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This can be used with students who have a Specific Learning Disability or a student who is visually impaired.

Students who struggle with spelling or who struggle to write long paragraphs. Some students are unable to physically write.

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Free Speech to Text Online, Voice Typing & Transcription

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AI Speech to Text - Voice Typing & Transcriptions

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Speechnotes converts speech to text online. Dictate your notes in real time, or upload recordings and get them transcribed automatically in no time.

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This can be used for students with a specific learning disability, students who have a visual impairment, ASD, developmental delay, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, and multiple disabilities.

It can be used to read the material to the student so they can access the information without another person having to help them.

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Free Text to Speech Online with Realistic AI Voices

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Convert text into ultra-realistic audio. Have any text read aloud with AI Voices. AI text reader for pdfs, books, documents, and webpages.

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This is targeted for students who are hard of hearing or hearing impaired.

This can be used daily in class for all activities where the student needs to hear what the teacher is saying.

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This is targeted for students who are visually impaired.

It can help them to be able to read or see anything that needs to be larger.

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Paths to Literacy Magnification. For teachers, families, and others interested in literacy for children and youth with visual impairments

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The average classroom is designed for fully sighted students. But according to the CDC, nearly 3 percent of children under the age of 18 are blind or visually impaired. Some of these children attend schools specifically for teaching blind students, but others enroll in their local public or private schools. As a teacher, you may wonder how to accommodate these students to give them the best chance to succeed. That's why we've asked some experts to offer practical tips you can use every day.

What does it mean to be blind or visually impaired?

When you hear the term "blind," you likely think of someone who has no vision at all. But that's just one part of the visual spectrum. Here are some other terms you should know.

Partially sighted: A person who is partially sighted has some vision in one or both eyes. This term is frequently used in educational settings.

Low vision: This term describes a person with poor vision that cannot be fully corrected with glasses or contacts. In some cases, the person can see things up close but not at a distance, or vice versa. Others have poor visual acuity across the entire spectrum.

Legally blind: A legally blind person has vision that cannot be corrected to better than 20/200 in at least one eye. It also refers to those who have a field of sight of 20 degrees or less.

Totally blind: One who is blind has total loss of sight.

Students may fall anywhere along this spectrum, so it's important to know more about their specific level of impairment. They may have an IEP or 504 on file, so study it carefully to learn what you can do to help them do well in your classroom.

Source: USA Today

A Note About Language

The debate continues about "person-first" vs. "identify-first" language, and the correct terms to use to describe those who are differently abled. Some organizations and people prefer the terms "blind person" or "visually impaired person." Others encourage the use of "person who is blind" or "person with visual impairment." In this article, we've used both forms, since you're likely to encounter them both in the real world. We recommend asking affected students in your classroom if they have a preference, and follow their lead.

Meet the Experts

Charlene Laferrera, MEd, is a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI). She's spent 30+ years working in various school systems, including the Perkins School for the Blind, with students ranging in age from birth to 22 years of age.

Magali Gueths, MEd, has been a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) for 20+ years, working in various locations and school districts. Magali has a fully blind son, so she innately understands the needs of blind and visually impaired students.

10 Practical Tips for Teaching Blind or Visually Impaired Students

Source: Perkins School for the Blind

Charlene and Magali assembled this list of tips for teachers who work with students who are blind or visually impaired. Overall, they stressed the importance of ensuring these students always have access to COMS or certified TVIs in their schools. They also offer these day-to-day actions for helping blind or visually impaired students succeed.

1. Always use names

Always use a visually impaired student's first name when addressing them. This way they will know you are talking to them and not someone else. When passing them in hallways, instead of saying, "Hi," have people announce their names, as blind or visually impaired students may not be able to recognize faces. For example: "Hi Sara, it's Mrs. Murphy. How are you today?" Prompt fellow students to do the same because this fosters connection in the school community.

2. It's OK to use words that reference sight

Don't avoid words like "see" and "look." Just like their sighted peers, these words should be part of a blind or visually impaired student's vocabulary to connote how they see, whether by touch, bringing things close, or in normal conversation, like saying "see you later!"

3. Don't gesture, always verbalize

When writing on the board, always verbalize what you are writing so the student has access to that information and can follow along. Use positional and directional concepts like above/under, on top, behind/in front of, left/right, etc., and use descriptive sentences like "The ball is next to the door" instead of "The ball is over there." Avoid words and phrases like "here," "there," "over here," "over there," and gestures that provide direction, e.g., pointing to a location without verbalizing what is being pointed to because visually impaired students cannot see that.

4. Avoid asking if a student can see something

Don't ask a student, "Can you see this?" They often can see it, but that does not mean that they can access it or read it. Instead ask, "Can you find X?" or "Can you identify all the words and numbers without guessing?" or "Can you see some parts of the board better than others?"

5. Correct seating is crucial

Always favor the stronger side of the student's vision due to visual field deficits. For example, if the student only uses his left eye, they would need to sit on the right side of the classroom away from the windows. Seating facing a light source (sun, windows) should ideally be at their back.

