Visual Impairments
Definition
Students with visual impairments might have total blindness or partial sight that requires the use of enlargements. The most obvious learning adjustment to a student with a visual impairment is the inability to read classroom materials and texts. Legally blind students will use taped texts and/or braille materials. Those with partial sight will use enlargements and magnifiers. Keep in mind that it will take a student with a visual impairment more time to cover the written materials for the course.
Classroom Tips
- Talk with the student to determine his/her abilities.
- Provide testing alternatives for students who are visually impaired (can be done orally in the Tutoring & Testing Center).
- Adapt course outlines to large print or tape, if needed.
- Verbalize what is being written on the board or overhead giving full descriptions and as many details as possible.
- Write larger, darker, or in all caps when using the chalkboard or an overhead projector.
- Allow the taping of lectures for study.
- See if one color chalk would be easier for the student to see than another.
- Encourage the student to sit closer to the chalkboard or overhead than other students.
- Verbally clarify films, visual aids, and/or graphs/charts.
- Encourage students to use taped texts and large print texts.
- Give student verbal orientation to the classroom, laboratory, and/or tools to be utilized. Keep classroom arrangement consistent.
- Keep the classroom door closed to limit noise.
- In the event of an emergency, be sure to tell the student the best way to the exits. Exit signs may or may not be readily identified by visually impaired students.
ADA Requirements and Available Resources
Appropriate support services will depend on the documented type and severity of visual disability. The ADA requires that students with visual disability be provided with the following support services:
- Testing alternatives
- Qualified readers
- Taped texts/lectures
- Audio recordings
- Braille materials
- Enlargements – Examinations and handouts must be made available to students on the same day they are distributed to non-disabled students.
Please refer students to Counselor/Coordinator of Student Accommodations if they may benefit from these materials or equipment:
- Tape recorders
- Full-page magnifiers
- Computer screen magnifiers
- Large-screen computer monitor
- Enlarged print materials – Must be requested at least two months prior to the first day of classes.
- Braille materials, translation software, and/or labeler
- Perkins Brailler
- Talking calculator
- Taped books – Must be requested at least two months prior to the first day of classes.
- Lamp with attached magnifying glass
- Voice synthesized (“talking”) computer & software
- Visual TEX machine
- Alternative testing facilities