Pat Lakey, Coordinator of the Students with Disabilities Services Office at University of South Florida-Sarasota shares these tips for teaching students that are blind or visually impaired.
• Speak to the class upon entering and leaving the room or site.
• Call the student with a vision impairment by name if you want his/her attention.
• Seat the student away from glaring lights (e.g. by the window) and preferably in front of the class.
• Use descriptive words such as straight, forward, left, etc. in relation to the student's body orientation. Be specific in directions and avoid the use of vague terms with unusable information, such as "over there", "here", "this", etc.
• Describe, in detail, pertinent visual occurrences of the learning activities.
• Give verbal notice of room changes, special meetings, or assignments.
• Offer to read written information for a person with a visual impairment, when appropriate.
• Identify yourself by name, don't assume that the student who is visually impaired will recognize you by your voice even though you have met before.
• If you are asked to guide a student with a visual impairment, identify yourself, offer your services and, if accepted, offer your arm to the student's hand. Tell them if they have to step up or step down, let them know if the door is to their left or right, and warn them of possible hazards.
• Orally, let the student know if you need to move or leave or need to end a conversation.
• When communicating with a student who has a vision impairment, always identify yourself and others who are present.
• Do not pet or touch a guide dog. Guide dogs are working animals. It can be hazardous for the visually impaired person if the dog is distracted.
• It is not necessary to speak loudly to people with visual impairments.
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