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Special Education/Low Incidence: Visually Impaired

Visually Impaired

By Lori Johnson

Criteria    Links    Contact


What is visual Impairment?

In Minnesota visual impairment means a medically verified limitation in sight that interferes with acquiring information or interaction with the environment to the extent that special education instruction or related services may be needed.  The pupil must meet one of the criteria in item A and one in item B.

  1. Medical documentation of a diagnosed visual impairment by a licensed eye specialist establishing one or more of the following conditions:

    1. visual acuity of 20/60 or less in the better eye with correction;

    2. visual field of 20 degrees or less;

    3. degenerating eye condition such as progressive cataract, progressive glaucoma, or retinitis pigmentosa
       

  2. Functional evaluation of visual abilities conducted by a licensed teacher of the visually impaired that determines that the pupil:

1.   has limited ability in visually accessing educational media and materials without modifications;

2.   has limited ability in visually accessing materials and media without modifications;

3.   demonstrates variable visual ability due to environmental factors such as contract, weather, cold, or movement that cannot be controlled;

4.   experiences reduced or variable visual ability due to visual fatigue or factors related to the eye condition

Services Available

1.       Provide service to Regions 6 and 8 including functional vision assessments, IEP team membership, and student specific inservices.

2.       Provide resource information to families regarding specific eye diseases and other syndromes to help children function as independently as possible.

3.       Provide consultation to determine need for instructional materials, including adaptation of curriculum to large print Braille, tactile graphics, or other alternative forms.

4.      Provide orientation and mobility direct instruction for safe, efficient, and independent travel through various environments


CRITERIA

http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/3525/1345.html


LINKS

•          American Printing House for the Blind

•          American Foundation for the Blind

•          Minnesota Department of Children, Families & Learning  

•          Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

•          National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities

•          About: The Human Internet - Blind/Visual Impairment

•          National Library Service for Blind and Physically Handicapped

•              Association of the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind/Visually Impaired


CONTACTS

                   Regional Contact:                           

Richard Branting
SW/WC Service Cooperatives
1420 East College Drive
Marshall, MN 56258
Phone: 507.537-2288
Email: richard.branting@swsc.org

State Contact:

Jean Martin
MDE Blind-VI Specialist
Resource Center for the Blind/Visually Impaired
P.O. Box 308
615 Olof Hanson Drive
Faribault, MN 55021
Phone: 507/332-5510 or 800-657-3859
Fax: 507/332-5494
Email: jean.martin@state.mn.us

                   State DAPE Contact:

                   Bruce Suneson
                   DAPE Consultant
                   Metro ECSU
                   4001 Stinson Blvd. NE, Suite 304
                   Minneapolis, MN  55421
                   Phone: 612.638.1538
                   Fax: 612.638.1548
                   Email: bsuneson@ecsu.k12.mn.us    

 

 

 

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