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LEA
Information
Assessment considerations unique to students who are
blind or visually impaired
Utilizing a team
approach to complete the comprehensive assessment plan and have a teacher
of the visually impaired as a member of the assessment team is critical
for a few reasons:
1. Quite often school
personnel such as the speech-language specialists, school psychologist,
occupational and physical therapists have little experience or training in
assessment of students with visual impairments.
2. Very few assessments
have been developed specifically for use with students who are visually
impaired and using the tests available for sighted students may provide
questionable results.
3. The Teacher of the
visually impaired can help the team members understand the impact of the
vision loss on learning and assist with interpretation of test results.
Since approximately 80%
of what we learn is acquired through the visual system, a vision loss can
significantly impact the student’s educational performance. It can limit
the students access to visual information and reduce the ability to take
advantage of incidental learning opportunities. As a result, a
comprehensive evaluation is typically recommended.
Typical
assessment areas considered for all students:
-
Cognitive or Intellectual Assessments
-
Achievement or Academic Testing
-
Speech and Language Skills
-
Fine and Gross Motor Skills
-
Vision and Hearing Screening Results
-
Adaptive Skill Areas
Assessment Areas
Unique to Students with Visual Impairments:
-
Functional Vision
Assessment: This assessment provides information regarding a
student's ability to use his vision within the learning environment.
It includes approximate visual acuity, color vision, visual fields, and environmental accommodations.
It will include a list of recommendations for modification and
adaptations of instructional materials.
-
Learning Media
Assessment: This assessment provides information regarding a
student's primary and secondary general or specific literacy needs.
It will include a list of recommendations regarding modification of
instructional materials and determine a student's primary reading medium
(print, Braille, auditory or combination).
-
Clinical Low Vision
Evaluation: This assessment will determine if a student could
benefit from optical devices. It will provide recommendations to
increase the student's ability to access print in the learning
environment.
-
Braille Skills
Assessment: This assessment will determine the student's ability
to read and write using the Braille code. It will typically
include the students abilities in compensatory skill areas such as the
slate n' stylus, handwriting, as well as literacy skill areas of reading
and comprehension abilities. It will provide a summary of the
student's present level of performance of Braille skills and
recommendations for further instruction.
-
Orientation and
Mobility Assessment: This assessment will determine the student's
ability to orient themselves and their level of travel skills within the
environment. It will provide recommendations for use of cane and
the student's level of safety while traveling in the community.
-
Technology
Assessment: This assessment will determine what technology is most
appropriate for student use as well as provide information about the student's current
abilities when using technology. It will include the student's
ability to access printed material that is critical for the student's
future success in employment or academics.
Additional
Areas Considered for Assessment:
-
Independent Living.
The student's ability to perform daily tasks of cooking, cleaning,
self-care, budgeting, etc.
-
Recreation and
Leisure: The student's ability to participate in recreational
activities.
-
Career Education:
The student's ability to function in a work environment.
-
Social Skills
Assessment: The student's ability to interact with others.
This may include turn-taking, using age appropriate communication, and
conversational skills.
If your staff or
school district would like further information on any of the areas list
below, please contact the Blind Skills Program:
The process of assessment for
students with a visual impairment
The impact of vision loss on assessment procedures and
results
Assessments commonly used in
all areas for students with a visual impairment
Resources for assessments
commonly used that are available in Braille or large print
Individuals who may be able to provide assessments
Assessment Compendium: Instruments for
Assessing the Skills and Interests of Individuals with Visual Impairments
by Lighthouse International
http://www.lighthouse.org/assessment/index.htm
This compendium is intended to be a guide to assessment instruments that
are available to clinicians who assess students with visual impairments or
multiple disabilities. As such, each of the instruments specified
was researched and evaluated, in terms of both its general merits and its
utility in assessing students with visual impairment or multiple
disabilities. The compendium is a resource for vision teachers,
psychologists, and other school specialists who assess these students. |
