Visual Impairment by

Etiology

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-03 20:05:53 UTC

World Health Organization

-Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have near or distance vision impairments

-In at least a billion of these, vision impairment could have been prevented or is yet to be addressed

Leading causes:

-Refractive errors

-Cateracts

-Diabetic Retinopathy

-Age related macular degeneration

-Currently, only 36% or people with refractive vision and 17% with cateracts have access to adequet medical treatment. This causes a massive personal and financial burden world wide.

Families and first-person accounts part 1:

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-03 20:06:54 UTC

This video enlightened viewers of what it would be like to be a blind person in New York City. The Nowhere men follow Yvonne who is a lifelong caretaker. Yvonne lost her vision 16 years ago after raising her own kids and many foster kids in her family home. The Nowhere men follow Yvonne to Visions where she teaches a class for visually impaired people. Yvonne discusses her story of blindness how she felt after becoming blind and how coming into the Visions community helped her feel like she belonged and have a new sense of family. The Nowhere men attended the dance class Yvonne instructed and then they had a group outing to an ice cream shop where they went with the group blindfolded to get a sense of what it would be like to be blind in NYC. After Yvonne talks about how she can do anything and how being a part of visions has given her courage and she hopes to inspire others to be courageous.

EAs and Supports

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-03 20:07:31 UTC

Strength based learning and tips

References

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-03 20:07:41 UTC

Families and first-person accounts part 2:

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-12 18:20:50 UTC

This Video follows a young man who has Retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a degenerative disease that slowly causes you to lose vision. This young man was diagnosed when he was 11-12 years old and he was a hard-core athlete. This young man still is, he loves to run, and he boxes. His boxing bag is black with white letters the high contrast helps him be able to see it. The young man also enjoys doing pottery and highly recommends it for visually impaired folks because it is very relaxing and you can just focus on how the art feels, how fast you turn the wheel etc. His life talks about not saying no I can't instead he"figures it out". His organization The Foreseeable Future Foundation helps the visually impaired community.

Families and first-person accounts part 3:

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-12 18:49:34 UTC

This article tells Peter's story about going blind. Peter went blind in the 1990's. Peter has a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes vision loss or blindness in people who have diabetes. Peter says for half his life he could see and now he cannot. For Peter, it was a scary transition. Peter talks about how he went through the stages of grief and how the medical system was not very helpful to him. Peter said the medical professionals helping him were like "The surgery did not work, have a nice day." Instead of the surgery did not work here are some resources to help you. So he had to be independent on his own. He ended up going into a 14-week program that taught him how to do everyday things, like cooking, using a computer and other things. Peter's first step was to learn Braille. Peter says it took time but he now lives on his own and he is an ADA coordinator to help accommodate disability requests at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Families and first-person accounts part 4:

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-12 22:35:35 UTC

This article is about a blind adventurer, co-founder, and motivational speaker, Erik Weihenmayer. At the age of 14 Erik started to develop a condition called retinoschisis. Retinoschisis is a generative or hereditary condition that causes the retina to split into two layers causing blindness. Erik Weihenmayer was never stopped by his condition and continued wrestling through his adolescence. Erik Weihenmayer is the first blind person to climb Mount. Everest in 2001. He's climbed pyramids in Papua New Guinea, travelled to Denali and more. Erik Weihenmayer co-founded a movement called No Barriers. No Barriers is a movement that inspires people to face their barriers "head-on". Erik stated this about the movement “What’s Within You Is Stronger Than What’s In Your Way.” The Article also discusses how the barriers in people's lives are not just perceived barriers they are real barriers and advocates to change them. Erik is a motivational speaker, who speaks around the world. He inspires people with his drive and passion to eliminate people's barriers in their own lives.

Families and first-person accounts part 5:

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-12 22:51:43 UTC

This video stars Tommy Edison. Tommy Edison has been blind since birth in this video he talks about the great things about being blind. This bubbly video is both funny and enlightening. Some of the benefits of being blind include Tommy getting to go on the airplane first, special treatment at amusement parks, and drinking and driving. He also doesn't have car payments. He gets to ride the bus for cheaper and sometimes for free because "they don't want to bother the blind guy" Tommy jokes. His bills are cheaper his lights are hardly on. He cannot see race or beauty so he falls in love or makes connections based on people's hearts. His senses are better, and he makes a wise-cracking joke exclaiming all of his senses are better and it is not a myth. Sometimes people take pity on Tommy and give him money. He doesn't have to watch himself or others grow old. This video was very amusing, I enjoyed it and it also opened your eyes to the benefits of being blind. And how people treat people who are blind. At the beginning of the video Tommy talks about how people are always "You poor guy" "How do you do it?" and other pitying phrases Tommy experiences.

Etiology

Courtney_HannahJ_Yazmeen — 2023-11-12 22:56:34 UTC

This resourse goes into further detail on the 4 leading causes of visual impairment.

Also noted in causes:

-Amblyopia

-Strabismus

Etiology

Courtney_HannahJ_Yazmeen — 2023-11-12 23:05:24 UTC

-Recorded: 1.5 Million Canadians are affected by sight loss

-Breakdown of blindness by province and lead causes

Personal Stories References

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-12 23:06:25 UTC

Etiology

Courtney_HannahJ_Yazmeen — 2023-11-12 23:07:51 UTC

Diagnostis Process.

-If visual problems are suspected an ophthalmologist usually examines the eyes.

The tests that are used to diagnose visual impairment include:

-Snellen Test

-Visual Field Test

Personal Accounts of Visual Impairment on a Spectrum

Courtney_HannahJ_Yazmeen — 2023-11-12 23:12:23 UTC

This reads like a journal and highlights how visual impairment is a spectrum with so many personal accounts.

Etiology References

Courtney_HannahJ_Yazmeen — 2023-11-12 23:47:40 UTC

Barriers

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-13 20:55:32 UTC

Barriers

Dealing with ableism in a day to day setting
Making sure an area is accessible before you can go eg. braille
Having to buy assistive technology to be successful and stay up to date
Learning how to advocate for yourself
Learning how to use your other senses and to rely on those
The school system is set up for fully sighted people
People discriminating due to your sight and think you are not capable of obtaining a job or a degree
Social barriers arrive when people do not want to be friends with someone who has a disability

Accommdations

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-13 20:56:11 UTC

Accommodations

Important to remember that they do not reduce grade level standards, help provide access to the material
This is based on individuals needs and their spectrum of visually impaired
Teachers should be verbally teaching not just writing on a chalkboard
Being flexible with giving more time to complete a project

Adaptions

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-13 20:57:08 UTC

Adaptions:

Having assistive tech available for a student
Having braille taught and available
Adapting assignments so they are able to use their assistive tech to complete it successfully
Setting them up for success
Larger print or audio tapes
Oral testing
Recording of classes to be permitted

Achievements

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-13 20:57:40 UTC

Achievements

Learning braille
Being good at adapting
Thinking on your feet
Being able to speak up for your self

EA Support

Courtney_HannahJ_Yazmeen — 2023-11-13 21:42:50 UTC

Assistive Technology Guide

EA support

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-13 21:43:34 UTC

About Strategies for blind and low vision. Communication checklist.

EA and Support

Courtney_HannahJ_Yazmeen — 2023-11-13 21:55:49 UTC

EA support References

hannahjjung19_ — 2023-11-13 22:13:27 UTC