Perspectives of Visually Impaired Students An Overview

1. Perspectives of Visually Impaired StudentsAn Overview Sharron Sturgess University Disability Officer

2. What is a visual impairment?According to the RNIB • A person can register as severely sight impaired (blind) if they can only read the top letter of the optician’s eye chart from three metres or less. • A person can register as sight impaired (partially sighted) if they can only read the top letter of the chart from six metres or less.

3. “There are around two million people in the UK with a sight problem, i.e. that while wearing glasses they are still unable to recognise someone across the road or have difficulty reading newsprint. Among these two million people, over 370,000 are registered as blind or partially sighted. There are another 20% who are eligible for registration but have not done so.” The RNIB goes on to say:

4. Common causes of sight problems • Some people will be affected by a sight problem from birth. • Others may inherit an eye condition. • Some people may lose their sight as the result of an accident. • Illness can lead to conditions such as diabetic retinopathy.

5. Cont… • Some ethnic groups are at a higher risk of acquiring certain eye conditions. • Socio-economic factors, Trachoma, responsible for 15% of the world’s blindness, is caused by poor hygiene and inadequate sanitation. • Age-related eye conditions, 95% of people with sight problems in the UK are 65 or over.

6. What do VI people see? According to the RNIB • Being blind does not always mean that a person is living in total darkness. 49% of blind people and 80% of partially sighted people can recognise a friend at arm’s length. • Around one-fifth of people who are registered blind have some light perception vision or lower. The rest will have some useful sight.

7. Furthermore… Different eye conditions affect sight in different ways for example: • Glaucoma can result in tunnel vision, where all side vision is lost and only central vision remains. • Diabetic retinopathy can cause blurred and patchy vision. • Macular degeneration can lead to a loss of central vision whilst side vision remains.

8. Who are our VI students? UCAS code 2 declarations may include; • Registered Blind • Registered Partially Sighted • Colour blind • Irlens syndrome • Those who have correctable sight conditions such as short sightedness

9. Cont… But VI students also include; • Those who lose their sight during their studies • Those whose sight continues to deteriorate beyond a point at which they can study without support • Those who don’t declare because they don’t know support is available, for example international students

10. What are their support needs? Need to consider: • Previous educational background • Previous level of support • The course of study • DSA • Non educational needs • Being a student

11. Previous educational background

12. Previous support Use of Technology Use of human support Resources Exam Concessions

13. Course of study

14. DSA – Where are they in the process? Evidence Application Assessment of Needs LEA Approval Equipment/ Support in place

15. Non-academic needs • Accommodation • Mobility and Orientation • Practical issues • Financial needs • Mental health issues • Social integration • Transport issues

16. Money Academic success Home sickness Relationships Health, physical, mental and sexual Being accepted Making friends Accommodation Workload Taking responsibility for yourself A student firstCommon problems all students face regardless of impairment or additional need A student first Common problems all students face regardless of impairment or additional need: