Written Report Ed 4 (Visual Impairment)

Visual impairment
is a general term used to describe people who cannot see even with correcti0ns•
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) further explains that it is
impairment in vision that even with correction adversely affects an individual's
educational performance. It includes problem in visual acuity, visual field and perceiving
the color. The condition may vary from one person to another. One person may have no
remaining vision while others have remaining functional vision.
CLASSIFICATION OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT
Individuals who are legally blind have minimal light or form perception. He has 20/ 200
vision in the better eye, whereas an individual who is totally blind completely lacks
vision or totally without any sight. Both legally and totally blind are dependent in their
tactile and auditory sense as the channel of learning. Those who are partially sighted
have limited perception with the environment. They also use their sense of touch and
hearing as a way to learn about their environment. A person is considered as having a
low vision when he still has a residual or remaining vision that he can use with the help
of prescription or non-prescription devices. Typically, the person cannot read a book or
newspaper at a normal distance even when he is using eyeglass or contact lens.
There are also people who are deafblind. They have limited vision and hearing. Braille
and sign language are both used to train these individuals.
Myopia (Nearsightedness). The individual can see clearly if the object is close to him.
This is the result when rays of light from distant objects are not focused on the retina.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness). This is the opposite of myopia or near-sightedness. The

person can see clearer if the object is far from him. In this condition the light rays near
the objects are not focused on the retina.
Astigmatism (Blurred vision). The person sees a blurry image of the things around him
due to the curve in the cornea or lens. As a result, the curve prevents light rays from
focusing the retina. Just like myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism can be corrected
through the eyeglasses and contact lenses prescribed by ophthalmologists and
optometrists.
Cataracts the person with this condition experiences a blurred, distorted or incomplete
vision due to the cloudiness of the lenses because of trauma or old age. Since the
lenses of opaque or cloudy, this blocks the light needed to see clearly. Additionally, the
person can be photophobic, may experience serious glare problems and squinting.
Glaucoma this condition occurs when the aqueous fluid fails to circulate properly. The
pressure in the eye caused by the fluid can damage the optic nerves and can further
result to loss of visual acuity and visual field. The person may experience headache and
fatigue.
Diabetic Retinopathy from the name itself, diabetic individuals are affected with this type
of eye disorder. This occurs when there is hemorrhage and continuous growth of blood
vessel in the retina. It is often treated with laser surgery.
Retinitis Pigmentosa this is the gradual degeneration of the retina. It can result to night
blindness, photophobia and loss of macular vision. Sadly, this condition is inherited and
not treatable.
Usher Syndrome this is a deafblind condition which is a combination of congenital

deafness and retinis pigmentosa.
Macular Degeneration this condition is typical to adults but it can also affect young
people. This is due to deterioration of the central area of the retina cones. Visual fields
are lost but the person can use his peripheral vision. The person may be photophobic
that affects his color vision.
Retrolental Fibroplasia typical to premature babies who are overexposed to oxygen in

the incubator.
Optic Nerve Atrophy Damage Of the optic nerve; the optic nerve carries images of what
the eye sees to the brain.
Ocular Albinism a genetic that primarily affects the eyes, this condition reduces the
coloring (pigmentation).
SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS
In the Philippines, one can rarely see a student with vision loss in inclusive
education. of them are studying in a special school. The Philippine School for the Deaf
and Blind in Pasay City specializes in teaching students with such condition. Special
education teachers who will teach students with vision loss need an intensive training
using the Braille.
The following are some suggestions for teachers who have students with low vision:
Train the child to use his functional vision.
Illuminate classroom properly.
Have the site to sit near the blackboard.
Give photocopy of the lecture notes or shorten the notes.
Verbalize the writings on the chalkboard.
Avoid cluttering the board.
TACTILE AIDS
Braille
The first school for the blind is the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles in Paris and
it was established by Valentin Hauy in 1784. They use Roman letters and night writing
codes to teach students with vision loss. Then one of Hauy's students named Louis
Braille developed his embossed dots as a communication system. During the 1800's
Braille's communication system was not accepted by educators but eventually it gained
popularity and recognized as literacy code for people with vision loss around the world.
At present, Braille is the number one source of literacy for the blind. It consists of
patterns of six possible dots arranged in two columns or three. The combination of dots
indicates the letter of the alphabet (Gargiulo, 2009). (Gargiulo, 2009) further explains
that Braille has two grades. In Grade one Braille, the alphabet is first introduced. Each
letter of the word is spelled out using the Braille letter. In Grade two Braille, the teacher
will introduce the contractions or the 189-abbreviation similar to a shorthand method
used by secretaries.
Brailler
This is often used by younger students to learn how to write Braille. It looks like a
typewriter with six key dots. A special paper is needed to punch the raised Braille dots.
Slate and Stylus
This devise is often used by older students. The Braille dots are Punched by hand
on a special paper. This is more convenient because it is smaller and quieter than
braille. Other examples under this category are the tactile-experience book, embossed
maps and diagrams and three-dimensional models.

Written Report Ed 4 (Visual Impairment)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Written Report Ed 4 (Visual Impairment)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Written Report Ed 4 (Visual Impairment)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Visual impairment

CLASSIFICATION OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT

Hyperopia (Farsightedness). This is the opposite of myopia or near-sightedness. The

Usher Syndrome this is a deafblind condition which is a combination of congenital

Retrolental Fibroplasia typical to premature babies who are overexposed to oxygen in

Train the child to use his functional vision.

Illuminate classroom properly.

Have the site to sit near the blackboard.

Give photocopy of the lecture notes or shorten the notes.

Verbalize the writings on the chalkboard.

Avoid cluttering the board.

Slate and Stylus

You might also like