Blindness and Low Vision: An introduction
www.afb.org/info_document_view.asp?documentid=1362
This document from the American Foundation for the Blind offers general
information about blindness and low vision and descriptions of common causes of
visual impairments; suggestions on how to perform a variety of daily activities
with impaired vision and where to get special assistance; and statistics on
visual impairment.
Cooperative Efforts with Families in Educating Children with Visual
Impairments
www.ed.arizona.edu/dvi/Postion%20Papers/cooperative_efforts_families.htm
Recent research findings have substantiated what teachers of children with
disabilities have known for years based on clinical experiences -- direct
involvement of families in the education of their children results in
significantly greater gains for the child with or at risk for disabilities.
Determining the Reading Medium for Students with Visual Impairments
www.ed.arizona.edu/dvi/Postion%20Papers/determining_Read_med.htm
The Division on Visual Impairments (DVI) of the Council for Exceptional
Children places a high value on literacy for all persons.
Infant Massage and the Benefits for Children with Blindness or Visual
Impairment
www.asdk12.org/depts/step/disability/documents/Infantmassage.pdf
Research shows that infants who are consistently massaged cry less, spend more
time in the active-alert states, achieve greater weight gain, and experience a
decrease in stress hormones. Infant massage is an excellent intervention for
all infants, but the affect of infant massage on at-risk infants or infants
with Blindness or Visual Impairment (BVI) may be profound.
Infants and Toddlers with Visual Impairments: Suggestions for Early
Interventionists
http://ericec.org/digests/e636.html
The intervention needs of infants and toddlers differ considerably from those
of children with visual impairments (VI) and blindness who are kindergarten age
and older. Early intervention for infants and toddlers should be
family-centered while also addressing VI-specific needs. Because significant
visual impairments often result in developmental delays and make it difficult
to access visual learning environments, infants and toddlers typically qualify
for special education services.
Low Vision: Access to Print
www.ed.arizona.edu/dvi/Postion%20Papers/low_vision_print.htm
Optical devices do not "cure" impaired vision; they simply allow a child to
make maximum use of low vision. Optical devices may be used in conjunction with
other strategies to maximize visual functioning such as environmental
modification and non-optical devices.
Making It! Successful Transition Competencies for Youth with Visual
Disabilities
www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/spring00/makingit.htm
This article is based on a presentation given at the
1999 Texas AER conference. The presentation focused on the essential
elements of successful programming for preparing children and youth with
visual disabilities for life and adult responsibilities. There are numerous
skills that all young people must master, in order to leave school prepared
to contribute to their communities and participate fully in life activities.
A youngster with a visual disability who masters the skills outlined
here will be ready to meet those demands.
The Role of an Orientation and Mobility Teacher in a Public School
www.ed.arizona.edu/dvi/Postion%20Papers/o&m.htm
Orientation and mobility (O&M) is an important and integral part of the
curriculum in the comprehensive delivery of services to children with visual
impairments in the public school settings. The O&M teacher serves
as a member of the multidisciplinary team in developing and implementing
individualized education programs for children with visual impairments.
Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired in Postsecondary Education
www.heath.gwu.edu/Resourcepapers/BVI.htm
Students who are blind or visually impaired are seeking and successfully
completing postsecondary education as educational and employment opportunities
for people with disabilities become increasingly available.
Visual Impairments
www.nichcy.org/pubs/factshe/fs13txt.htm
The terms partially sighted, low vision, legally blind, and totally blind are
used in the educational context to describe students with visual impairments.
This fact sheet from the National Information Center for Children and Youth
with Disabilities covers educational implications as well.
What is Braille and What Does It Mean to the Blind?
www.nfb.org/books/books1/ifblnd03.htm
The development of a system by young Louis Braille is now recognized as the
most important single development in making it possible for the blind to get a
good education.
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
www.alaskabvi.org
The mission of the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is to
provide quality rehabilitation and training to persons who experience blindness
or visual impairment so that they may reach their highest level of
independence.
American Council of the Blind
www.acb.org
The American Council of the Blind is the nation's leading membership
organization of blind and visually impaired people.
American Foundation for the Blind
www.afb.org
Since 1921, the American Foundation for the Blind—to which Helen Keller devoted
her life—has been eliminating barriers that prevent the ten million Americans
who are blind or visually impaired from reaching their potential. AFB is
dedicated to addressing the most critical issues facing this growing
population: independent living, literacy, employment, and technology.
Division on Visual Impairments of the Council for Exceptional
Children
www.ed.arizona.edu/dvi/welcome.htm
The Division on Visual Impairments (DVI) advances the education of children and
youth who have visual impairments that impede their educational progress.
Members receive the DVI Quarterly newsletter.
Links to Vision Related Web Sites
www.tsbvi.edu/othersites.htm
This section is maintained by the Texas School
for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
The Low Vision Gateway
www.lowvision.org
This Web site is designed to provide resources for
vision loss, vision-impairment,
blindness, low vision aids and low vision rehabilitation
services.
National Federation of the Blind
www.nfb.org
Founded in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the nation's
largest and most influential membership organization of blind persons.
The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
www.tsbvi.edu
This Web site has extensive resources for educators
and parents of students who are visually impaired.
Vision Impairment
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddvi.htm
This Web site on Vision Impairment from the CDC includes
information on many aspects of vision impairment including
causes and prevention.
