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Image Courtesy of SPED Strategies and Resources.com
C A R M E N’S
O
R
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The most important characteristics of exceptional learners are their abilities, not their disabilities.”
-Daniel P Hallahan, PhD
The purpose of my site is to explore
the following
9 federal categories of
educational exceptionality:
![Disabilities_edited.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/041dff_607bf7f8dcf047fab72dba6ea77b3727~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_303,h_248,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Disabilities_edited.jpg)
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What is Visual Impariment & Blindness?
Visual impairment and blindness describe “an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance” (IDEA, 2020).
Social
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Difficulty with reading due to poor eyesight
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Many have joining in physical activities due to limited sight
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May feel excluded because of disability
Physical
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Sensitivity to light
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Eyes may tire easily
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May need assistance with navigation
Strengths
Affective
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Tentative in a new environment
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Hesitation to lead group discussion
Academic
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Difficulty writing and typing without assistive aids depending on level of impairment
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May be delayed in language acquisition and literacy skills due to impairment
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May have poor organizational skills depending on level of impairment
Cognitive
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Issues with cognition due to comorbid diagnoses
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Good at multitasking
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Adaptable
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Resourceful
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Acute auditory sense
Levels of Severity
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People with visual impairment can have mild, moderate or severe/profound vision problems.
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People with profound visual impairment are blind.
Incidence
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Approximately 0.1% of K-12 students have a visual impairment.
Educational
Implications
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Most students with visual impairment are taught in a mainstream classroom.
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Schools for the blind serve a small portion of the visually impaired population.
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Teachers should be aware of the severity of the vision impairment their student(s) have and prepare to have assistive technology available.
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Differentiation and a buddy system for navigation should be offered to students with visual impairment
Student Questions
Grades K-4:
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Did you know I can hear really well?
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Can I play on the playground?
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Will someone help me find the bathroom?
Grades 5-8:
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Will someone help me to and from the bus?
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Will I be allowed extra time to get to each class?
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Can someone walk with me to lunch?
Grades 9-12:
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Will someone be reading tests to me?
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Can I have text-to-speech for all of my notes?
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Who can I talk to if I’m having difficulty finding my classrooms?
Parent Questions
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Who do I talk to about getting an Individualized Education Plan for my child?
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Are the schools, classrooms, and recess areas accessible to my child?
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Will my child be paired with someone to show them around the school?
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Should I plan to come along to all field trips?
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Will my child have extra time to get to and from their classes?
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Are there extra safety measures taken to insure my child gets to and from the bus safely?
Teacher Questions
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Where do I get additional training for working with students with a visual impairment?
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What assistive technology do I have available to help me differentiate instruction for students with a visual impairment impairment?
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How can I make my classroom accessible to students with visual impairment impairment?
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What administrative and additional support do I have to help me support my students with a visual impairment?
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How can I model tolerance and inclusion in my classroom?