How to teach Blind Students

ByRobert CummingsRachel DeSpainLuella Christian

How does the world look to the blind?

Normal

Macular Degeneration

Detached Retina

Cataracts

Vision Shrinkage

Facts about Blind Children 10% of all Blind children can read

Braille

1.5 Million Children in the world sufferer from visual impairment.

Estimated that 500,000 new cases of child blindness occur every year. That is a new case every 1.5 minutes.

50% of blind children die with in 2 years of loosing their sight.

Audio and Visual Technology Software and accessories benefitting

visually impaired individuals allows them to have full access to today's technologies.

There is a large variety of customizable assistive technologies available for individuals with visual impairments to meet their special needs with audio technologies and visual software.

Audio Assistive Technology Reading Machines:

▪ Cd/MP3 Players Plays "Talking Books" Plays music Cds Cost $230

▪ Desktop Scanner like document readers $2300-$3500

▪ Portable Reading Pen $170 Mobile Phone reader $1600

Audio Assistive Technology Software

▪ Talking Typing Tutor▪ $100

▪ Firefox add-on called “LowBrowse”▪ Free▪ Allows people to view original web

pages as the author intended, but tailored to the visually impaired needs.

▪ Thunder▪ Screen reader talking software▪ Free▪ http://www.screenreader.net

Audio Assistive Technology Audio Books

▪ Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic▪ Website has access to download audio books.▪ Membership Fees start at $100

▪ National Library Service for Blind and Physically handicapped ▪ Network of state libraries offering free audio

materials (books and magazines ) to eligible persons.▪ Kidz Zone offers materials for pre-K thru 8th grade▪ West Florida Public Library participates in the

program.

Visual Software & Products Laz Light

▪ Created by Ronald Lazarus▪ 700 Candle Power▪ Glare Free▪ 10ft long Cord▪ $239 +S/h and Tax for Florida Residents▪ Replacement bulb $12

Visual Software & Products Screen Magnification

▪ MAGic 10.0 Professional▪ $395

▪ Maxim Eyes Video Magnifier▪ Uses a Pen Tracker which reads

words automatically▪ $3,495

Visual Software & Products Small Talk Ultra 02

▪ Based on the worlds smallest uPC (ultra personal computer) ▪ Full featured talking Microsoft Window Vistia▪ $2,595

All-in-One Board▪ Magnetic, Velcro, and dry erase▪ Can also be used for all ages▪ $145

Visual Software & Products Braille Keytop Stick Ons

▪ Doubles the size of keys on keyboard▪ $21.95

What is Braille? Braille is a primary medium of reading and writing for

people who are blind or have low vision.

Braille. Blind children who are familiarized with the Braille system at a young age will often become proficient in this style of reading.

Two types of Braille

Figure 2: "brl" in Grade 2 braille.

Figure 1: The word "braille" in Grade 1 braille.

Fully typed out Abbreviated

Who invited Braille?

BornJanuary 4, 1809(1809-01-04)Coupvray, France

DiedJanuary 6, 1852 (aged 43)Paris, France

Resting place Panthéon, Paris

Louis Braille

Lost vision at age 4 (1813) Invented Braille at 15

(1824)

Production Methods for Braille Commercial Produced

▪ Books▪ Textbooks▪ Instructional Manuals▪ Test▪ Fiction and Non-fiction

Production Methods for Braille Student Produced

▪ Perkins Brailler▪ $715▪ Allows students to type their work in Braille

▪ Braille Slates▪ $24-6.95

Production Methods for Braille Teacher Produced

▪ Printer for Brailler ▪ Can be connected to a

computer that has the software for printing Braille▪ Small volume $1,800-5,000▪ High volume $10,000-

$80,000

Teaching Methods 1. Be more verbal. Verbal description

will help the child interpret what is going on in the classroom.▪ Use names when calling on children.▪ Explain your routine a bit to help the blind

child interpret situations which he/she cannot see. "I'm so glad you're all being quiet as I get the snack ready.“

▪ Explain your routine a bit to help the blind child interpret situations which he/she cannot see. "I'm so glad you're all being quiet as I get the snack ready."

Teaching Methods 2. Help the child learn the workings of

the classroom. Blind children in the early grades, like all children, have much to learn about classroom routine. You may need to teach the child: ▪ to focus on the teacher▪ when and where to move in the classroom▪ how to determine what others in the room are

doing; and▪ to work at an appropriate pace (please see the

section on pace at the end of this list).

Teaching Methods 3. Organize the child's desk area

and materials storage area for maximum independence.

4. Adapt materials or parts of the lesson when necessary.

5. Provide hands-on opportunities. These will make experiences more meaningful for the blind child. Use tactile 3d models.

Teaching Methods

6. Model movements for songs, fingerplays, etc. that you want the whole class to learn by moving the blind child through the motions. Sighted children get the benefit of watching and the blind child can learn by experiencing his/her own movement. ▪ An example is Beep Baseball ▪ http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/3285603/

Teaching Methods 7. Offer information instead of

help. Instead of getting an object for the child, for example, give the child a chance to find it by describing its size, shape, and location. Then give the child enough time to explore and correct mistakes before you give more prompts.

Teaching Methods 8. Understand and respect the skills of

blindness. Learn the general sequence of the skills, provide opportunities in the class for the child to practice, and offer appropriate support as the child is working toward mastery. ▪ Braille reading and writing is the equivalent of print reading and

writing. ▪ Information can be reliably perceived through the sense of touch.▪ The blind child should be moving about more and more

independently as time goes on using orientation and mobility skills.▪ The child will learn to use sound, memory, mental mapping, and

various special tools and will learn to ask for information when needed.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 1: Referral

Students and their families will be referred to an appropriate education

program within 30 days of identification of a suspected visual impairment. Teachers of students

with visual impairments and orientation and mobility (O&M)

instructors will provide appropriate quality services.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 2: Parent Participation

Policies and procedures will be implemented to ensure the right of all parents to full participation and equal partnership in the education

process.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 3: Personnel Preparation

Universities with a minimum of one full-time faculty member in the area of visual impairments will prepare a sufficient number of teachers and

orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists for students with visual

impairments to meet personnel needs throughout the country.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 4: Provision of Educational

Services

Caseloads will be determined based on the assessed needs of students.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 5: Array of Services

Local education programs will ensure that all students have access to a full

array of service delivery options.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 6: Assessment

All assessments and evaluations of students will be conducted by or in partnership with personnel having

expertise in the education of students with visual impairments

and their parents.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 7: Access to Instructional

Materials

Access to developmental and educational services will include an

assurance that textbooks and instructional materials are available to students in the appropriate media

and at the same time as their sighted peers.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 8: Expanded Core Curriculum

All educational goals and instruction will address the academic and

expanded core curricula based on the assessed needs of each student

with visual impairments.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 9: Transition Services

Transition services will address developmental and educational

needs (birth through high school) to assist students and their families in

setting goals and implementing strategies through the life continuum

commensurate with students’ aptitudes, interests, and abilities.

FLORIDA'S RESPONSE TO THE 2004 NATIONAL AGENDA Goal 10: Ongoing Professional

Development

To improve students’ learning, service providers will engage in on-going

local, state, and national professional development.

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