Blindness Basics

Course No. DPF-261

Audience
Professional Education Program

Course Description
“Blindness Basics” is a scenario-based, interactive e-Learning course that enables paraprofessionals and volunteers new to the blindness field to learn fundamental concepts about visual impairment and apply them to real-life situations. The course teaches students the proper etiquette when interacting with people who are visually impaired. It presents an overview of the field’s history, identifies some common causes of blindness, and explains how people with disabilities can live independently.

Media
This course is available online.

Organization
This course includes four lessons.

Credit
1 CEU

Prerequisites
none

Suggested System Requirements
· Windows 98 or greater
· Internet Explorer
· Jaws 5.1 and Window-Eyes 5.0 or greater
· Multichannel sound card for screen-reader users

Assignments
Assignments for Lessons 1 and 3 are computer corrected. Assignments for Lessons 2 and 4 feature an additional essay component, which is submitted to and corrected by the instructor.

Grading
Letter grades

Average Completion Time
Approximately ten hours are needed to fulfill the course requirements.

Objectives and Content

Lesson 1: Interacting with Sensitivity
After completing Lesson 1, you will be able to
a. identify common myths about people who are visually impaired
b. select the right words when interacting with a person who is visually impaired
c. choose the correct actions when interacting with a person who is visually impaired

Lesson 2: Joining the Blindness Field
After completing Lesson 2, you will be able to
a. summarize the history of the blindness field
b. recognize six laws relevant to people with visual impairments
c. describe the system that delivers services to people with visual impairments

Lesson 3: Exploring Visual Impairment
After completing Lesson 3, you will be able to
a. discuss the seven phases of adjusting with visual impairment
b. describe the continuum of visual impairment that includes low vision and total blindness
c. identify the common causes of visual impairment
d. recognize characteristics of deaf-blindness

Lesson 4: Living Independently
After completing Lesson 4, you will be able to
a. identify environmental modifications
b. discuss adaptive strategies
c. indicate travel techniques
d. describe specific low vision aids
e. give examples of reading and writing aids

Blindness Basic Demo - Lesson 1 (Flash Player 7.0 required)