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Disability - understanding
the issues
Blindness and visual impairment
Blindness or visual impairment is a sensory disability where the level of impairment varies greatly. The World Health Organisation describes profound blindness as the inability to count fingers at a distance of three metres or less. Severe low vision is described as the inability to count fingers at six metres or less. A person is considered to be legally blind if able to see something at six metres that a person with full vision can see at sixty metres.
Many people who are considered legally blind have some vision. In fact,
very few visually impaired people are totally blind. A minority of blind
people can distinguish light. Some may see things as a vague blur. Others
may lack central or peripheral vision.
With the use of assistive technology, people with visual impairment
can compete on an equal footing with their non-disabled peers.
Implications for education
- Some of the most significant effects of vision loss include the person's
ability to perform such everyday tasks as reading, writing and driving.
- The difficulties with reading can substantially affect a person's ability
to manage and absorb detailed or complex information.
- Since sight is one of the most used senses in learning, its loss may
affect the person's capacity to acquire new skills.
- Mobility restrictions may also affect the person's ability to physically
access and negotiate the learning environment.
Communicating with a blind or visually impaired person
The following points should be noted when communicating
with a blind or visually impaired person:
- Ask the person what their needs are.
- Address the person by name so they know you are speaking to them
- Ask the person if s/he would like to sit down and, if necessary, offer
guidance to a chair. Indicate where the chair is by placing the person's
hand on the back of it.
- Speak clearly and in a normal voice. Most people with a visual impairment
can hear perfectly well. There is no need to speak loudly, slowly or with
exaggeration.
- Tell the person when you are entering or leaving the room.
- Do not approach a guide dog without the permission of the owner. Guide
dogs are highly disciplined and should not be petted or distracted while
working.
- If you are asked to guide a blind person, you should:
* offer your arm instead of taking hold of theirs
* let the person take your are above the elbow
* describe where you are going and what hazards there are
* describe the position and/or number of steps, doorways and corners including
entries and exits
- Introduce other people in the room
