1. Developing 20/20 Foresight A Resource Guide for Teaching Students with Vision Challenges

2. Vision and Children

3. The Facts Vision disorders are the number one childhood disability 1 in 4 school age children have vision problems Mentally and multiply disabled children are twice as likely to have vision problems

4. The Facts Only 1/3 of all children will have an eye exam before entering school 60% of students with learning difficulties have undetected vision problems 11.5% of teens have undetected/untreated eye problems

5. 80% of all learning in the first 12 years is through vision

6. How We See

8. Common Vision Problems

9. Hyperopia(Far-Sighted) Can see objects farther away (ie blackboard), but not close up (ie. reading texts) Affects 10% of population Children tend to grow out of it naturally (50%) Eyeball is too short

10. Myopia(Near-Sighted) Can see objects up close, but not far away 25% of population More common in girls at adolescence Kids who read books early tend to develop myopia Eyeball is too long

11. Astigmatism Produces images similar to looking at a carnival mirror Caused by a warp in the cornea or lens Can lead to tired eyes, even after 5 minutes of reading

12. Color Blindness Decreased ability to distinguish between colors Usually genetic cause, but can be brought on through nerve damage Problems with cones cells of the eye leads to color blindness There are many different types of color blindness

13. Ishihara Plates Readable Unreadable

14. If detected, vision problems are often corrected with glasses or contact lenses.

15. But What if They Aren’t?

16. Warning Signs for Common Vision Problems Headaches with reading and writing Reads below grade level Holds reading material close Tilts head, closes an eye or squints Leaves out small words when reading Easily agitated or low perseverance when reading

17. Severe vision problems

18. Blind or Low Vision Legal blindness is defined as 20/200 vision See at 20 feet what most see at 200 (10% normal) 90% of legally blind are Low Vision Can range from seeing shadows, to reading the blackboard with special eyewear Complete blindness is helped by visual memory Strength of memory depends on when blindness occurred

19. What Can Teachers Do?

20. Strategies - Overview High variation in visual impairments Teacher needs variation in strategies to meet needs of students Some strategies work for all, while others are only useful in specific situations

21. Strategies - Courtesy Speak to class when entering or leaving room Call the student by name Seat the student away from glaring lights and at the front of the class

22. Strategies - Courtesy Tactually familiarize the student to the room Orally, let the student know if you need to leave or end a conversation. When communicating, always identify yourself and others who are present.

23. Strategies - General Provide magnifying devices and screen readers All visual cues must be accompanied by audio cues (describe the microscope and how to handle it) All handouts should be available in large font and Braille Large font is 16-18 point and up, or, enlarge 8.5x11 to 11x17 paper

24. Strategies - Teaching Spell out all new words Provide an enlarged set of directions for a lesson Use an overhead projector to show instructions Use a sighted narrator or descriptive video (preferable) Describe, in detail, all chalkboard writing Have a sighted student carbon paper their notes

25. Strategies - Teaching Have 3D models or raised line drawings available Whenever possible, use actual objects Use audiobooks for books Use a monocular or ’Private Eye’ for long range observations

26. References Color blindness (2011). Retrieved June 02, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_blindness Statistics supporting children’s comprehensive vision examinations (n.d.). Retrieved June 03, 2011 from http://www.nvo.com Strategies for teaching students with vision impairments (2005). Retrieved June 02, 2011, from http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/vision.html Students who are blind or have low vision (2011). Retrieved June 03, 2011, from http://library.queensu.ca/websrs/faculty_guide-Strategies-Blind.html Symptoms checklist: Vision quiz to identify signs of vision-based learning problems (n.d.). Retrieved June 03, 2011, from http://www.childrensvision.com/symptoms.htm The need for comprehensive vision examination of preschool and school-age children (n.d.). Retrieved June 01, 2011, from http://aoa.org/x5419.xml Goodrich, J. (2004). How to improve your child’s eyesight naturally: a thoughtful parent’s guide. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.