This PPT can give some knowledge about Visual Impairment (Types, Causes, Role of the Teacher)

1. Visual
Impairment
Dr. Jaganmohana Rao Gurugubelli
Faculty of Education
MITE, Kohima

2. Visual Impairment: Visually challenged children are those who have
problems with vision. Some visually challenged children can read large
print and are functional in their environment, whereas some have severe
vision loss and cannot be taught through visual methods.
Visual loss is measured with the help of the ‘Snellen Chart’ (Herman
Snellen, 1862) and depending upon the degree of loss based on visual
acuity and visual field.
Definition:
The American Foundation for the Blind (1961) defines blind individuals as:
i) those whose visual acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye with the
best possible correction, or
ii) those whose field of an arc of 20 degrees or less.

3. Partially sighted are defined as:
a) those whose visual acuity is between 20/200 and 20/70 in the better
eye with the best possible correction, or
b) those need either temporary or permanent special education facilities.
The Person with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of
Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, of the Government of India,
defines blindness as a condition where a person suffers from any of the
following conditions, namely,
• Total absence of sight, or
• Visual acuity not exceeding 6/60 or 20/200 (Snellen chart), or
• Limitation of the field of vision subtending an angle of 20 degree or
worse.

4. Snellen Chart for Visual Acuity

6. Characteristics of Visually Challenged :
• Blinks eyes frequently;
• Holds objects, including books, close to his/her eyes;
• Rubs eyes excessively;
• Complains of headache following close eye work;
• Asks his friends to read aloud when taking notes from the blackboard;
• Becomes inattentive during reading sessions;
• Watering of eyes;
• Takes false steps while walking;
• Unable to locate things in the surroundings; and
• Sensitive to light.

7. PROBLEMS FACED BY THE CHILDREN WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN THE
CLASSROOM
Learning environment plays a vital role in effective learning. Learning
Environment includes not only classroom but also laboratory, playground,
library and educational tour. The above mentioned visually impaired children
will face hindrances in these learning environments. The classroom hindrances
faced by these children are listed below.
 Letters on the blackboard are either partly visible or fully invisible.
 The students find it difficult in doing science experiments in the lab and in
identification of different colors.
 The students with visual impairment are unable to perform on par with the
other students in Drawing and Activities
 Visual based subjects like geometry possess a great problem in answering the
questions in the examination.
 The students with visual impairment should be seated only in first bench or
else they cannot be able to see the blackboard or the teachers clearly.
 These students will find difficult in reading and writing in dim light and in
bright light.

8. Students with visual impairments may :
• need seating accommodations to help them see you or the whiteboard,
blackboard, overhead displays, etc.
• need to wear glasses, use magnifiers, or use extra lighting for class work
• require large printed handout materials or audio books for reading
• need voice-activated computers or other assistive technology
• need someone to assist in taking notes
• need extra time to get to classes or complete assigned work
• need to go to the school nurse for medication or assistance with visual
concerns

9. Causes :Major causes of visual impairment are:
1. Vitamin A deficiency
2. Congenital Cataracts caused by some abnormalities during pregnancy or
inheritance.
3. Pre maturity in the administration of high concentration of oxygen in
the incubator giving rise to retinopathy of prematurity , this may result
total loss of sight.
4. Cataracts- usually occurring in middle old age. This condition is
amendable to treatment by surgery.
5. Glaucoma-High pressure in the eye resulting in damage of retina.

10. INSTRUMENTS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
• Braille slates and styles
• Braille machine
• Abacus
• Taylor Frame
• Cassette Recorder
• Magnifier
• Embossed Diagram
• Reading Book stand
• Relieve sheet
• Long cane
• Braille text book
• Rattle ball
• Magnetic Chess