Improving Visual Access - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

About This Presentation
Title:

Improving Visual Access

Description:

Improving Visual Access Special Education Department: Blind/Visually Impaired – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:162
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 30
Provided by: Anok6
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Improving Visual Access


1
Improving Visual Access
  • Special Education Department Blind/Visually
    Impaired

2
Improving Visual Access for All Students
  • The purpose of this powerpoint is to provide
    strategies to improve visual access for
  • All students
  • Present strategies to help all students visually
    access learning materials successfully.
  • Students with a visual impairment
  • Present strategies for students who meet
    eligibility criteria for special education
    blind/visually impaired services.

3
  • Visual Strategies for
  • All Students

4
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Handouts/Teacher Made Materials
  • Avoid dark colored paper
  • Black print on white provides optimal contrast
  • Bold colors are optimal for pictures other
    graphics
  • Use only high quality copies with clear graphics
  • Avoid visual clutter
  • See following examples

5
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Example of cluttered page layout

6
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Example of uncluttered page layout

7
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Handouts/Teacher Made Materials continued
  • Avoid fonts that are busy (script, broadway etc.)
  • (Verdana and Arial are examples of preferred
    fonts)
  • Use developmentally appropriate font sizes
  • Kindergarten 18-24 point font
  • First grade 16-24 point font
  • Second grade 14-18 point font
  • Third - Fifth grade 12-14 point font
  • Middle and High School 10-12 point font

8
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Clutter
  • Cluttered environments or learning materials
    often make it difficult for children to visually
    process information.
  • Classroom environment
  • The combination of calendar math, word walls,
    busy bulletin boards etc. placed in close
    proximity creates clutter.
  • To avoid classroom clutter, create clear space
    between displayed learning materials, and display
    only materials that enhance student learning.

9
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Clutter (cont.)
  • Cluttered learning materials can create visual
    confusion for students and be overwhelming.
  • Learning materials
  • Turn a cluttered one page handout into two pages.
  • When unable to avoid visual clutter on a page,
    cover a portion of the page (plain book mark,
    reading window).
  • Also see handouts/teacher made materials.

10
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Interactive Whiteboards
  • Use high contrast colors (blue black preferred)
  • Keep screen simple avoiding clutter
  • Test ease of viewing from the back of the
    classroom
  • Backgrounds should be plain not patterned

11
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Lighting
  • Avoid glare on the whiteboard, computer screen
    interactive whiteboard
  • Be aware of glare on laminated materials
  • Characteristics of fluorescent lighting
    (flickering, humming, brightness) can affect many
    students adversely, such as
  • Sensory overload
  • Headaches
  • Irritability
  • Dry eyes
  • Common Visual Difficulties
  • Computer Access

12
Visual Strategies for All Students
  • Computer Access
  • Use settings to adjust monitor to meet individual
    student needs
  • Font size, brightness, enlarged cursor,
    resolution, accessibility features
  • Avoid glare
  • Consider dimming overhead lights
  • Adjust position of monitor based on size of
    student

13
  • Students with Temporary Visual Conditions

14
Students with Temporary Visual Conditions
  • Common Causes of Vision Difficulties
  • Eye patching
  • Not wearing glasses
  • Eye infections
  • Light sensitivity
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Allergies
  • Undiagnosed correctable eye conditions

15
  • Reading Difficulties

16
Reading Difficulties
  • When students are struggling with reading,
    determine if they have received a comprehensive
    eye examination (preferably by a pediatric
    ophthalmologist) to rule out a visual impairment.

17
  • Vision Therapy

18
Vision Therapy
  • Vision therapy is a medical intervention that is
    typically prescribed by optometrists and is not
    supported by the American Association of
    Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus or the
    American Academy of Ophthalmology.

19
Vision Therapy
  • Vision therapy/behavioral visual therapy is not
    conducted in the school setting and is not
    considered an educational service.

20
Vision Therapy
  • When discussing reading issues, parents may share
    medical information that describes visual
    characteristics such as eye teaming, convergence
    insufficiency, and/or visual processing
    difficulties that require on-going vision
    therapy.

21
Vision Therapy
  • See these links for further information regarding
    professional perspectives on vision therapy
  • http//www.aapos.org/terms/conditions/108
  • http//www.aao.org/about/policy/upload/Learning-Di
    sabilities-Dyslexia-Vision-2009.pdf

22
  • Criteria for Special Education Category of
    Blind/Visually Impaired

23
Criteria for Special Education Category of
Blind/Visually Impaired
  • In order to qualify for service, students must
    meet both medical and educational requirements.
  • The first step in the eligibility process is for
    a teacher for students who are blind or visually
    impaired (TBVI) to review medical records from an
    ophthalmologist or optometrist documenting a
    diagnosed visual impairment.

24
Criteria for Special Education Category of
Blind/Visually Impaired
  • See the following Minnesota Department of
    Education link for criteria
  • https//www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/rules/?id3525
    .1345

25
  • Improving Visual Access for Students with a
    Visual Impairment

26
Improving Visual Access for Students with a
Visual Impairment
  • There are many different types of visual
    impairments and each particular type results in
    unique visual functioning.
  • Students with visual impairments require the
    expertise of a teacher for students who are blind
    or visually impaired who understands the
    functional implications of various medical eye
    conditions.

27
Improving Visual Access for Students with a
Visual Impairment
  • A teacher for students who are blind or visually
    impaired (TBVI) must be consulted for input on
    the impact of a visual impairment on the
    following
  • accessing learning materials
  • recommending necessary accommodations or
    modifications
  • providing input on the impact of a visual
    impairment on both incidental and structured
    learning

28
Improving Visual Access for Students with a
Visual Impairment
  • Because a visual impairment impacts all areas of
    development and learning, it is necessary for a
    teacher for students who are blind or visually
    impaired to collaborate with all IEP team
    members.

29
Contributing Authors
  • Exsted, R. 2014
  • Gullette, A. 2014
  • Kochevar, J. 2014
  • Ward, K. 2014
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com