Visually Impaired

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see"
                                                                                      Mark Twain

Additional information

Referral Process

1. Screening:  Prior to referral for student evaluation, screening for vision, hearing, speech and language functioning are required for all students with referral for complete evaluations where the need is indicated. 

2. Pre-referral:  Prior to referral of a student who has been enrolled in basic education programs for more than 6 weeks, the student's learning problems are addressed at the school level through the procedures included in the General Section, and:

1. Medical eye examination.

2. Functional vision observation including daily living skills and mode of reading.

3. Review of developmental or academic functioning.

Eligibility
A student who meets the eligibility requirements for the visually impaired is one who has:

• Medical documentation of an eye impairment.

• An impairment in the structure and function of the eye that, even with best possible correction and treatment, interferes with learning.

• A documented eye impairment of 20/70 or less in the better eye, after best possible correction.

• A progressive loss of vision.

Support Services

• Registration of all students for services of the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Handicapped.

• Provision of the specialized textbooks, learning materials and equipment.

• Cooperative planning with the Division of Blind Services, including parent involvement activities.

• Transition (School-To-Work-services)

Students receive instructional support through special education and related services provided as determined through the IEP process.  Special education teachers provide:

1. instruction in special education including curriculum and learning strategies, independent functioning, social/emotional behavior, and communication, and

2. skill development through related services including orientation and mobility services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy.

Other instructional support services includes:

• audiology

• counseling provided by qualified personnel

• early identification and assessment

• medical services to determine medically related disability resulting in the need for special education

• parent counseling and training

• psychological services

• recreation

• rehabilitation

• school health services

• social work 

• transportation

Curriculum

The curriculum for each student with a disability will be determined by the individual education plan (IEP) team and will be initiated with the assumption of access to the general curriculum (Sunshine State Standards) with appropriate accommodations.  The Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma provide curriculum direction for the modification of the Sunshine State Standards and provide the other educational needs that are unique skills needed by most students with disabilities.  Curriculum decisions reflect progress toward a standard high school diploma for most students with disabilities and progress toward a special diploma for those students with disabilities who needs a functional curriculum to address appropriate outcomes.  Students will access the Sunshine State Standards through appropriate programming with support from the special education teacher.  Students will access Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma as outlined in "Florida Course Description:  Exceptional Student Education Grades 6-8 and Florida Course Descriptions:  Exceptional Student Education Grades 9-12."

Training

• Functional Behavioral Assessment Training

• Reading Strategies

• Social Skills Training - Project Adventure

• Classroom Engineering & Programming for the Moderate to Severe Population

• Wilson Reading System

• Disability Awareness Training

• Asperger's Syndrome Training 

• Peer Pals Training

• More Alike than Different

• Communication:  A Keystone to Collaboration

• Disability Awareness & Accommodations for Vocational Courses

• Training for Parents of Students with Moderate to Severe Disabilities

• The Teacher/Paraprofessional Relationship

• Procedural Safeguards - Understanding the Rules