The sensory aspects of the courses would be beneficial to any child; the information that is shared is priceless.
— Jean, WA
Students with low vision have unique visual abilities. That is, no two students with low vision will see alike, even if they share the same medical condition. This makes each student's learning needs unique as well. Hadley's new course "Low Vision and School-Age Children" is available online and in large print. It offers an overview of the fundamentals of low vision and children for parents, classroom teachers, paraeducators, classroom aides and medical professionals who work with students with low vision. This courses offers strategies for helping students with low vision succeed in school.
This seven-lesson course begins with Lesson 1's exploration of what low vision is. Lesson 2 presents common causes of low vision in children, such as cortical visual impairment and retinopathy of prematurity. Lesson 3 describes the clinical low vision exam and the functional vision exam, which are very important assessments for the student with low vision. Lesson 4 identifies environmental and material accommodations, which are inexpensive ways to maximize a student's vision and give comfortable access to learning material. Lesson 5 familiarizes students with magnifiers and monoculars, as well as assistive technology such as CCTVs. Lesson 6 explores the psychosocial aspects of low vision, such as how students feel about their condition and how adults working with these students can provide support. Finally, Lesson 7 provides information about the U.S. educational system, including the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) and a student's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), to learning strategies for advocating for student with low vision. The course includes videos featuring a low vision exam, functional vision assessments and parent interviews. Mini-case studies throughout the course enhance the information presented in the text.
"Students with low vision and their families face many challenges in the educational setting. But with the proper tools, skills and advocacy introduced in this course, many students with low vision can succeed in school. This course should build your confidence to advocate the student with low vision in your life," says instructor Judy Matsuoka.
This course is open to students in Hadley's Professional Studies and Family Education programs. For more information or to enroll, please visit www.hadley.edu or contact Student Services at 800.526.9909 or student_services@hadley.edu.
