Students who are Blind or Vision Impaired

Libraray - Students 5 - Maynooth University

Blind or Vision Impaired

A person with sight loss sees much less or may see nothing at all. Different eye conditions create different difficulties. Very few people are totally blind. A few have perception of light only; some have a loss of vision in the centre of their eye, others have no side vision. Some see everything as a blur while others have blank spots. Some people with sight loss have enough vision to read but may have difficulty with night vision.

How you can help

Greet a person by saying your name, as he or she may not recognise your voice. Do not ask or expect them to guess who you are, even if they know you.
Do not go out of your way to avoid using phrases such as “see you later” or “it’s great to see you“ – people who are blind or vision impaired say these things too.
A person using a cane or guide dog has only one hand free for opening doors and carrying belongings. Offer assistance if you think it is needed but do not be offended if your offer is refused.
NEVER make a fuss of, or feed, a guide dog – he or she is working and should not be distracted when in harness. Always ask the owner’s permission first.
When guiding a person who is blind or vision impaired, walk slightly ahead of them, allowing them to take your arm just above the elbow.
Mention any stairs (saying whether they are up or down), or obstacles in advance.
When walking with a person who uses a cane or a guide dog adjust your pace to match theirs.

Impact on Learning

Student may have difficulty seeing print, presentations and blackboards.
Student may have difficulty following lectures with a heavy emphasis on visual aids (i.e. diagrams, tables, pictures and overheads).
Student may have slower speed of reading, or difficulty reading for long periods.
Student may have slower speed of work when using magnification or specialist software.
Student may have difficulty seeing things in the distance.
Student may have difficulty seeing things up close.
Student may have problems with orientation and mobility (laboratories, field trips). Changes to the timetable or room changes can be problematic if the student is not informed.
Student may have adjustment problems if diagnosed recently (both practical and emotional).

Guidelines for Supporting Students who are Blind or Vision Impaired

The effect of a visual impairment varies widely, depending on the condition, its progress and the person’s coping skills. Depending on the individual, it may be appropriate to consider some of the following guidelines:

Refer to the Inclusive Teaching and Assessment guidelines.
Don’t assume that a person who has enough vision to do one thing can see enough to do everything.Reading lists should be provided well in advance to allow for conversion of books into the appropriate format for the student.
Reading lists should be prioritised, as conversion of books into an alternative format is a time consuming and expensive task.
Lecture notes and handouts should be provided in advance and in the student’s preferred format or in a format that can be easily converted by the student.
Ensure that students with visual impairments are notified of organisational changes.
Convey orally whatever you have written on the board or shown on overheads.
If you are planning to use a video tell the student and discuss alternative ways to approach the information that the student may miss.

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Blind or Vision Impaired

How you can help

Impact on Learning

Guidelines for Supporting Students who are Blind or Vision Impaired