What does Ms. Milton need to know about students with visual impairments?
Page 1: Basic Needs and Where to Collect Information
It is natural for teachers, like Ms. Milton, to be nervous about the addition of new students with disabilities with which they have little or no experience. Ms. Milton wants to effectively include them in her general education classroom and teach them the standard curriculum, but she is not sure how to do so. To alleviate her anxiety and build her confidence about including Evan and Emily, she first needs to keep in mind that although they may have some special needs, they are much like the other students in her class. Additionally, she needs to learn more about their disabilities and how to better meet their needs in the classroom. She can do so by consulting the sources of information outlined in the table below.
| Student | The student often knows what his needs are. It is important to build rapport with the student so that he feels comfortable expressing his needs. |
| Parents or legal guardians | Because parents often know their child’s strengths and weaknesses, they may be able to offer information on how to best work with their child. |
| IEP | An individualized education program, or IEP, is a document that describes a student’s strengths and weaknesses, academic goals, instructional and physical accommodations and/or modifications, and a list of additional services and/or assistive technology devices. |
| TVI | The teacher for the visually impaired (or TVI) can help a teacher with instructional materials and suggest strategies for effective learning. |
| O&M specialist | The orientation and mobility (O&M) specialist helps students learn skills to navigate within the classroom and school environment. |
For more information about the roles of the TVI and O&M specialist, please refer to the IRIS Modules:
- Accommodations to the Physical Environment: Setting up a Classroom for Students with Visual Disabilities
- Serving Students with Visual Impairments: The Importance of Collaboration
