Education of Students with Vision Impairments

Education of Students with Vision Impairments, specially designed education for children who are either partially sighted or blind. Blindness refers to a vision loss so pronounced that the child learns best through touch and listening, rather than through sight, even with adaptive aids. Vision impairments are diagnosed by medical doctors who examine the physical structures in the eye and evaluate the child’s ability to see shapes of different sizes at various distances. Approximately 12 out of 1,000 children receive some form of special education because of visual impairments.

Partially sighted children may use a variety of adaptive aids to see more clearly and to read printed text. These aids include magnifiers, which may be attached to eyeglasses; electronic systems for enlarging print and making it easier to see; and large-print books. Blind children usually are taught to read Braille, a system of raised dots embossed in paper and read by touch. In the past, transcribing conventional books into pages of Braille was very time-consuming, and the large books required enormous storage areas. However, most Braille transcriptions are now done electronically. Many students read paperless Braille with the aid of machines that mechanically raise the dots in a small panel as the reader progresses through the text. Because Braille cannot be read very rapidly, many blind students prefer to listen to books being read on audio tapes. Some students also use reading machines equipped with cameras that scan lines of print, which computers then convert to synthesized speech.

Many blind and partially sighted children receive orientation and mobility training as a part of their education. Specialists teach them how to travel independently in their schools and communities, often with an aid, such as a cane.

Most children with vision impairments are educated in schools within their communities. Vision specialists may provide special materials and equipment, help teachers and classmates understand the children’s condition, and possibly provide supplementary instruction. The specialists may also teach partially sighted children how to use their remaining vision more effectively and instruct them in the use of adaptive aids.

Some children with vision impairments attend special schools designed to meet their particular needs. Like boarding schools, these schools often provide residential services as well as educational programs. They also have specially designed facilities, which may not be found in neighborhood schools, for blind children to participate in athletics and other activities.

The education of many children with vision impairments is further complicated by their having other disabilities, such as physical disabilities, developmental impairments, or hearing loss. Education for those children might emphasize the development of language and communication, and personal, social, and vocational skills rather than academic skills.

See also Special Education; Inclusion.