Visually Impaired

According to the NC Department of Public Instruction, a student may be eligible for services from a Teacher of the Visually Impaired if:

  • The student is functionally blind and has such little vision that they use Braille as their primary reading medium.

  • The student is partially sighted but able to use regular or large print as their reading medium and the visual acuity is between 20/70 and 20/200 in the better eye after correction.

  • The student is legally blind meaning that visual acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye after correction or the peripheral field is so contracted that the widest diameter subtends an arc no greater than 20 degrees.

  • There is documentation for low vision which includes a diagnosed pathology, and a functional vision assessment describes that the visual deficits are enough to interfere with the student’s learning process.

Services could include:

  • compensatory functional academics, including communication modes

  • orientation and mobility

  • recreation and leisure skills

  • social interaction skills

  • independent living skills

  • career education

  • use of assistive technology

  • visual efficiency skills

For more information or to find a teacher for the Visually Impaired contact Jay Hardwig or Rachel Harris at 828.255.4770