Visual Impairment

Students in grades PreK-12 with visual impairments are served through the Exceptional Children department.  Visual impairment, including blindness, means impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child’s educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness. Access to the Common Core State Standards and the NC Standard Course of Study is enhanced using modified materials, including audiobooks, large print materials, braille materials and specialized technology.  The Individualized Education Program (IEP) team is responsible for making decisions that would provide academic success, determine placement and ensure implementation of the IEP with fidelity.  The IEP team takes into consideration student data, progress on goals and current evaluation information in making placement decisions.

Orientation and Mobility Specialists work with visually impaired/blind children to teach them the skills they need to be safe, independent, and efficient travelers. These services focus not only on improving a child’s ability to know where they are in space and where they are headed (orientation), but also in teaching the specialized skills necessary to negotiate their environment (mobility) regardless of their visual impairment.

RESOURCES:

American Foundation for the Blind

National Federation for the Blind  

Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

American Printing House for the Blind

Perkins School for the Blind

Lighthouse International