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A brief overview of some of the primary types of assistive technology for people with visual impairments, including Screen-Reading Software, Magnification Software, Dictation Software, Refreshable Braille Displays, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) Systems, Video Magnifiers or Closed-Circuit Televisions (CCTVs), and Portable Magnifiers.
Source: Mobility International USAExplore information designed for parents and family members on a range of assistive technology topics, including Accessing Printed Information; Accessing Electronic Information; Tools for Writing; Taking Care of Assistive Devices; Students Using Technology; and Kitchen Appliance Accessibility.
Source: FamilyConnect for Parents of Children with Visual ImpairmentsThese guidelines for Michigan teachers are useful for any educator whose student needs instruction in assistive technology. Includes downloadable checklists in Word and PDF format.
Source: Michigan Department of EducationATIA is a not-for-profit membership organization of manufacturers, sellers and providers of assistive technology devices and/or services.
A consumer group by and for people with visual impairments, dedicated to full inclusion and human rights.
Source: Associação dos Cegos e Amblíopes de Portugal (ACAPO)A study of the effect of age-related vision and hearing impairments on health and quality of life. From the academic journal Archives of Ophthalmology in 2006; volume 124, number 10, pages 1465-1470
Source: Archives of OphthalmologyADP lists television programs by network, and gives instructions for enabling the service on home TVs.
Source: The Audio Description ProjectAutism Spectrum Disorder in Learners with Blindness/Visual Impairment: Comparison of Characteristics
The charts in this 6-page document by Marilyn and Jay Gense compare typical development, development of children who are blind or visually impaired, and children who have autism as well as visual impairments. The charts focus on communication, social interactions, patterns of behavior, and responses to sensory information.
Source: FocusFamiliesAuthors Perla and Ducret explain how the design of an O&M program for students with multiple disabilities should start with understanding the child's most basic needs, such as communication, safety, independence, and consistency.
Source: International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI)Visually Impaired and Blind Youth Camp
Tips for parents on observing skills development, missing or delayed skills in children with visual impairments, and dealing with difficult or challenging behaviors.
Source: FamilyConnectThree behavioral characteristics are commonly found among individuals with Congenital Rubella Syndrome. Author John Walters stresses the necessity of understanding the whole person and the function of behaviors before considering intervention.
Source: National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)In your education of (and advocacy for) others, you may find these talking points helpful for getting the message across that orientation and mobility are important lifelong learning processes. This link presents both English and Spanish text.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and VIsually ImpairedA primer on Large Print standards and practices.
Source: The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (an Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind)In this 11-page document, Sam Morgan describes biobehavioral states and explains why they are important when working with students with profound disabilities.
Source: Hunter CollegeThis article introduces two ways to classify states of awareness in "individuals with profound disabilities."
Maylene Bird shares teaching tips on cells, microscopes, diagrams and models, dissecting, and measuring.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)This page has links to various biology lessons, a list of errors and omissions in the Holt Biology Book (2004), and diagrams that can be downloaded to accompany the text.
Source: Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI)Overview of bioptic driving requirements, fitting and pricing, with state-by-state laws for bi-optic drivers in the United States.
The collection of fact sheets on this site contains information on six common visual diagnoses, as well as information on eye specialists and vision assessments.
Source: Blind Babies Foundation