Learners With Blindness or Learners With Blindness or Low VisionLow Vision

April 3, 2006April 3, 2006

Paige SchovillePaige SchovilleMarandah VickMarandah Vick

Lacy HillLacy HillWhitney WilliamsWhitney Williams

Julia Graham ChapmanJulia Graham Chapman

DefinitionDefinition• In North America, legal blindness is defined as visual In North America, legal blindness is defined as visual

acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction possible. correction possible. – eye glasses, contacts, etc.eye glasses, contacts, etc.

• 20/200 means that a legally blind person would have 20/200 means that a legally blind person would have to stand 20 feet from an object to see it with the to stand 20 feet from an object to see it with the clarity that a person with normal vision would see it clarity that a person with normal vision would see it from 200 feetfrom 200 feet

  • The visual acuity of people with low vision falls The visual acuity of people with low vision falls

between 20/70 and 20/200, with best possible between 20/70 and 20/200, with best possible correctioncorrection

• IDEA definition: an impairment in vision that, even IDEA definition: an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects educational with correction, adversely affects educational performanceperformance

Retinitis PigmentosaRetinitis Pigmentosa

• RP is geneticRP is genetic  • Causes thin layer of tissue in the back of eye (the retina) to Causes thin layer of tissue in the back of eye (the retina) to

deterioratedeteriorate  • RP often causes tunnel visionRP often causes tunnel vision  • First signs of RP usually occur in childhood or adolescenceFirst signs of RP usually occur in childhood or adolescence  • Two most common symptoms:Two most common symptoms:

1.) Slow to adapt to dim light (night blindness)1.) Slow to adapt to dim light (night blindness)2.) Slow loss of side vision2.) Slow loss of side vision

Tunnel VisionTunnel Vision

• Tunnel vision is a visual problem Tunnel vision is a visual problem which produces loss of peripheral which produces loss of peripheral visionvision

• Many people with retinitis Many people with retinitis pigmentosa and glaucoma pigmentosa and glaucoma experience tunnel visionexperience tunnel vision

GlaucomaGlaucoma

• Causes loss of sight by damaging the optic nerveCauses loss of sight by damaging the optic nerve-sends messages to the brain-sends messages to the brain

  • Lose patches of visionLose patches of vision

- usually side vision- usually side vision-Over time, loss of central vision-Over time, loss of central vision

  • Called the “sneak thief of sight”Called the “sneak thief of sight”

- many do not notice signs until a great deal of - many do not notice signs until a great deal of sight is sight is gonegone- less affected eye compensates- less affected eye compensates

CataractsCataracts

• Caused by a clouding of the lens of the eyeCaused by a clouding of the lens of the eye

• Results in blurred vision, loss of definition of color Results in blurred vision, loss of definition of color and detailand detail

  • Can be treated successfully by removing the lens, Can be treated successfully by removing the lens,

and replacing it with an implantand replacing it with an implant  • Congenital cataracts - cataracts in childrenCongenital cataracts - cataracts in children  • Need to be removed!Need to be removed!

Macular DegenerationMacular Degeneration

• One of the most common causes of visual One of the most common causes of visual impairmentsimpairments

• Dry Macular Degeneration - age relatedDry Macular Degeneration - age related- Occurs when blood supply is no longer - Occurs when blood supply is no longer able to able to nourish the center of the retina, nourish the center of the retina, or maculaor macula

  • Wet Macular Degeneration - new blood Wet Macular Degeneration - new blood

vessels behind the retina leak onto the vessels behind the retina leak onto the macula and destroy itmacula and destroy it

Diabetic RetinopathyDiabetic Retinopathy

• Most common cause of total blindnessMost common cause of total blindness

• However, only 4% of people with However, only 4% of people with diabetes are affected diabetes are affected

• Diabetes, which controls blood Diabetes, which controls blood supply, causes the eye to hemorrhage supply, causes the eye to hemorrhage

Common VI in ChildrenCommon VI in Children• StrabismusStrabismus

-“Cross-eyed”-“Cross-eyed”  

-Both eyes are directed inward or outward-Both eyes are directed inward or outward  

-Can eventually turn into blindness because the brain will reject signals -Can eventually turn into blindness because the brain will reject signals from from deviating eyedeviating eye

  -Can be corrected with exercises or surgery-Can be corrected with exercises or surgery

  • NystagmusNystagmus  

-Involuntary movement of the eye, often described as “shaky” or “wiggly”-Involuntary movement of the eye, often described as “shaky” or “wiggly”  

-Usually results in dizziness or nausea-Usually results in dizziness or nausea  

-Can be a sign of brain malfunctioning and/or inner-ear problems-Can be a sign of brain malfunctioning and/or inner-ear problems

CausesCauses

Mostly found before birth or before the child Mostly found before birth or before the child is one month old.is one month old.

