Visual+Impairments

**Visual Impairments:**

**Characteristics:** Students who have difficulty accomplishing visual tasks but can enhance their ability to accomplish these tasks with the use of compensatory visual strategies, low-vision and other devices, and environmental modifications. **Environment-** o Announce your presence and identify yourself. Also announce your departure o Leave doors fully open or closed. Drawers should all be closed. o Describe the location of things, especially after rearranging o Provide an extra desk or shelf for the student to store materials. o Provide access to an outlet for a tape recorder, lamp, computer or other electrical equipment o Allow early dismissal from class to allot for travel time o Consider lighting conditions o Preferential seating so student gets an unobstructed view
 * Accommodations to:**

**Teaching Style-** o Familiarize students with classroom materials (visual and tactile exploration) o Have concrete examples for students to touch o Lessons should have tactile and auditory components o Adapt assignments so all students can participate o Provide written copies of notes or other materials on the board or overhead o When using the board, say what you are writing as you write it. o Allow a peer to take notes for the student. o Permit a tape recorder to record lessons o Write with large letters on the board o Provide all notes, assignments and other paperwork in large print. o When giving directions, activate student’s prior knowledge and vocabulary (not a large database of visual images to refer to) o Provide opportunities for students to work in groups, especially when there is a visual component o Modify writing activities allowing students to dictate into a tape recorder o Assistive technology (Brailler, books on tape, tape recorder, etc.) o Use of orientation and mobility skills to travel independently o Using optical, nonoptical, and instructional aids Assessment- ** o Oral assignments and tests o Enlarge print on tests and quizzes o Allow for other means of assessment, such as oral reports, instead of written reports or tests o Multiple choice tests as opposed to open response o Extended time on test and quizzes o Tests may be read out loud o Use large print or Braille answer sheets o Provide real objects for items shown in pictures o Color in pictures to help them be easier to see o Provide test materials in student’s primary learning medium o Read written instructions o Allow students to write answers on the test booklet instead of a scantron
 * Learning Activity-**