1. Visual Impairment
Noninfectious Disease and Disabilities: Physical and Mental Challenges: Visual Impairment (Chapter 31, Lesson 4)
Audience: 20 to 50, average 30, year old parents of elementary school-aged children with a visual impairment
Ana Acosta, Julie Demeter, Sarah Hunter, Lordfer Lalicon, Samantha Olusczak, Ryan Wisnoski

2. Outline Visual impairments
Challenges/characteristics that are associated with visual impairments
Specific needs of children with visual impairments
Appropriate coping methods
Ways to modify behavior to project positive attitudes

3. Activities
Ice Breaker
Evaluation Opportunity
Expanding your knowledge

4. What is Visual Impairment?
A term that refers to any condition of the eye in which there is vision loss that cannot be corrected.

5. Types of Visual Impairment
Partially sighted
Low vision
Legally Blind
Totally Blind

6. How Does Each Level of Impairment See?
Partially sighted: 20/70 or less; children cannot read standard newsprint or see expressions on a person’s face.
Low vision: vision can be blurry, dark patches, objects appear out of focus.
Legally blind: a child can see at 20 feet what a normally sighted person would see at 200 feet.
Totally blind: blackness.

7. Icebreaker Get into groups according to color.
Introduce yourselves to group members.
Discuss:
Parent name
Child’s age
Child’s visual impairment
One thing you would like to learn by the end of the class.

8. Challenges Mobility Living Independently Computer Access Reading
Being informed about daily life

9. Specific Needs Self Esteem Behavior Management
Orientation and Mobility Training
Routine
Social and Emotional Concerns

10. Specific Needs Self Esteem
Treat your child just as you would treat any other child and respect their views.
Give your child encouragement to be independent.
When your child struggles, be positive and encourage your child to strive to meet his/her personal goals.

11. Specific Needs Behavior Management
Discipline your child just as you would any other child.
Do not feel as if your child’s impairment is causing them to misbehave.
Make sure your child understands the rules and consequences of breaking them.

12. Specific Needs Orientation and Mobility Training
Receive O&M training through special education programs.
Make sure your child develops gross motor and fine motor skills.
Common mobility systems can include: sighted guide, a long cane, and guide dogs.

13. Specific Needs Routine
Meal time: teach your child to search for their food and utensils with scanning techniques.
Grooming and hygiene: stress to your child the need to place items in specific locations.
Bedtime: keep your children on a routine.

14. Evaluation Opportunity
Specific Needs
Social and Emotional Concerns
Fitting in: encourage your child to do the same things as their peers.
Dating: teach your child sex education and explain gender differences, bodily changes, sexual behaviors, and diseases.
Encourage your child to become involved in different activities and clubs.
Evaluation Opportunity

15. Five Negative Feelings of Parents
Grief
Guilt
Resentment
Denial

16. How to Deal With Your Negative Feelings
Grief: stop focusing on your child’s disabilities and limitations and shift your focus towards the positive things your child can do.
Guilt: stop torturing yourself--visual impairments cannot be prevented; move on and try to help them as much as you can.
Resentment: don’t allow it to take over your life—it is natural, but if you dwell on it, you will miss out on positive opportunities.

17. How to Deal With Your Negative Feelings
Denial: gather information about your child and acknowledge information medical professionals have to offer you; keep the best interest of your child in mind.
Anger: count to ten, exercise, or take some alone time; eliminating stress will help you focus on your child and be a more positive role model.

18. Expanding Your Knowledge
In your group, review the information card and create a visual representation.
Select one group member to present your visual in front of the class.
Game
Throwers ask a question; receivers answer them

19. Ways to Modify Behavior to Project Positive Attitudes
Echolocation Video Clip

20. Ways to Modify Behavior to Project Positive Attitudes
Use positive reinforcement
Do not be over-protective towards the child
Encourage the child to try new things

21. Ways You Can HELP
Positive reinforcement
Teamwork
Accommodating

22. Summary
This power point is an overview of the knowledge, attitudes, and practical skills taught to the parents of visually impaired elementary school-aged children.

23. Resources available to YOU!!!
Community Resources
ARC of Alachua
County