General Educational Adaptations of Learners with Difficulty Seeing

We need to think of strategies, activities, and materials that can support students with
difficulty seeing. It is important that educators are aware about the students’ visual
abilities so that the students can remember that they have the potential to learn to use
their vision in more efficient way.

General Classifications of visual impairments.

1. Low Vision – Students in this category characteristically work more slowly and
experience difficulty working with details.
2. Functional Blindness - Some functionally blind individuals have sufficient vision to
allow them to move around the classroom safely. Others, however, may require
considerable accommodations to do so.
3. Blindness - Near blindness and total blindness are included in this category.
Students with total blindness receive no stimuli from their visual channel.

Classroom strategies and learning adaptations for students with difficulty seeing
Incidental learning - Students with visual impairments lack opportunities for incidental
learning that occur for their sighted peers almost constantly.

Orientation and Movement - Students with visual impairments should move around the
classroom or other areas of the school just as their sighted peers do.

Designing Effective Learning Environments Through Collaboration with Vision

Specialists

Students with visual impairments placed in general education classes usually get
support services from a vision specialist. Vision specialists should be a part of the team
of professionals working to ensure that students are receiving appropriate services and
accommodations.
Tactile and Kinesthetic Learning

Students with visual impairments use tactile and kinesthetic input to learn about their
environments. Such input should not be thought of as “lesser senses” to use in the
absence of vision, but as another system through which learning takes place.
Auditory Learning and Accommodations

Auditory input provides another way students can gain information. Teachers should not
assume, however, that students will understand verbal input in the same way and at the
same depth as other students understand visual input.
Visual Learning
Most students with visual impairments have some usable vision. Their visual learning
can become more efficient if they can enhance their skill to use their vision through
training or the use of assistive devices.

Technological Adaptations
Technological advances have created many products that are advantageous for
students with visual impairments, both for input and output of information.

Curricular Considerations
The academic curriculum appropriate for students with visual impairments is determined
by their cognitive abilities. The goals and objectives set for students without visual
impairments do not need to be changed for a student due solely to a vision problem.
1. How can teachers help students with vision problems in the classroom?
a. Provide them with extra homework
b. Make use of larger text in teaching materials
c. Assign more group projects
d. Give them more recess time
2. What is one way to make a classroom more accessible for students with vision
difficulties?
a. Use bright and distracting colors on the walls
b. Keep the classroom layout constantly changing
c. Arrange desks in a neat and consistent manner
d. Remove all desks and chairs from the classroom
3. When students have trouble seeing words in their textbooks, what can be done
to assist them?
a. Provide audio versions of the textbooks
b. Assign more written assignments
c. Ask them to sit closer to the board
d. Ignore them
4. How can schools support students with vision problems in physical education
classes?
a. Exclude them from sports activities
b. Provide adaptive equipment and instruction
c. Assign them as class referees
d. Give them extra homework instead of sports activities
5. Which of the following is an example of technology that can help students with
vision difficulties?
a. Whiteboard markers
b. Large print posters
c. Braille books
d. Stuffed animals
6. Why is it important for teachers to receive training in supporting students with
visual impairments?
a. It's not important
b. It helps teachers become better cooks
c. It helps create an inclusive classroom environment
d. It's a requirement for teacher certification
7. What creative idea can make educational materials more accessible to students
with vision difficulties?
a. Using smaller fonts
b. Incorporating more visual elements
c. Adding more distracting colors
d. Eliminating tactile materials
8. Should students with vision challenges have access to specialized educational
tools and equipment?
a. No, they don't need any special tools
b. Yes, it can help them succeed in school
c. Only if they are older than 21
d. Only if they are exceptionally talented
9. How can classmates and peers contribute to a more inclusive and supportive
learning environment for students with vision difficulties?
a. By excluding them from group activities
b. By making fun of their vision problems
c. By offering assistance and being understanding
d. By competing with them in all activities
10. Why is it important to foster self-confidence and independence in students with
visual impairments within the educational setting?
a. It's not important
b. Because they are naturally confident
c. To help them succeed in school and life
d. To discourage them from pursuing education
Typoscope