• Damage to the eyeDamage to the eye

• Eye being shaped incorrectly Eye being shaped incorrectly

• If the brain does not process visual If the brain does not process visual information correctly information correctly

Most Common Among Most Common Among ChildrenChildren

• Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)– Born early or very low birth rateBorn early or very low birth rate

• AlbinismAlbinism

• HydrocephalusHydrocephalus

• Congenital CytomegalovirusCongenital Cytomegalovirus

• Birth AsphyxiaBirth Asphyxia

Economic ImpactEconomic Impact

• Estimated lifetime cost is $566,000 Estimated lifetime cost is $566,000 (2003)(2003)– Including medical costs, doctor visits, Including medical costs, doctor visits,

prescription drugs, and inpatient prescription drugs, and inpatient hospital stayshospital stays

• Not including other expenses Not including other expenses such as hospital outpatient visits, such as hospital outpatient visits, emergency department visits family emergency department visits family out-of-pocket expenses and others.out-of-pocket expenses and others.

Blindness StatisticsBlindness Statistics

• Every 7 minutes, someone in Every 7 minutes, someone in America will become blind or visually America will become blind or visually impaired.impaired.

• NOW = 10 million are blind or usually NOW = 10 million are blind or usually impaired in the U.S.impaired in the U.S.

• EmploymentEmployment- 46% of Americans with low vision (not blind) are - 46% of Americans with low vision (not blind) are employed.employed.

- 36% of legally blind working age Americans are - 36% of legally blind working age Americans are employedemployed

• EducationEducation- 45% of individuals with severe visual - 45% of individuals with severe visual impairment or blindness have a high school impairment or blindness have a high school diplomadiploma

- Those with low vision are about as likely to have - Those with low vision are about as likely to have taken some college as those who were sighted, taken some college as those who were sighted, but they are less likely to graduatebut they are less likely to graduate

Blindness in SchoolBlindness in School

• About 93,600 visually impaired or blind students About 93,600 visually impaired or blind students are in special ed. In the U.S.are in special ed. In the U.S.-10,800 of those students are deaf-blind-10,800 of those students are deaf-blind

• There are about 55,200 legally blind children in the There are about 55,200 legally blind children in the U.S.U.S.-Only 5,500 legally blind children use braille as their primary -Only 5,500 legally blind children use braille as their primary

reading mediumreading medium

• Computer use In/Out of schoolComputer use In/Out of school-At least 1.5 million blind and visually impaired -At least 1.5 million blind and visually impaired Americans use computersAmericans use computers

Random & Interesting FactsRandom & Interesting Facts

• Approximately 109,000 visually impaired people Approximately 109,000 visually impaired people in the U.S. use canes to get aroundin the U.S. use canes to get around

• Just over 7,000 Americans use dog guidesJust over 7,000 Americans use dog guides– Yearly about 1,500 individuals graduate from a Yearly about 1,500 individuals graduate from a

dog-guide user programdog-guide user program

• Of all blind and visually impaired AmericansOf all blind and visually impaired Americans– 80% are white80% are white– 18% are black18% are black– 2% are from other races2% are from other races

Skills for the BlindSkills for the Blind• ComputerComputer

-Supernova and Lunar software-Supernova and Lunar software--JAWS (Job Action with Speech),JAWS (Job Action with Speech),

• TelephoneTelephone--extra large or illuminated keypadsextra large or illuminated keypads--Braille labelsBraille labels-Voice-activated dialing -Voice-activated dialing --Talking Caller IDTalking Caller ID

• Note takingNote taking

-BrailleNote-BrailleNote-PACMate-PACMate-Braille 'n Speak-Braille 'n Speak

Sports For Visually ImpairedSports For Visually Impaired

• Beep BallBeep Ball

• GoalballGoalball

• JudoJudo

ActivitiesActivities

• ““Head Shoulders Knees and Toes”Head Shoulders Knees and Toes”

