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Visual Impairment including Blindness
Definition
Visual impairment including blindness is defined as an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects the child's educational performance. The terms includes both partial sight and blindness.[34 CFR 300.8(c)(13)]
(05-071 Chapter 101, Maine Unified Special Education Regulations)
Procedure for Determination. The step below is required.
- A child displays a visual impairment when a visual impairment or a progressive vision loss has been diagnosed by a licensed, qualified optometrist or opthalmologist, and the referral indicates that the child displays a visual impairment.
Useful Links:
NICHCY - Blindness/Visual Impairment
Organizations
American Council of the Blind (ACB)
American Council of the Blind (ACB), the nation's leading membership organization of blind and visually impaired people, includes among its services: (1) toll-free information and referral on all aspects of blindness; (2) scholarship assistance to blind/visually impaired post-secondary students; (3) public education and awareness training; (4) conulting with industry regarding eployment of blind and visually impaired individuals; (5) leadership and legislative training; (6) government monitoring, consultation, and advocacy; and (7) annual national convention.
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), a nonprofit organization, helps persons who are blind or visually impaired achieve equality of access and opportunity. AFB: (1) disseminates information; (2) identifies, analyzes, and resolves critical issues; (3) educates the public and policy makers; and (4) produces talking books and other audio materials.
American Printing House for the Blind (APH)
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) produces (1) books and magazines in braille, large-type, and recorded form; (2) writing and recording equipment for use by students and adults; (3) materials for teaching blind students; and (4) special supplies used in education and by adults. APH also maintains LOUIS, an online database of information on special materials available for the education of blind students.
Association for Macular Diseases (AMD)
The Association for Macular Diseases (AMD) is a nonprofit corporation organized to promote education and research. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness in Americans over 50 years of age. AMD publishes a newsletter and provides support to individuals and their families.
The Blind Children's Center (BCC), a nonprofit organization, offers diversified services for children who are blind, those who have visual impairments, and those who have multiple disabilities including blindness. BCC focuses its efforts on children from birth through five years of age, their families, and siblings. Services include an infant stimulation program; parent participation groups; educational preschool; family support services; research programs; and an interdisciplinary assessment program. It provides a toll-free national hotline for parents of children who have visual impairments and who live outside the Los Angeles area. BCC also publishes several educational booklets, training manuals, and videos.