This document discusses special methods for teaching individuals with visual impairments. It begins by defining visual impairment and classifying types, including totally blind, low vision, and classifications based on age of onset such as congenitally blind. Various eye conditions that cause visual impairments are described, along with characteristics of visually impaired children. Common tests used to measure visual acuity are explained. Different program models for educating visually impaired students are outlined, and special equipment and materials like Braille writers and tactile aids are covered. The roles of professionals who provide support services are defined. Finally, key special teaching methods are emphasized, such as individualization, use of concrete objects, multisensory instruction, additional stimulation, and self-activity

1. Special Methods
In Teaching Individuals with Visual
Impairment
1
Reported by:
Loraine B. Esta
Beed – Sped III

2. What is visual impairment?
•Visual impairment is a
physical loss of useful
vision.
2

3. The Structure of the Eye
3

4. Classifications Of
Visual Impairment 4

5. Classifications Of Visual
Impairment
1. For educational purposes
1.1 Totally blind
1.2 Low vision
2. Kinds and types of blindness
2.1 According to age onset
5

6. 1. For Educational Purposes
1.1 Totally blind
- very little or no
vision perception
at all
- Visual acuity of
20/200 or less in
the better eye
- braille
6

7. 1. For Educational Purposes
1.2 Low vision
- better visual
perception
- can read large
print or regular
print under special
conditions
- remaining visual
acuity of 20/70 in
the better eye
7

8. 2. Kinds and Types of
Blindness2.1 According to
age onset
2.1.1 Congenitally
Blind
- born blind
- impairment is
present at birth
8

9. 2. Kinds and Types of
Blindness
2.1 According to age onset
2.1.2 Consequently Blind
- Acquired blindness
before age 5
- may have no
experience on visual
imagery
- may have retained
very little including color9

10. 2. Kinds and Types of
Blindness
2.1 According to
age onset
2.1.3 Adventitiously
Blind
those who lost
vision from 6
years or above
10

11. Common Eye
Conditions
Refractive, Directive and Receptive
Parts
11

12. * Refractive Part
1. Myopia
(Nearsightedness)
• The result of the
eyeball being too long
• The lens is too far
from the retina
12

13. *Refractive Part
2. Hyperopia
(Farsightedness)
• The result of the
eyeball being too
short
• The lens is too close
on the retina
13

14. *Refractive Part
3. Cataract • The result of the
opacity of the
crystalline lens
14

15. * Refractive Part
4. Astigmatism • Refractive error resulting
from an irregularity of the
cornea or lens of the eye
15

16. *Refractive Part
5. Glaucoma • Cause damage to the eye due
to increased pressure from
accumulation of aqueous fluid
16

17. *Protective Part
1. Trachoma • Serious form of
conjunctivitis or
pink eye
17

18. * Directive Part
1. Strabismus
(cross eyes)
• Failure of both eyes to
direct gaze simultaneously
at the same object
• Faulty muscle coordination
18

19. *Directive Part
2. Nystagmus • Rapid and voluntary
movement of the eyeball
• Can occur as a secondary
characteristic of a variety of
visual disorders and brain
injury
19

20. *Directive Part
3. Amblopia ex Anopsia • Dimness of vision
due to disuse of the
weak eye from
improper muscle
balance
20

21. Causes
21

22. Causes of Blindness
• Prenatal Causes
• Perinatal Causes
• Postnatal Causes
22

23. Causes of Blindness
Prenatal Perinatal Postanatal
• Viral diseases • Traumatic
experience during
delivery
• Diseases/aliments
• Toxic conditions • Anoxia or loss of
oxygen during
delivery
• Accident/injuries
• Blood
incompatibility
• Heavy sedation • Other causes
• Congenital
malformation
• Retrolental
fibroplasia (RFL)
• Exposure to
radiation 23

24. Characteristics
24

25. Physical Social & Emotional Intellectual/Learning
• Absence of eyeball • Tends to be
extremely
dependent
• Lack of normal visual
stimulation may retard
growth
• Discolored eyes • Inferior • Some visually impaired
children may begin to
talk later than the
sighted
• Severe cross eyes • Fearful • Those who have talent
and interest in music
may show exceptional
ability in this area.
• Excessive involuntary
movement
• Unduly sensitive
• Poor posture and
unnatural gait
• Easily discouraged
/Frustrated
• Restriction in
mobility and spatial
orientation
• Self conscious
• Easily Embarassed
25