• ““This Little Piggy”This Little Piggy”

• ““Who Stole the Cookies”Who Stole the Cookies”

Easy-to-make Textured Easy-to-make Textured FoodsFoods

• Bugs on a LogBugs on a Log

• Finger Painting PuddingFinger Painting Pudding

MobilityMobility

• CaneCane

• guide dogguide dog

• human guideshuman guides

• driversdrivers

Strategies For Teaching Strategies For Teaching Students With Vision Students With Vision

ImpairmentImpairment• Seat students away from glowing lights.Seat students away from glowing lights.

• Use descriptive words in relations to student’s body orientation. Use descriptive words in relations to student’s body orientation.

• Give verbal notice of room changes, special meetings, or Give verbal notice of room changes, special meetings, or assignments.assignments.

• Offer to read written information for a person with a visual Offer to read written information for a person with a visual impairment, when appropriate.impairment, when appropriate.

• Order the appropriate textbooks for the students in their preferred Order the appropriate textbooks for the students in their preferred medium. medium.

• Know your student’s strengths and weaknesses.Know your student’s strengths and weaknesses.

• Set reasonable goals that you expect to accomplish with the student.Set reasonable goals that you expect to accomplish with the student.

Teacher PresentationTeacher Presentation• Verbally spell out new or technical words.Verbally spell out new or technical words.

• Enlarge activity script, directions, or readings of a detailed Enlarge activity script, directions, or readings of a detailed lesson when necessary.lesson when necessary.

• Get lessons or materials brailed when needed. Get lessons or materials brailed when needed.

• Whenever possible use actual objects for three-dimensional Whenever possible use actual objects for three-dimensional representations.representations.

• Allow more time if needed on workAllow more time if needed on work

• Use a low vision projection screenUse a low vision projection screen

• Make sure to use descriptive videos when showing videos.Make sure to use descriptive videos when showing videos.

• Allow student to have a scribe.Allow student to have a scribe.

Hints for Helping a Person Hints for Helping a Person who is Blind or Visually who is Blind or Visually

ImpairedImpaired• Talk to the person in a normal tone of voice.Talk to the person in a normal tone of voice.

• Be natural when talking with a person who is blind.Be natural when talking with a person who is blind.

• When offering assistance to a person who is blind, do so directly.When offering assistance to a person who is blind, do so directly.

• In guiding a person who is blind, permit him/her to take you arm.In guiding a person who is blind, permit him/her to take you arm.

• Identify yourself to the person so they know of your presence.Identify yourself to the person so they know of your presence.

• When serving food to a person who is blind and eating without a When serving food to a person who is blind and eating without a sighted companion, offer to read the menu including prices.sighted companion, offer to read the menu including prices.

• At a gathering, be sure to tell the person who the other guests are At a gathering, be sure to tell the person who the other guests are so that they may know of their presence.so that they may know of their presence.

• A cordial handshake substitutes for a friendly smile when meeting A cordial handshake substitutes for a friendly smile when meeting of leaving. of leaving.

SourcesSources

• http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw158191http://health.yahoo.com/ency/healthwise/hw158191

• www.wcb-ccd.org.uk/.../ eye_conditions.htmwww.wcb-ccd.org.uk/.../ eye_conditions.htm

• http://www.beacheyecare.com/macular_degeneration.htmlhttp://www.beacheyecare.com/macular_degeneration.html

• http://www.preventblindness.org/http://www.preventblindness.org/

• http://www.afb.orghttp://www.afb.org

• http://www.inclusive.co.uk/infosite/viinfo2.shtmlhttp://www.inclusive.co.uk/infosite/viinfo2.shtml

• http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/SSDS/notedev.cfmhttp://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/SSDS/notedev.cfm

• http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txblind.htmhttp://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txblind.htm

• http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/accessforall/sight.htmhttp://www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/accessforall/sight.htm

• http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/vision3.htmhttp://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/vision3.htm

• Smith, Kristie. Wee Play Wee Learn. Nebraska: iUniverse, Smith, Kristie. Wee Play Wee Learn. Nebraska: iUniverse, 2005.2005.