Special Education
Visual Impairment

Here are some tips for helping students with a visual impairment.

  
  • Encourage development in Social Skills through classroom activities
  • Designate resources (dictionary, globe, math manipulatives),etc. for student reference
  • Practice using materials and tools needed for accomodations in classroom
  • Use computers as tools
  • Reduce the number of questions, problems per page
  • Tunnel vision - be aware that student has this perceptual problem. Also be aware of furniture placement.
  • Monitor changes in visual ability
  • Monitor changes of corrective lenses.
  • Preferential seating
  • Use multi sensory approach
  • Peer tutoring
  • Limit matching questions to 5 items per section
  • Assign "buddy" for new environments
  • Tests read
  • Use Braille for books, labels, tests directions
  • Beware of Color Blindness Deficiency - exempt from coloring activities - use alternate activities
  • Use high contrast when possible or highlight
  • Use books on tape
  • Use computers as a tutorial for repetition
  • Increase spaces for answers
  • Use a scribe
  • Give written directions orally
  • Use concrete examples ex. tactile
  • Assign personal aide as needed
  • Increase lighting (or modify)
  • Use mnemonics
  • Provide notes ahead of time
  • Verbalize notes before writing on chalkboard
  • Organize information on chalkboard or overhead so that it is neat and CLEAR