By Shaina Clark, Kristin Tritch , and Kristi Staton

1. By Shaina Clark, Kristin Tritch, and Kristi Staton Blindness, Low Vision Presentation

2. Professional Definition Blindness: Visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction Low Vision: is 20/70 to 20/200. Educational Definition Blindness is needing to use Braille or aural methods. Low vision is being able to read print that is enlarged or magnified.

3. Prevalence *Blindness is primarily an adult disability *Less than 0.05% of students from ages 6-17 are identified as visually impaired

4. Do’s • Use the students name when calling on him/her • Read out loud what your writing on the board • Give explicit directions • Allow extra time • Feel comfortable using vision words • Encourage independence • Include the visually impaired student in classroom activities • Fill in experiential gaps • Provide extra storage space • Encourage the use of aids/devices Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching

5. Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching • Don’ts • Be afraid to touch the visually impaired student. • Overprotect • Worry about your initial feelings of awkwardness • Be afraid to require a student’s best work • Be afraid to require good behavior • Hesitate to ask the student what something looks like • Feel you must tolerate unacceptable behavior

6. How does the eye see? Causes *Myopia *Hyperopia *Astigmatism Conditions affecting both adults and children *Glaucoma *Cataracts *Diabetic retinopathy Conditions affecting primarily children *Retinitis pigmentosa *Cortical visual impairment *Retinopathy of prematurity Improper muscle function *Strabismus *Nystagmus How is visual ability measured? *Snellen chart *also available for near distances *teacher can observe *functional assessments

7. a) 20/20 Vision b) macular degeneration c) cataract • e) blindness • d) amblyopia • f) glaucoma g) diabetic retinopathy

8. ACTIVITY