Blindness and Visual Impairments

• All of the web pages and websites that are used at the college must meet the technology guidelines of the ADA Section 508.



• Online classes must also provide access.



• The college offers assistive technology to students who are blind, visually impaired or who have difficulty processing written materials. Currently, the technology is available in Van Wagenen Library, Warner Hall and the Disability Services Office. Training for these software programs is available by the DisAbility Support Services staff on request.



• Many techniques used for students with learning disabilities also work for students who are blind or visually impaired. For example, E- textbooks, reading tests aloud, taped lectures, study partners, and group work with carefully assigned roles give both access and control to the students.



• Sensory words are not taboo: it is all right to use “see”, “appear”, “look”, and other vision terms. Students still perceive, and often the best word for the process is a sight-sense word.



• Not all students who are blind know Braille.



• Students who are blind may see colors and some shapes quite well, while others struggle with ever-decreasing sight, and some see only darkness. Always ask the students what they CAN see.



• If you need to walk with a student with visual impairments in an emergency situation, DO NOT lead the student – offer your elbow so that they can keep up and walk along at a normal gait. Offer verbal cues on turning left or right or where there are curbs or other obstacles.