6. Contrast, contrast, contrast!

When teaching visually impaired or blind students, use contrast for everything. Think, "bold, big, and simple!" Use bright balls in contrast with the floor at the gym. Stairs should have at least the first and last steps taped with a contrasting color (typically yellow) at the edge of the step.

7. Follow the leader

When in line, direct their attention to the child in front of them using color of clothing or hair and have them model/follow what that child is doing (stopping, walking straight, turning, etc.), always moving slowly for safety.

8. Be a confident sighted guide

If you need to be a sighted guide for a preschooler, offer two fingers or your wrist for them to hold. You are not holding them unless it is for their safety. For older students, they hold just above your elbow with their dominant hand.

9. Safety first

Students need to understand the "rules of the road" and always use the right-hand side of hallways or the right railing. Use boundaries like cones in the gym, lines on the pavement to follow from school to the playground, etc. If there are changes to the classroom, walk the student through alone so they know where things are.

10. Examine your own beliefs

Be aware of your own acceptance and your beliefs surrounding what a student who is blind or visually impaired can do both in your classroom and as a professional. Your acceptance of a student who has a visual impairment will serve as an example to all the students in your class.

What practical tips do you have to offer those who are teaching visually impaired or blind students? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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10 Tips for Teaching Blind or Visually Impaired Students

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When teaching visually impaired or blind students, these simple suggestions from experts in the field can make a world of difference.

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How special education technology improves learning

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We help educators around the world use technology to solve tough problems.

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Traumatic brain injury or Orthopedic impairment

Joystick Mouth operated device to be able to use a keyboard or mouse.

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This can be used for students with a specific learning disability, students who have a visual impairment, ASD, developmental delay, intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, traumatic brain injury, and multiple disabilities.

It can be used to read the material to the student so they can access the information without another person having to help them.

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Drive Meaningful Progress

Customizable tools in Kurzweil 3000 align with research-based learning strategies and provide support throughout the learning process. As a result, students are able to independently grasp and articulate concepts more effectively.

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text reader reading adaptive accessibility

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Assistive Learning Technologies & Literacy Software from Kurzweil Education

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Customizable tools in Kurzweil 3000 align with research-based learning strategies and provide support throughout the learning process. As a result, students are able to independently grasp and articulate concepts more effectively.

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Certain assistive technology (AT) tools can help people who have difficulty processing and remembering spoken language. Such devices can be used in various settings (e.g., a class lecture, or a meeting with multiple speakers).

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AT tools that assist with listening fall into several categories:

Paper-based computer pen

This technology records and links audio to what a person writes using the pen and special paper. It enables the user to take notes while simultaneously recording someone( e.g., a teacher) speaking. The user can later listen to any section of his notes by touching the pen to his corresponding handwriting or diagrams.

What type(s) of learning difficulty do these tools address?

This type of tool may benefit people who struggle with: listening, memory and reading.

Products to consider

Echo Smartpen by Livescribe

Personal FM listening systems

A personal FM listening system transmits a speaker’s voice directly to the user’s ear. This may help the listener focus on what the speaker is saying. The unit consists of a wireless transmitter (with microphone) worn by the speaker and a receiver (with earphone) worn by the listener.

What type(s) of learning difficulty do these tools address?

This type of tool may benefit people who struggle with: listening or attention.

Products to consider

Easy Listener

Personal Listening System, Williams Sound

AT-216 Personal FM System, Comtek Communications

Variable-speed recorders

Recorders/players allow a user to listen to pre-recorded text or to capture spoken information (e.g., a classroom lecture) and play it back later. Variable-speed control (VSC) recorders speed up or slow down the playback rate without distorting the “speaker’s” voice.

What type(s) of learning difficulty do these tools address?

This tool may help people who struggle with: reading and listening.

Products to consider

Independent Living Aids

The Wilson

https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/listening-tools/

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A SMART board is a tool used by educators to project and connect with their content, videos, interactive lessons, presentations, and other digital media. Also known as an interactive whiteboard, the surface itself is a touch screen usually with four pens to write on it.

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Assistive technology (AT) tools for math are designed to help people who struggle with computing, organizing, aligning, and copying math problems down on paper. With the help of visual and/or audio support, users can better set up and calculate basic math problems.

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Talking calculators

A talking calculator has a built-in speech synthesizer that reads aloud each number, symbol, or operation key a user presses; it also vocalizes the answer to the problem. This auditory feedback may help him check the accuracy of the keys he presses and verify the answer before he transfers it to paper.

What type(s) of learning difficulty do these tools address?

This type of tool benefits people who struggle with: math.

Products to consider

Independent Living Aids (various talking calculators)

AbleData (various talking calculators)

https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/math-tools/

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Screen readers.

Magnification applications.

Text-to-speech synthesizers.

Speech recognition software.

Closed captioning services.

Keyboard filters.

Electronic pointing devices.