Visual Impairment

Tabitha Althiser
Application Assignment 1

Visual Impairment is used to describe any kind of vision loss, whether it's someone who cannot see at all or someone who has partial vision loss. This happens when one part of the brain that is used to process images is damaged or is diseased. It can be repaired by either wearing classes or having surgery on the damages part. Most times it is permanent. Being blind is also a type of Visual Impairment. Today there are many reasons why some has Visual Impairments or may be blind. Luckily, there are test being done and therapies out there that can make this easier for the person to handle. There is an estimate of 10 billion people in this world that has some form of Visual Impairment. 490,420 children with vision difficulty, 42,000 children with severe vision impairment and 59,341 children who are legally blind (Visual Impairment, Including Blindness). Many of the people that have a Visual Impairment happen when they are baby. They are born this way. It is called congenital blindness. There are many different types of Visual Impairments in the world. Strabismus is where the eyes look in different directions and do not focus simultaneously on a single point. A congenital cataract is where the lens of the eye is cloudy. A retinopathy of prematurity which may occur in premature babies when the light-sensitive retina hasn’t developed sufficiently before birth. A Retinitis Pigmentosa is a rare inherited disease that slowly destroys the retina. Coloboma is where a portion of the structure of the eye is missing. optic nerve hypoplasia which is caused by underdeveloped fibers in the optic nerve and which affects depth perception, sensitivity to light, and acuity of vision. Cortical visual impairment (CVI), which is caused by damage to the part of the brain related to vision, not to the eyes themselves (Visual Impairment, Including Blindness). Along with the causes of the impairment there are degrees on which it is categorized, for example, whether the condition is severe or mild. It all depends on what particular condition a child has, how much correction is possible through glasses, contacts, surgery or medicine and what aspect of the visual system is being affected. There are many signs that a child has a Visual Impairment. Their eyes might not move together when they follow an object, their eyes cross, they might bulge, their pupils may be unequal in size, they may repeatedly shut or cover one eye and they might be frequently rubbing their eyes, blinking or squinting. If the child is showing any of these signs then it is best to go see an ophthalmologist which is an eye doctor. The doctor may perform a few tests to see what is going on. They will do a Visual acuity test, in which the child reads an eye chart to measure how well they can see at various distance. They will do a Visual field test where the doctor will use this test to measure side vision. Also they will do a Tonometry test and this test determines the fluid pressure inside the eye. Your child might get services like Occupation therapy where they therapist would work daily on improving seeing or help them learn how to use their other senses. If the child has a visual impairment there may be a need for modifications. For example, if a student is considered legally blind then they would need their writing and reading to be in braille. Also allowing the child to have a one on one aid may help them out a lot. You’re going to have to arrange your classroom to fit their needs for example they might need to sit closer to the teacher so they can hear them more better and if the teacher is doing an experiment they are right there so they can help. They may need more time to complete their homework; also they may need it in smaller pieces so that they can do it. Also you need to use clear directions when talking. Since they don’t know what you mean when you say “over here” you might want to consider saying “Pass to the right”. They might need using a recorded tape of a book so they can listen to them when it is time to read alone. Your children are not their disability; they can do whatever the other children are doing. They might just need extra help along the way. Having a Visual Impairment or being blind does not make you much different then they rest. In today’s world, scientists are coming up with new way on helping your child succeeded.

Resources
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"Accommodations and Modifications at a Glance." Family Connect. American Foundation for the Blind and National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments. Web. 13 Mar 2013. <http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsite.asp?SectionID=72&TopicID=347&DocumentID=3820>.
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