Severe Vision Loss

Kassandra Neely

Chris Cadiuex

Inclusion of Children with Special Needs

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Scenario Number 5• Laila is a fifteen month old infant.• She has been diagnosed with

severe vision impairment.• Her parent’s main concerns are

about her safety and how she will form friendships.

• Concerns that might arise in the parent’s later on might be Laila’s cognitive learning and how programs will adapt to her individual needs.

Meet Laila

What Laila and her Parents Will Need• Support from staff & family• Inclusive environment • Resources to help them understand and accommodate Laila• Modifications to Laila’s main environments • Effective teaching strategies that are specific to Laila’s individual needs• Positive, Caring, Nurturing environment

Meet Laila Cont’

• Definition: “Low vision generally refers to a severe visual impairment…It applies to all individuals with sight who are unable to read the newspaper at a normal viewing distance…”*

• Severe Vision Impairment happens to 1 in 2,000 children under the age of 18.

Low Vision Impairment

• Excessive Eye Rubbing• Sensitivity to light• Lack of focusing and visual tracking• Constant Redness and tearing of the eyes• Having a white pupil instead of black pupils

Signs of Low Vision

Causes can be a result of: • A family history of: metabolic disease, genetic disease, retinoblastoma or

congenital cataracts. • Low birth weight• Bleeding of the brain• If the mother has a infection during pregnancy: herpes, AIDS, venereal

disease, rubella.• Prematurity• Seizures• Developmental delay• Cerebral palsy

The treatments vary by the type of eye problem, the most common treatment would be eye glasses.

Causes of Severe Blindness and Treatments

Eye ExamsClick icon to add clip art• Should be done by your family

physician or paediatrician when they are a newborn.

• If there is a family history of eye problems or if you have a premature infant they should be examined by an eye doctor.

• Children age 3 ½ should have eye screenings and visual acuity tests

• Children age 5 should have routine screenings and vision and eye alignment by their doctors.

• There are four kinds of eye doctors: Ophthalmologists, Paediatric ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians

Modifying the Physical Environment

Safety:• Add tactile cues to stairs such as non-

slip rubber mats • Add contrasting colours and stripes to

the areas with stairs• Place rubber covers or rubber stoppers

on sharp corners• Decrease the amount of obstacles-

make sure the room is tidy and free of unnecessary objects.

Modifying the Physical

EnvironmentSensory Cues:• Use a variety of different types of

shelving that have different textures.• Have specific textures to define types

of toys• Use auditory cues to associate with

different transitions • All of the signage around the room

should also have a raised image, braille, or a texture.

• Define spaces with specific textures on the floor such as carpets, tiles, wood

• Lighting should be positioned behind the child

• Incorporate toys and activities that stimulate the other 4 senses.

• Create a dependable environment with the use of transitions and patterns in activities.

• When reading a book make sure you give the child the opportunity to hold objects that are in the book.

• Guide the child’s body when singing songs like head and shoulders and rolley polley.

Changes in Teaching Strategies

Blind Low Vision Early Intervention Program

Services the program offers:• Family Support• Early Intervention• Child Care Consultation• Public awareness and professional parent education

Who can apply for these services:• People who live in Toronto• Have a child from birth-school entry who has been diagnosed

with being blind or having low vision by an ophthalmologist.

This program is funded Ministry of Children and Youth Services

For more programs in your area please visit: http://www.oaicd.ca/related-specialized-services

• Ontario Association for Infant and Child Development• My Child Without Limits• Kids Health• Toronto Preschool Speech and Language Services• Learning Together

Bibliography