Vision Services Program Support for

Students with Visual Impairment

Services Available for Blind/Low Vision Students

Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board provides the services of a Vision Resource Teacher. The Vision Resource Teacher is responsible for providing direct or consultative assistance to students, staff and parents regarding the visual impairment of students. Vision Services provides consultation and itinerant services to students in their home schools as required for direct and indirect instruction. Vision Resource Teachers may provide:

Assessments Teaching strategies, resources and

connect personnel and parents/guardians with applicable community agencies and resources

Liaise with provincial school personnel Assist in IEP creation and ongoing

changes Braille Instruction Help acquiring alternative format

material Support services for academic difficulties Provide direct instruction as needed Provide instruction and guidance on

assistive technologies (Braillers, Braille note-takers, CCTVs, Daisy and other audio players, computers with vision specific software, magnifiers, abacus, slate and stylus, talking calculators, scanners and OCR software)

Frequency of Consultation or Instruction: Vision Itinerant visits vary from several times a year to several times a week.

Other Involved Support

CNIB

Provides Orientation and Mobility (O&M) instruction for Legally Blind students to help insure safe and effective movement within the educational environment http://www.cnib.ca/

Transcription/Braillist Hastings and Prince Edward DSB has a

Braille Transcriber for the production of Braille resources in integrated classroom settings

W. Ross Macdonald The Provincial School for the Blind and

Deaf Blind http://www.psbnet.ca/eng/index.html

Contact Information

Geoff Courneya Coordinator Blind and Low Vision Vision Resource Teacher Special Education Services Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board 156 Ann St., Belleville, ON K8N 1N9 Phone: 613-966-1170 ext. 2253 Fax: 613-966-9322 Email: gcourneya@hpedsb.on.ca

156 Ann Street, Belleville, ON K8N 1N9

Phone: 613-966-1170 Fax: 613-966-9322

Email: speced.services@hpedsb.on.ca

Website: www.hpedsb.on.ca/ec/services/spe

September, 2012

Possible signs of

Vision Difficulties If the student displays any of the following, a vision assessment should be performed by an Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.

Squinting or rubbing of eyes Leans in closely or holds material close

while reading and writing Has difficulty recognizing familiar people Moves cautiously Bumps or trips over objects in the

environment Light sensitive Tilts head to one side Eye(s) shake Complaints of blurred or double vision Eyes not in alignment Experiences of burning, itching, redness,

excessive tearing or dryness in the eyes Crusted, swollen, red-rimmed or

abnormal appearance in the area around the eye

Frequent headaches Closes a particular eye while completing

tasks

Special Education Services SUPPORTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Definitions of Visual Impairment

Low Vision:

Visual acuity is 20/70 or less with asad correction in the better eye.

Blind:

Visual acuity is 20/200 or less with asdf correction in the better eye.

Blind and Low Vision Exceptionality:

Blind and Low Vision (PV)

A condition of partial or total impairment of sight or vision that, even with correction, adversely affects educational performance.

Referral of Students with

Suspected Visual Impairment to Vision Services

Student referrals must be made through:

Elementary: In-School Resource Teachers dsad fasdaja; (ISRTs)

Secondary: Interdepartmental Special casdfa sdfafa Education Heads (ISEHs) Process:

Permission and consents for the release of information are requested

Information pertaining to the students visual impairment is requested from some of the following:

Parents/Guardians, Ophthalmologists/Optometrists, Doctors and Public Health Nurses

If appropriate, a request will be made to obtain a Functional Vision Assessment from W. Ross Macdonald (Provincial School for the Blind) for further recommendations

A dA Functional Vision Assessment is NOT an e eye exam. It is an educational evaluation of the students use of his/her vision within an academic setting

Results from the Functional Vision Assessment will be shared formally with Parents/Guardians and the Vision and School Resource Teacher

Vision Resource Teacher will meet with involved parties and will assist to implement required accommodations for the student