Visual Disabilities

Definition
According to the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, a visual impairment is one that, even with correction, adversely affects an individual's educational performance. This includes partial sight and blindness.

Documentation Required
To receive services from EAS, you must provide the following documentation of your visual disability:

• A copy of your most recent eye examination, including diagnosis, visual acuity and functional limitations
• A copy of a recent Indivudalized Education Plan (IEP), if available

Accommodations
Your accommodations will vary according to your individual needs and the documentation provided. EAS will work with you to determine the accommodations most appropriate for you. Some of the accommodations you may receive if you are blind include:

• Audiotaped, Brailled or electronic-formatted lecture notes, handouts and texts
• Verbal descriptions of visual aids
• Raised-line drawings and tactile models of graphic materials
• Braille lab signs and equipment labels, auditory lab warning signals
• Adaptive lab equipment (e.g., talking thermometers and calculators, light probes and tactile timers)
• Computer with optical character reader, speech output, Braille screen display and printer output

If you have low vision, some of the accommodations you may receive include:

• Seating near front of class
• Large print handouts, lab signs and equipment labels
• TV monitor connected to microscope to enlarge images
• Class assignments made available in electronic format
• Computer equipped to enlarge screen characters and images