|
A person with a visual disability has an impairment that means, even with correction; the
student's educational performance may be affected. People with visual disabilities fall into
two categories, either partially sighted or blind. People with visual disabilities have a
best-corrected visual acuity of 20/70 or less in their better eye. People who are legally blind
have a corrected vision in the better eye of 20/200 or less or a field of vision that is
restricted to 5 degrees or less at 20 feet.
Students who are blind:
Students with severe vision problems depend on their other senses, including hearing and touch,
to take in information. Someone who has been blind since birth does not have the experience of
sight from their past to assist in the recollection of data.
Students who are partially sighted:
Persons with partial sight may have limited ability to see print. Some of the specific
problems these students may experience are field of vision (seeing only a small part of the
total picture), color blindness and visual acuity (not seeing things sharply or clearly).
Examples of Accommodations:
- Provide diagrams to support written information.
- Use an overhead projector to enlarge materials as much as possible.
- Orient the student to the classroom. Make the student aware of safety issues in the classroom or lab.
- Reorient the student or, at the very least, let the student know if you move materials or furniture in the classroom.
- Call students by name. Address objects, etc., by name so that the student can understand even if he or she cannot see clearly what or who is being addressed.
- Read words and figures aloud as you write them on the overhead or chalkboard.
- Allow the student a hands-on examination of new materials, equipment, etc., during the introduction of a concept in the shop, lab or classroom.
- Enlarge written materials, Braille lecture notes, handouts and text.
- Allow students to tape record lectures.
- Use a TV Monitor - connected to a microscope to enlarge images.
- Provide assignments and examine electronic format.
- Use computers equipped to enlarge screen characters, an optical character reader, voice output. Braille screen display and printout.
- Use adaptive lab equipment, e.g., talking calculators, light probes.
- Allow the student to take tests orally.
- Allow extended time on examinations/flexible dates and times.
- Tape record the test to which the student may listen and respond either on tape, orally or in writing.
- Allow the student to take the test at the Wellness Center.
- Allow late withdrawals or incomplete for special circumstances directly related to disability.
|
|