26. Characteristics of Visually
Impaired Children
Other distinctive Characteristics:
1. Groping
2. Wearing dark glasses
3. No eye to eye contact
4. Slow in moving
5. Use of cane
6. Sensitive to sound and smell
7. Cannot read printed materials
8. Color and light blindness
26

27. Visual Acuity Test
27

28. Visual Acuity Test
• A visual acuity test is an exam that
determines how well a person can
see the details of a word or symbol
from a specific distance away.
28

29. Visual Acuity Test
• Different types are:
Snellen Test
Random E’s/Tumbling E Chart
Broken Ring Chart
Allen Chart
Teller Acuity Cards
Optokinetic Drum
29

30. Visual Acuity Test
• Snellen Chart • Tumbling E Chart
30

31. Visual Acuity Test
• Broken Ring Chart • Teller Acuity Cards
31

32. Visual Acuity Test
• Lea Grating • Optokinetic Drum
32

33. Program Models
33

34. Program Models
A. The Residential School Model
B. The Self-contained Classroom Model
C. The Resource Room Model
D. The Itinerant Or Teacher Consultant
Model
E. Early Childhood Model
F. Special Education Center
G. Homebound Instruction
34

35. Special Equipment
And Materials
Tactual Aids, Auditory Aids and
Auditory Aids
35

36. Tactual Aids
• Braille Writer
36
• Slate and Stylus

37. Tactual Aids
• Raised-line Drawing Boards
37
• Abacus

38. Tactual Aids
• Cubarithm Slate
38
• Raised-line Paper

39. Tactual Aids
• Templates and Writing Guides
39
• Braille Books

40. Auditory Aids
• Cassette Tape Recorders
40
• Talking Boards

41. Optional Aids (for partially
sighted)• Eyeglasses
41
• Magnifiers • Telescopic Aids

42. Educational Support
Services 42

43. 1. Opthalmologist
• Physicians
who specialize
in the
diagnosis &
treatment of
all defects and
diseases of the
eye.
43

44. 2. Optometrist
• Licensed, non-
medical
practitioner
who measures
refractive
errors and eye
muscles
disturbances.
44

45. 3. Orientation and Mobility
Specialist
• Teaches
students to
familiarize
themselves
with new
surroundings
to travel
independently.
45

46. 4. Parents
46

47. Special Methods
Individualization, Concreteness, Multisensory
Instruction Approach, Additional Stimulation &
Self-Activity
47

48. 1. Individualization
• Special Classes should be kept
small
 6 to 8 pupils (elementary)
 up to about 12 (later on)
• Only one blind child in an
integrated class
48

49. 2. Use of Concrete Objects
and Experiences
• By touch, blind children gain actual
knowledge of the objects
Shape
Size
Weight
Hardness
Surface qualities
Pliability
Texture
49

50. 2. Use of Concrete Objects
and Experiences
• Listening/hearing is a medium of
social contact
–A source of descriptive information
–Provides a sense-giving clue to the
Presence
Location
Condition of objects
50

51. 2. Use of Concrete Objects
and Experiences
• Concreteness in teaching helps
the child to avoid falling into a
pattern of unreality and
verbalism which may prevent his
realistic awareness of the world
and its social and economic
demands upon him.
51

52. 3. Unified Multisensory
Instruction Approach
• A blind child gains many impressions
by:
Hearing
Smelling
Feeling air currents
Temperature changes
Touching objects or parts of them
52

53. 3. Unified Multisensory
Instruction Approach
• A blind child is presented
with “units of experience”
such as that of a grocery
store, post office or farm.
53

54. 4. Additional Stimulation
• The teacher of a blind child
must provide him with
opportunities for experiences
which he cannot gain on his
own.
54

55. 5. Self – Activity (Learning
by Doing)
• They need hands-on
experiences. We know that
everyone learns best by active
involvement with ideas, and
the same is true for students
with visual impairments.
55

56. Quotes of the Day
#QOTD
56

57. Thank you for
listening! 
57