Visual Impairments (VI)

VI Defined

Documentation for low vision will include diagnosed pathology and functional assessment that describes visual deficits significant enough to interfere with learning
Functionally blind students have so little remaining vision that they use Braille as their reading medium
Partially seeing students have a loss of vision but are able to use regular or large type as their reading medium and have a visual acuity between 20/70 and 20/200 in the better eye after correction
Legally blind students have a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye after correction or a severely contracted peripheral field of no more than 20 degrees

Talk while you teach
Verbalize what you are doing as you move about the classroom
Use concrete examples when trying to teach abstract concepts
Ask the student what they need. It is acceptable and advisable to speak individually with the student regarding their needs in your classroom

The degree of visual impairment will determine the types of accommodations needed for each individual.