CVI is recognized by the presence of a series of visual characteristics or behaviors observed in the individual as they attempt to interact with their environment, rather than by an acuity score on a typical eye test. Even though CVI is the leading cause of visual impairment in the pediatric population, it can still be… Read more How is CVI Diagnosed?
CVI or Cerebral Visual Impairment, is the leading cause of pediatric visual impairment in developed countries. Consequently, it is essential for today’s teachers to have a solid understanding of how and why injuries to the brain cause vision issues. The journey starts by discovering how the brain processis input from the eyes to turn it… Read more Why Does Injury to the Brain Impair Vision?
Shape and color are highly interconnected. Many objects have strong color associations. For those that do, are brains can recognize them faster when the color matches the one we are expecting. For example, it would take the brain longer to recognize an apple that is yellow than it would to recognize one that is the… Read more Using Color to Boost Visual Recognition for Students
Description One of the most common disorders among very premature infants, Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) is described as softening, damage, or death to the white matter around the ventricles in the brain. The ventricles contain the cerebrospinal fluid while the white matter nerve fibers send electrical pulses that relay information between various parts of the brain… Read more Periventricular Leukomalacia
1. Amblyopia Because the eyes are aligned in different directions, Strabismus commonly results in a condition called Amblyopia. This means that abnormal development of the visual system in childhood causes one or both eyes to have less visual function than potentially could have occurred. When the eyes are misaligned, they receive two separate images that… Read more 4 Strabismus Considerations for Parents and Teachers
1. Intentionally Use Higher Contrast Colors In the classroom, place items on high contrast backgrounds so they stand out for your low vision student. If the item is dark colored such as a black pen holder, place it on a light colored surface such as white or yellow. If it is light colored such as… Read more 5 Classroom Considerations for Students with Low Contrast Sensitivity
The dorsal stream is the pathway in the brain that deals with “where” things are in space as well as the perception of movement. Therefore, dorsal stream dysfunction in children with CVI (Cerebral Visual Impairment) may have serious impacts on orientation and mobility tasks in the areas of visual attention, perception, and guidance of motion.… Read more CVI and Optic Ataxia
There are two basic types of visual impairments: ocular and neurological (brain-based). An ocular impairment occurs when one or more parts of the eye are in some way damaged or dysfunctional such as the retina, lens, cornea, or optic nerves. Ocular impairments include retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, and optic nerve hypoplasia or atrophy among others. In… Read more Ocular vs. Cerebral Visual Impairments
Working in special education, I interact with many students who, for various reasons, struggle to comprehend figurative (non-literal) language. They miss out on these nuances in our speech and often take everything they hear literally. If they hear someone say, “That was the last straw!” they’ll assume the person is upset that there are no… Read more Animal Idioms
By Grace Minter Braille Literacy Teacher at the Governor Morehead School for the Blind Learning to read braille is an exhilarating and empowering experience, but at times, it can also be a frustrating one. The task of learning to read in a wholly different way than you’re used to can hardly be called easy. Though… Read more Guidelines for Effective Braille Reading