Special Education
Students with Visual Impairments
EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF VISION LOSS
Having a loss of vision often requires students to do things in different ways and sometimes learning opportunities are fewer. Development of concepts and skills may take more time. Those areas which are particularly affected in the life of a student with loss of vision are:
- Concept development;
- Interpersonal communication skills;
- Life skills;
- Orientation and mobility skills; and,
- Academic development.
Development of concepts is the basis for all learning. Spatial relationships, time, body awareness, and self- awareness are just a few examples of fundamental concepts people need to make sense of their world and which may need to be specifically taught.
Although your main focus will be on intellectual development, a variety of opportunities for personal development can have a profound impact on a student who is visually impaired. Promoting development of a positive self-image, appropriate dress, well-developed self-care skills, good interpersonal communication, knowledge of family life and appropriate behaviours, increased independence, and productive community living can all be tremendously beneficial in the healthy growth of students with visual impairments.
As with all students, relationships are very important for students with vision loss and your classroom can be a wonderful place for all levels of development and responsible maturity to flourish. On the following pages you will find a list of some of the needs of students with vision loss along with a list of what may be expected of the student. Sample questions to assist in your planning and tip sheets for teaching have been provided.
