The American Medical Association defined legal blindness as visual acuity not exceeding 20/200 in the better eye with correction, or a limit in the field of vision that is less than a 20-degree angle (tunnel vision).  Legal blindness may be caused by tumors, infections, injuries, retrolental fibroplasias, cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, vascular impairments, and myopia.

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Some students with visual impairments may not require any mobility assistance.  Students with no light perception or functional vision may use a white cane, a guide dog, or a sighted guide to assist with mobility.

Since approximately 80% of all legally blind individuals have some usable vision, students with visual impairments benefit from seating at the front of the class. Lighting is very important.  Glare may be especially troublesome. Poor quality print or copies and written materials on colored paper may reduce legibility for the student.

Tips for working with visually impaired students

• Identify yourself  when speaking with a student with blindness
• Guide dogs should not be petted
• When serving as a sighted guide, let the student take your arm just above the elbow
• Use a black felt tip marker when writing on the board in class, making remarks on written assignments, and grading exams  
• A lower noise level in the classroom is important to hearing and concentration
• Passageways through the door and aisles should be kept clear. When furniture is moved, students should be advised of the new arrangement. Any changes in class locations should be given to students in advance, or a student with adequate eyesight should be assigned to wait at the door and guide the student with blindness to the new location
• Consult OSD for suggestions about formatting papers and test items (i.e., font size)

Reasonable accommodations approved by OSD may include, but are not limited to:

• Advance distribution of reading lists and syllabi to permit time for transferring into alternate format
• Ordering textbooks in a reasonable medium (i.e., large print, tape recorded)
• Seating in the front of the class without glare from windows
• Tape recording lectures and class discussions
• Employing a note taking device such as pocket braille computer
• Providing handouts in a reasonable medium
• Using black print on white or pale yellow paper
• Providing testing accommodations such as taped tests, a reader, a scribe, extended time, an alternative location, enlarged print, and word processing software with speech access
• Use of low vision aids such as a magnifying glass, monocular, or CCTV in class
• Reading out loud materials that are presented on the board or on transparencies
• Lab assistance
• Advance notice of class schedule changes
• Note takers or note sharing

Types of alternate format of printed material for student with blindness/visual impairments include:

• Audio tape: Most textbooks can be ordered on tape from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (1-800-221-4792)
• Large print: Standard sized materials can be enlarged on a copier using 11" x 17" paper
• Computer disk: Convert the text of materials to ASCII format
• Braille: Adaptive equipment will be necessary to provide alternate format in Braille.  Braille is probably the least requested alternate format for students with blindness.

OSD determines specific accommodations
Students may not need all of these accommodations. Specific accommodations are based on the diagnostic information that is on file in the Office for Students with Disabilities.