How you can help a primary pupil with vision impairment

Visual impairment

Pupils with a visual impairment are those who have poor vision which cannot be fully corrected by wearing glasses and/or an operation.

This means that vision may be blurred, cloudy or parts of the ‘picture’ may be missing.  Sometimes a child may surprise you – for example, by seeing small things more clearly than large objects!

The effects of the various eye conditions are different and it is important that specific advice on each individual visually impaired pupil should be sought from the Specialist Teacher of the Visually Impaired.

Here are some practical tips to help you when working with a visually impaired pupil.

How you can help

• Reading material may need to be held close to the eyes. This will not harm the eyes.
  
  
• It will probably take longer for the visually impaired pupil to become a proficient and fluent reader and extra time may be needed to develop visual discrimination, hand-eye co-ordination and motor control skills.
  
  
• Your Specialist Teacher will be able to recommend suitable activities and equipment.
  
  
• Print should be clear. Good contrast and layout are often more important than size of print.
  
  
• Do not ask the pupil with a visual impairment to share text books, worksheets or computers.
  
  
• Writing may be slow and untidy. Encourage them to aim for a high standard of neatness and presentation. Heavily lined paper may be helpful. Writing with a softer, dark pencil or pen may help.
  
  
• Copying from the board may be very difficult, even when the pupil is seated at the front of the class.
  
  
• Words written on the board should always be of clear contrast against the background. Avoid red and green in particular.
  
  
• It is helpful if the teacher can read out what he/she is writing on the board.
  
  
• An individual desk copy of board work may be the only solution in some cases.
  
  
• Expect the same standards of behaviour, but remember that the pupil may not see well enough to interpret the teacher’s gestures or facial expressions. A ‘look’ may not be sufficient to correct his/her behaviour!
  
  
• Detail may be missed when watching DVDs for example or teacher demonstrations. Some verbal description will help.
  
  
• In most cases it may be better for the pupil to sit with the window to one side or behind him/her.
  
  
• A pupil with vision in only one eye should sit with the good eye towards the teacher and the majority of the class.
  
  
• Although the pupil may have no problems moving around the known school environment, he/she may have problems if out on a school visit in unfamiliar surroundings.
  
  
• Special arrangements can be made for visually impaired pupils taking SATs. Ask your Specialist Teacher for advice.
  
  
• Advice can be given on access to computer screens. Ask your Specialist Teacher.

Further information

Further help and advice is available from the Specialist Support Service Visual Impairment Team.

Address:

Phone: (01785) 356830
Minicom: (01785) 356835
Fax: (01785) 356841
Email: sss.service@staffordshire.gov.uk

If you, or someone you know, would like a copy of this in large print, braille, an audio tape or in languages other than English, please contact the Visual Impairment Team on 01785 356830.