Disability Fact Sheet by

Disability/ Learning needs; Acronyms

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 00:42:51 UTC

Visual Impairments including Blindness

Acronyms:

VI: Visual Impairment
BLIND
BVI: Blind and Visually Impaired
CVI: Cortical Visual Impairment
O&M: Orientation and Mobility
AFB: American Foundation for the Blind
NFB: National Federation of the Blind
DB: Deaf-Blindness

These acronyms are commonly used in discussions related to visual impairments and blindness

Characteristics

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 00:52:10 UTC

Some characteristics associated with visual impairments including blindness are

Field loss: Loss of peripheral vision
Reduced Visual Acuity: Difficulty seeing fine details
Color Perception loss: Difficulty distinguishing between colors or may be colorblind
Difficulty with Depth Perception: Struggle to judge distances accurately
Use of Assistive Devices: Tools such as glasses, magnifiers, or canes to assist navigation
Dependence on Other Senses: Rely more on their other senses such as hearing, touch, or smell

Identification Procedures and Service Delivery

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 01:39:25 UTC

Identification Procedures may include

Screening: This is the initial vision screening that is often performed at a child's yearly check-up. This is a way to identify a child's visual impairment
Functional Vision Assessment: This is a test conducted to understand how the visual impairment affects daily activities
Educational Evaluation: Performed to determine the impact of the visual impairment on learning
Eye Exams: If any concerns are shown it is important to seek care from an eye doctor to get a further look at the complications

Service Deliveries may include

Individualized Education Plans: This can provide tailored educational support and accommodations to meet the child's specific needs while also providing services
Assistive Technology: Screen readers, magnification software, and other tools to help children succeed in their learning environment
Support Services: Counseling and rehabilitation programs are available to assist the patient and their family in coping with the challenges of visual impairments
Advocacy and Awareness: There are many organizations dedicated to supporting individuals with visual impairments

Adaptions/ Accommodations

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 01:52:46 UTC

Some adaptations that are seen in classrooms to help children are

Seating arrangements: Placing the child in a spot where they can hear the teacher and access needed materials
Braille Materials: Providing the students with activities and books in braille so that they are able to participate
Extra Time: Giving the student extra time to complete assignments and tasks

Behavior Management and Social Strategies, Adaptions, or Accommodations

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 14:54:47 UTC

Family Involvement: Encouraging family members to participates in the child's social and educational journey
Social Skills Training: Providing specific training on social cues and communication can help a child develop better interpersonal skills
Peer Support Programs: Encouraging the child to have a buddy system so they have a community that can help them with the areas they may struggle with due to the disability

3 Resources for Teachers

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 15:11:35 UTC

National level: Success Beyond Sight is a nonprofit organization that has provided a national free registry for teachers to have access to learning materials to help better educate themselves, while also giving the students what they need in order to be successful in their learning environment
State Level: Many states have different programs within the school but also outside of the school to help children with disabilities. For example, in KY there is an American Printing House for the Blind that provides school systems and families with printouts for children with disabilities. Every state has resources for the teachers so they can help provide each child with a great learning experience
Local Levels: The National Federation of the Blind offers many local workshops and networking opportunities for teachers that need support and further education on specific disabilities in this case visual impairments

3 Resources for Parents

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 15:26:04 UTC

National Level: The National Eye Institute offers information on various eye conditions while also providing resources for many families nationally so parents can better understand and help their child

State Level: State Library for Blind is a resource many states have to provide children with the tools they need while also educating the parents along the way to ensure they know how to properly use the materials their child needs in order to be successful

Local Level: Parent Support Groups are highly recommended for parents struggling with their child's disability. This provides comfort and support for parents who may not know what the next best step is

References

livelyk24 — 2025-03-25 15:32:13 UTC

American Association of Blind Teachers. Resources for Teaching Visually Impaired Students. (n.d.). https://blindteachers.net/resources-teachers.html

Blindness (vision impairment): Types, causes and treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, March 19). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24446-blindness

FamilyConnect. The American Foundation for the Blind. (n.d.). https://www.afb.org/blindness-and-low-vision/familyconnect

Resources for parents and teachers of blind and visually impaired children. Resources for Parents and Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired Children | American Council of the Blind. (n.d.). https://www.acb.org/resources-parents-and-teachers-blind-and-visually-impaired-children

Top 12 resources for visually impaired students and teachers. Vision Center. (2024, February 21). https://www.visioncenter.org/resources/visually-impaired-students/#:~:text=Resources%20for%20Visually%20Impaired%20Students%201%20Tools%20for,other%20topics.%204%20...%204%20Important%20Organizations%20