Visual Impairment Supports

The following list, although certainly not exhaustive, provides some suggestions of how you might support children with visual impairments.

• Provide large-print books, keyboards, and high-contrast instructional materials.
• Provide instruction and/or materials in Braille, a tactile system of raised dots that represent letters and numbers. (If you have not been trained in Braille instruction, you will undoubtedly be working with a Vision Specialist if you have a blind student in your class.)
• Provide thermal pens and heat-sensitive paper that creates raised images that allow children to feel graphic design and other visual displays.
• Provide opportunities for hands-on learning experiences whenever possible. Remember to let children hold and manipulate objects that are simply shown to the rest of the class.
• Use computer technology, including speech input devices, which allow students to “type” by talking at the computer, and speech output devices, which read aloud whatever is on the screen. Many output devices can scan written material and read it aloud for students.