Braille Alphabet

STUDENTS WHO ARE

BLIND OR HAVE LOW

VISION

Ting, Madelaine T.

Yturriaga, Mary Abigail A.

III-10 BS Psychology

Blindness or Low Vision

Blindness can be defined

legally and educationally.

Legal definition based on measurement of:

Visual acuity, the ability to clearly distinguish forms or

discriminate details at a specific distance.

Normal vision acuity is measured by reading letters,

numbers, or symbols from a chart 20 feet away.

Example: the Snellen chart

Legal blindness – condition where visual acuity is

20/200 in the better eye.

The field of vision refers to the area that normal eyes

cover above, below and on both sides when looking at

the object or when gazing straight ahead.

Normal = approximately a range of 180 degrees.

Central field of vision – being used when looking

directly at an object.

Tunnel vision – results from an extremely restricted

field of vision.

Educational definition

Not all legally blind persons are

totally blind.

In SpEd, children who are blind are

differentiated from those who have

low vision.

Types and Causes of Problems

of Vision1. Errors of Refraction

In hyperopia or farsightedness, the lens fails to

focus the light rays from near objects on the retina.

The focus falls behind the retina because the eyes are

too short from front to back. Convex lenses are

prescribed to converge the light rays on the retina to

correct hyperopia.

In myopia or nearsightedness, the eyes are

abnormally long from front to back and the lens fails to

refract the light rays from distant objects on the retina.

Concave lenses to correct myopia are prescribed to

converge the light rays from far objects on the retina.

In astigmatism, cornea’s lens is deformed, light

becomes blurred and faulty cylindrical lens is

prescribed to correct the direction of the spherical

Hyperopia or Farsightedness

Myopia or Nearsightedness

Astigmatism

2. Imbalance of the eye muscles

In strabismus, different images are cast on

each retina resulting to cross-eyedness or

squinting.

Diplopia or double vision results when the

brain cannot fuse the differences in the images

cast on the retina into a single image.

The condition can be corrected by

prescription lenses, exercises, surgery or a

combination of the three.

Amblyopia occurs when vision is suppressed

in on eye and it becomes weak or useless.

Nystagmus is a condition in which there are

rapid involuntary movements of the eyeball

that can result to nausea and vomiting and

dizziness.

3. Diseases of the Eye

Cataract is caused by the clouding of the lens

which results to progressive blurring of vision

and eventually blindness occur.

Diabetic retinopathy occurs when diabetes

mellitus interfere with the flow of blood to

the retina causing it to degenerate.

Diseases of the retina, the most sensitive

part of the visual mechanism, can be

congenital or present at birth.

Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary condition

that results in the degeneration of retina.

Glaucoma is the condition in which there is

excessive pressure in the eye.

4. Traumas or accidents

SPECIAL ADAPTATIONS, AIDS, AND

TECHNOLOGY FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE

BLIND AND WITH LOW VISION

For Blind Person

Definition Example

1. Braille is the system of reading

and writing, in which

letters, words, numbers

and others are made

from arrangements

raised by embossed

dots.

Blind students learn to

read and write in Braille

by using braille like a

typewriter with 6 keys.

Braille

2. Typewriter or

Braille Typewriter

for

communicatio

n and

handwriting is

taught for them

to sign needed

papers.

Braille Typewriter

3. Manipulative

and Tactile Aids

are used in

learning

mathematics,

sciences and

social studies.

Cranmer Abacus

4. Technological

Aids (Kurzweil

Personal Reader)

is a

sophisticated

computer with

an optical

character

recognition

(OPR) system

that scans and

reads via a

synthetic voice

typeset and

other printed

matter.

Kurzweil

Personal Reader

5. Assistive

Technology

enables blind

person to

access to

For a person with low vision:

Definition Example

1. Special optical

devices

to enlarge and

to see regular

prints clearly

Corrective

Eyeglasses

Contact Lenses

2. Large Print Some books and

other materials are

available in large

print.

3. Classroom

Modification

providing materials

that would enable

the student to use

vision.

Adjustable Desk

Special Writing Paper

4. Recorded books,

magazines and other

materials

come with the

synthetic speech

equipment that

plays the tapes at

a faster rate.

Example:

Audio Books

The Education for Students with

Visual Disabilities This started during 1960s as a component of

teacher training program for selected public school teachers. Blind boys and girls with average or better mental ability were enrolled in regular classes at the School Division of Pasay City, Manila and the Teacher Training Department of the then Philippine Normal College. At present, the Resources for the Blind Incorporated collaborates with the Department of Education in training teachers in mainstreaming blind and low vision students in public schools all over the country.

Most children learn visually through the remaining senses: audition, touch, olfaction, gestation and other non-visual experience. Blind children receive instruction in orientation and mobility.

With the advent of inclusive education

for children and youth who have disabilities,

more and more students who are blind,

deaf, with mental retardation, or with

orthopedic impairments are enrolled in

regular classes

Rules that can help to make your

student with visual impairment feel

comfortable inside the classroom:1. Use the words “look” and “see”.

2. Introduce him or her as you would in any of your students.

3. Include him or her in all class activities.

4. Extend to them the opportunity of being a leader in class activities.

5. The same disciplinary rules that apply to the rest of the class should apply as well to the child with visual impairment.

6. Encourage the blind child to move around the classroom. (e.g. to get materials or to do certain activities)

7. Give verbal instructions or oral cues.

8. Provide space to accommodate his or her

special materials.

9. Motivate the seeing classmate to become

interested in topics related to vision and

visual impairment.

10. Your acceptance of the child with visual

impairment will serve as a positive example

to his or her seeing classmates.

11. When approaching the blind student, always

say who you are.

12. The blind student may exhibit certain

mannerisms. Consult the special education

teacher on how to deal with these behaviors.

13. Possible accommodations by area of

disability for students who are blind or have

low vision: