s role is to work with the student with visual impairments on areas within the expanded core curriculum as needed per student. The expanded core curriculum includes Braille, instruction in low vision devices, abacus, typing/keyboarding, use of adaptive devices specific to vision, listening skills, visual efficiency, concept development, daily living/self-help skills, career readiness, leisure and recreation skills, social skills, organizational and study skills, and self advocacy.
ORIENTATION & MOBILITY INSTRUCTOR
The O&M Specialist is a certified instructor who has received specialized training in teaching people with visual impairment to travel safely and efficiently. Usually the O&M specialist works with students individually. Students in preschool and elementary school learn how to travel around their school building, playground, and neighborhood by themselves. Elementary school students also learn about more complex environmental concepts, including topography (slope, hilly) and textures (concrete, bumpy), and about positional concepts (in front of, in back of). Middle and high school students generally learn how to cross streets at busy intersections, ride city buses, use distance visual devices that can help them see street signs, or addresses, use compass directions, plan a route of travel, shop in malls, and travel in unfamiliar areas independently. The O&M specialist will teach the student when it is appropriate to use a sighted guide, when to use a cane, and when the student is older, when and if a guide dog might be useful.