Answer
A visual impairment is defined as "impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance." The term includes partial sight and blindness.
The visual abilities of children with visual impairments differ. Some children have no functional vision and may learn through the tactual sense, including Braille. The IEP team must decide if your child needs to learn Braille.
Your child's vision may be corrected with glasses or he may be able to read and write print materials if they are modified. The IEP team must decide how your child learns. The IEP team should evaluate your child's reading and writing skills, needs, and appropriate reading and writing media.
Refer to the Visual Impairment Checklist listed below in Additional Resources.
If your child has poor vision and needs eyeglasses to participate in special education, related services, or supplementary aids and services, the school must provide this assistive technology if the IEP team decides that he needs to use glasses to receive FAPE.
Because your child's needs change often, the IEP team should review your child's visual abilities often. The learning medium may need to be changed too.
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