1. Learners With Blindness or Low Vision April 3, 2006 Paige Schoville Marandah Vick Lacy Hill Whitney Williams Julia Graham Chapman

2. Definition In North America, legal blindness is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction possible. In North America, legal blindness is defined as visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction possible. – eye glasses, contacts, etc. 20/200 means that a legally blind person would have to stand 20 feet from an object to see it with the clarity that a person with normal vision would see it from 200 feet 20/200 means that a legally blind person would have to stand 20 feet from an object to see it with the clarity that a person with normal vision would see it from 200 feet The visual acuity of people with low vision falls between 20/70 and 20/200, with best possible correction The visual acuity of people with low vision falls between 20/70 and 20/200, with best possible correction IDEA definition: an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects educational performance IDEA definition: an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects educational performance

3. Retinitis Pigmentosa RP is genetic RP is genetic Causes thin layer of tissue in the back of eye (the retina) to deteriorate Causes thin layer of tissue in the back of eye (the retina) to deteriorate RP often causes tunnel vision RP often causes tunnel vision First signs of RP usually occur in childhood or adolescence First signs of RP usually occur in childhood or adolescence Two most common symptoms: Two most common symptoms: 1.) Slow to adapt to dim light (night blindness) 2.) Slow loss of side vision

4. Tunnel Vision Tunnel vision is a visual problem which produces loss of peripheral vision Tunnel vision is a visual problem which produces loss of peripheral vision Many people with retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma experience tunnel vision Many people with retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma experience tunnel vision

7. Glaucoma Causes loss of sight by damaging the optic nerve Causes loss of sight by damaging the optic nerve -sends messages to the brain Lose patches of vision Lose patches of vision - usually side vision -Over time, loss of central vision Called the “sneak thief of sight” Called the “sneak thief of sight” - many do not notice signs until a great deal of sight is gone - less affected eye compensates

9. Cataracts Caused by a clouding of the lens of the eye Caused by a clouding of the lens of the eye Results in blurred vision, loss of definition of color and detail Results in blurred vision, loss of definition of color and detail Can be treated successfully by removing the lens, and replacing it with an implant Can be treated successfully by removing the lens, and replacing it with an implant Congenital cataracts - cataracts in children Congenital cataracts - cataracts in children Need to be removed! Need to be removed!

12. Macular Degeneration One of the most common causes of visual impairments One of the most common causes of visual impairments Dry Macular Degeneration - age related Dry Macular Degeneration - age related - Occurs when blood supply is no longer able to nourish the center of the retina, or macula Wet Macular Degeneration - new blood vessels behind the retina leak onto the macula and destroy it Wet Macular Degeneration - new blood vessels behind the retina leak onto the macula and destroy it

16. Diabetic Retinopathy Most common cause of total blindness Most common cause of total blindness However, only 4% of people with diabetes are affected However, only 4% of people with diabetes are affected Diabetes, which controls blood supply, causes the eye to hemorrhage Diabetes, which controls blood supply, causes the eye to hemorrhage

18. Common VI in Children Strabismus Strabismus-“Cross-eyed” -Both eyes are directed inward or outward -Can eventually turn into blindness because the brain will reject signals from deviating eye -Can be corrected with exercises or surgery Nystagmus Nystagmus -Involuntary movement of the eye, often described as “shaky” or “wiggly” -Usually results in dizziness or nausea -Can be a sign of brain malfunctioning and/or inner-ear problems

19. Causes Mostly found before birth or before the child is one month old. Damage to the eye Damage to the eye Eye being shaped incorrectly Eye being shaped incorrectly If the brain does not process visual information correctly If the brain does not process visual information correctly

20. Most Common Among Children Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) –Born early or very low birth rate Albinism Albinism Hydrocephalus Hydrocephalus Congenital Cytomegalovirus Congenital Cytomegalovirus Birth Asphyxia Birth Asphyxia

21. Economic Impact Estimated lifetime cost is $566,000 (2003) Estimated lifetime cost is $566,000 (2003) –Including medical costs, doctor visits, prescription drugs, and inpatient hospital stays Not including other expenses Not including other expenses such as hospital outpatient visits, emergency department visits family out- of-pocket expenses and others.

22. Blindness Statistics Every 7 minutes, someone in America will become blind or visually impaired. Every 7 minutes, someone in America will become blind or visually impaired. NOW = 10 million are blind or usually impaired in the U.S. NOW = 10 million are blind or usually impaired in the U.S.

