Visual Impairments

What it is:
Visual impairments include partial sight, blindness, or other conditions that affect how students perceive and process visual information. This impacts everything from reading to navigating the classroom.

What to look out for:
Students may squint, hold books very close, struggle to copy notes from the board, or avoid tasks that rely on visual detail. They may trip over obstacles or avoid sports due to difficulties seeing fast-moving objects.

Real-life example:
During math class, the teacher writes a complex equation on the board. A student with low vision can’t see it clearly, so they copy it incorrectly into their notebook, causing them to solve the problem wrong despite knowing the method.

How it affects learning:
Board work, textbooks, graphs, and visual demonstrations become barriers. Without accommodations, students may miss out on critical information. Socially, they might avoid games or group tasks that rely on quick visual responses.

Best learning strategies:

• Provide large-print or braille materials.

• Use audio versions of textbooks.

• Ensure classroom layouts are consistent and free of obstacles.

• Verbally describe visual content during lessons.

• Use assistive technology like screen readers and magnifiers.