Visual Impairments Team: Christina Frydrych, Leslie Pachol Fall 2007

Normal Vision

Central Visual Field Loss

Heminanopsia

Tunnel Vision

Anatomy of the Eye

Reduced Peripheral Acuity

Reduced Visual Acuity

Reduced Visual Fields

Central Visual Field Loss and Reduced Visual Acuity

Combined Central Visual Field Loss and Reduced Visual Acuity

No Vision

Causes of Visual Impairments Birth defects Diseases (diabetes, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa) Accidents (sports, car collisions)

Statistics - Blind and VI National Institute of Health says: VI million Americans aged % of cases caused by macular degeneration VI – projected to affect 5.5 million Americans by % of blind are people ages 80+ 1/1000 school age children are VI and 10% of 1/1000 are blind American Foundation for the Blind says: 10 million blind and VI Americans 55,200 legally blind children in US 93,600 blind or VI students served by special education (10,800 of whom are deaf-blind) Every seven minutes, someone becomes blind or VI in the US.

Types of Assistive Technologies Lighting Adaptations Vision screenings and eyeglasses Personal assistants Image enlargers Auditory materials Tactile learning Additional instruction

Lighting Adaptations Can you easily read this?

Lighting Adaptations Increase contrast of print materials Color highlighting of print materials Lighting modifications in classroom

Vision Screenings

Personal Assistants

Image Enlargers Zoom Text Overhead projector Telesensory machine ($2,695)Telesensory machine Copy machine with zoom Large print materials Jaws CCTV

Portable CCTV 3X to 18X magnification Battery operated Full color 4.3” viewing area Can take notes Battery life = 4 to 7 hrs Weighs 8.8 oz. Cost - $729.95

Auditory Materials Voice recorder Kurzweil 3000 software Screen readers Audio books Talking products and tools 1932 – First talking books

Talking Products Watch - $34.95 Spanish Calculator - $12.95 Tape Measure - $ Dictionary - $ Glucose Meter - $30.95 Microwave - $369.95

Talking Reading Machine Reads 3 pages/minute Scans Copies Commands are start and stop Weighs < 9 lbs Available in several languages Cost - $2,295

Tactile Education Braille Raised maps Use of real objects Raised dot dominos - $14 Braille ruler - $4.95

Braille Note Taker and Printer Functions of Note Taker: Takes notes Word processing Web browser MP3 player Digital audio recorder Cost - $5,495 Romeo Attaché – printer

Additional Instruction Daily living skills Career development Reading and writing Social skills Use of the person’s functional vision Use of assistive technologies Mentorship from adults with VI

Public Programs Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Bookshare Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM)Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Maryland School for the Blind Maryland Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Issues High unemployment rate High cost of assistive technologies Silent hybrid cars Teaching Braille in public schools Other Issues??

Group Exercises 1.Read Braille. 2.Listen, take notes, take quiz. 3.Listen, don’t take notes and answer math word problems. 4.Walk upstairs to the snack machine and purchase M&Ms and pretzels.

Educational Strategies Audio materials Tape record lectures Large print materials Tactile teaching Adjust classroom lighting High contrast paper and type face Alternate test formats Longer time to take exams

POP QUIZ !! Name two diseases that can cause blindness. Name two ways you can prevent children’s eyes from damage during sports. Name three types of assistive technologies to help children with low vision. Name three educational strategies that you might use in the future.

REFERENCES American Foundation for the Blind. 3 Nov B.I.S.M. 19 Nov Bookshare. 19 Nov Cook Library at TU Council For Exceptional Children. 2 Nov DORS. 19 Nov Foundation Fighting Blindness. 3 Nov The Foundation for Fighting Blindness. 3 Nov Harbor Hospital. 8 April Nov Learning Sight and Sound Made Easier. 19 Nov Nov Librivox. 19 Nov Nov Maryland Department of Disabilities. 11 Nov Magnisight. 3 Nov Maryland School for the Blind. 11 Nov National Braille Press, Inc. 19 Nov < National Federation of the Blind. 29 Oct National Institute of Health. 24 Oct Nov < National Institute of Health Senior Health. 17 Nov Telesensory. 11 Nov The University of Washington Department of Ophthalmology. 1 Jan Nov TU Disabled Student Services unit