Early Childhood Resources

Because a great deal of an infant's learning is through the visual mode, it's important to understand the effect of visual impairment on child development. Find out what types of intervention are most effective during these crucial formative years. Materials for older students can be found under the appropriate categories.

A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas

A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas (2012)  outlines a broad set of expectations for students in science and engineering in grades K-12.  While not specific to students with visual impairments, this book identifies three dimensions that convey the core ideas and practices around which science and engineering education in these grades should be built:

  1. crosscutting concepts that unify the study of science through their common application across science and engineering
  2. scientific and engineering practices
  3. disciplinary core ideas in the physical sciences, life sciences, and earth and space sciences and for engineering, technology, and the applications of science

Functional Vision and Hearing Screening Tools

Functional Vision Screening Tool and Functional Hearing Screening Tool in English and Spanish

Source: Illinois School for the Deaf

"Baby Proofing" Your Home When Your Child Is Blind or Visually Impaired

The focus here is safety, with specific suggestions for when a child starts to move around independently.

Source: FamilyConnect for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments

120 Seconds in Pluto’s Shadow

SOFIA, which is a jumbo jet fitted with an infrared telescope, recently flew through the "central flash" of Pluto.  This is the area where researchers can get the most complete sense of Pluto’s skies and record how much of Pluto’s atmosphere absorbed the starlight.  

TVI Jeff Killebrew recently flew on SOFIA and has been sharing his experiences with students and teachers.

Read the full article at:  https://www.sciencenews.org/article/120-seconds-plutos-shadow

 

21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act

The 21st CCVAA is a long and complex document. You may find answers to most of your questions in this summary.

Source: Federal Communications Commission

3D Astronomy: Modelling the Universe with 3D Printers

Archived Hubble Hangout video on 3D printing and technology in astronomy education and research.  The 3D Astronomy Project at the Space Telescope Science Institute and NASA Goddard have created innovative education materials and 3D models of astronomical objects using #Hubble data.

Tony Darnell, Dr. Carol Christian and Scott Lewis discuss how 3D printing is being used in both education and research, as well as helping students and researchers who are visually impaired.
 

5 Tips for Including Students With Visual Impairments in PE

Lauren Lieberman shares her top 5 tips for including students who are blind or visually impaired in physical education classes.  Includes links to resources and related articles.

Source: Shape America

6 Strategies for Addressing Self-Injurious Behaviors

Find tips to help you sort through why your child is displaying self-injurious behaviors and how you can help them stop.

Source: WonderBaby

A Brief Guide to Common Birds

This guide describes 28 of the most common birds in North America, with a recording of their voices; includes a listing of different habitats and the birds common to each.

Source: Natural History Education, Science, Technology

A Brief Look At The Education Of Blind Children

A look at educational settings, curriculum, and some of the challenges in educating children with visual impairments

Source: National Federation of the Blind

A Checklist for Environmental Safety

A checklist of safety tips for lighting, furniture, elimination of hazards, use of color contrast, and safety in hallways and stairways.

Source: American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

A Cross Disability: Visual Impairment and Autism

Many people with visual impairments also have undiagnosed autism characteristics. Nancy Duncan discusses the importance of identifying and delivering appropriate rehabilitation services for individuals.

Source: VisionAware

A Guide to a Successful College Experience

Ardis Bazyn and Sheila Styron share advice, from the student's perspective, on how to make college a successful experience. They cover a range of topics, including Choosing the Right College or University, Using Disabled Student Services, Knowing the Laws that Affect You, Training and Recruiting Readers and Drivers, Working your guide dog on campus, Auxiliary Aids and Services for Students with Disabilities, and Contacting Advocacy Organizations of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Source: American Council of the Blind

A Guide to Visual Disabilities: How Colleges Help Visually Impaired Students Succeed

This site provides a good overview on the effect of visual impairments on learning, types of assistive technology, and the kinds of accommodations provided at colleges. Includes a list of scholarships and grants.

Source: Affordable Colleges Online

A Parent Primer on Special Education Acronyms, Abbreviations, and Definitions

A useful guide through the alphabet soup of educational terms and abbreviations. (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Source: Community Crossroads NH

A parent's guide to...treasure baskets

Treasure Baskets are collections of real objects that encourage a child to explore different sensory characteristics. This article offers suggestions of items to include in the baskets and discusses some of the educational benefits for young children.

Source: Nursery World

A Practical Guide for Teaching Self-Determination

This 185-page guide addresses the importance of self-determination, student involvement in the transition process, instruction and assessment, and much more (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Source: Council for Exceptional Children

A Resource Guide to Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Impairment

This 19-page document includes information about Assistive Technology for the following areas: Reading; Writing; Math;  Social Studies and Science; Computer Access; Orientation and Mobility; Art, Music and Physical Education; Resources, Vendors, and Terms.

Source: A Resource Guide to Assistive Technology for Students with Visual ImpairmentLisa R. Tebo, M.Ed., OTR/L, ATP

A Review of Rehabilitation in America: Reflections of the Past, Observations of the Present, and Speculations about the Future

Contributing author and copy editor Danika Taylor addresses the history of the rehabilitation movement in this article from 2005's Braille Monitor.

Source: National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

A Team Approach to Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) in Schools

Written by an Occupational Therapist (OT), this 80-page document includes an overview of CVI, and information on the evaluation and education of children with CVI.

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