23. Employment Employment - 46% of Americans with low vision (not blind) are employed. - 36% of legally blind working age Americans are employed Education Education - 45% of individuals with severe visual impairment or blindness have a high school diploma - Those with low vision are about as likely to have taken some college as those who were sighted, but they are less likely to graduate

24. Blindness in School About 93,600 visually impaired or blind students are in special ed. In the U.S. About 93,600 visually impaired or blind students are in special ed. In the U.S. -10,800 of those students are deaf-blind There are about 55,200 legally blind children in the U.S. There are about 55,200 legally blind children in the U.S. -Only 5,500 legally blind children use braille as their primary reading medium Computer use In/Out of school Computer use In/Out of school -At least 1.5 million blind and visually impaired Americans use computers

25. Random & Interesting Facts Approximately 109,000 visually impaired people in the U.S. use canes to get around Approximately 109,000 visually impaired people in the U.S. use canes to get around Just over 7,000 Americans use dog guides Just over 7,000 Americans use dog guides –Yearly about 1,500 individuals graduate from a dog-guide user program Of all blind and visually impaired Americans Of all blind and visually impaired Americans –80% are white –18% are black –2% are from other races

26. Skills for the Blind Computer Computer -Supernova and Lunar software -JAWS (Job Action with Speech), Telephone Telephone -extra large or illuminated keypads -Braille labels -Voice-activated dialing -Talking Caller ID Note taking Note taking-BrailleNote-PACMate -Braille 'n Speak

27. Sports For Visually Impaired Beep Ball Beep Ball Goalball Goalball Judo Judo

28. Activities “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” “Head Shoulders Knees and Toes” “This Little Piggy” “This Little Piggy” “Who Stole the Cookies” “Who Stole the Cookies”

29. Easy-to-make Textured Foods Bugs on a Log Bugs on a Log Finger Painting Pudding Finger Painting Pudding

30. Mobility Cane Cane guide dog guide dog human guides human guides drivers drivers

31. Strategies For Teaching Students With Vision Impairment Seat students away from glowing lights. Seat students away from glowing lights. Use descriptive words in relations to student’s body orientation. Use descriptive words in relations to student’s body orientation. Give verbal notice of room changes, special meetings, or assignments. Give verbal notice of room changes, special meetings, or assignments. Offer to read written information for a person with a visual impairment, when appropriate. Offer to read written information for a person with a visual impairment, when appropriate. Order the appropriate textbooks for the students in their preferred medium. Order the appropriate textbooks for the students in their preferred medium. Know your student’s strengths and weaknesses. Know your student’s strengths and weaknesses. Set reasonable goals that you expect to accomplish with the student. Set reasonable goals that you expect to accomplish with the student.

32. Teacher Presentation Verbally spell out new or technical words. Verbally spell out new or technical words. Enlarge activity script, directions, or readings of a detailed lesson when necessary. Enlarge activity script, directions, or readings of a detailed lesson when necessary. Get lessons or materials brailed when needed. Get lessons or materials brailed when needed. Whenever possible use actual objects for three-dimensional representations. Whenever possible use actual objects for three-dimensional representations. Allow more time if needed on work Allow more time if needed on work Use a low vision projection screen Use a low vision projection screen Make sure to use descriptive videos when showing videos. Make sure to use descriptive videos when showing videos. Allow student to have a scribe. Allow student to have a scribe.

33. Hints for Helping a Person who is Blind or Visually Impaired Talk to the person in a normal tone of voice. Talk to the person in a normal tone of voice. Be natural when talking with a person who is blind. Be natural when talking with a person who is blind. When offering assistance to a person who is blind, do so directly. When offering assistance to a person who is blind, do so directly. In guiding a person who is blind, permit him/her to take you arm. In guiding a person who is blind, permit him/her to take you arm. Identify yourself to the person so they know of your presence. Identify yourself to the person so they know of your presence. When serving food to a person who is blind and eating without a sighted companion, offer to read the menu including prices. When serving food to a person who is blind and eating without a sighted companion, offer to read the menu including prices. At a gathering, be sure to tell the person who the other guests are so that they may know of their presence. At a gathering, be sure to tell the person who the other guests are so that they may know of their presence. A cordial handshake substitutes for a friendly smile when meeting of leaving. A cordial handshake substitutes for a friendly smile when meeting of leaving.

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