TO: Principals

FROM: Vision Itinerant Teacher

The student with a visual impairment attends the same school as the other neighborhood children and is programmed into a general education classroom.

In choosing a classroom placement for the visually impaired student, the principal should choose a teacher who will be accepting and yet able to expect from the child all he is capable of producing.

While the child remains the responsibility of the local school and the classroom teacher, support services will be forthcoming from the Vision Itinerant Program. Materials normally provided for other students should also be provided for the visually impaired student by the local school.

Some children with visual impairments will need special equipment (i.e. tape recorders, note taking devices, magnifiers, boldline paper) which will be provided by the Vision Program. Materials normally provided for other students should also be provided for the visually impaired student by the local school.

A teacher from the Vision Program is required to attend all local staff planning meetings for a visually impaired child concerning placement and educational planning.

Vision Program members will help the child learn to travel throughout the school setting if necessary.

Services available through the Vision Itinerant Program are:

• Evaluation of visual functioning
• Consultation to school staff
• Ongoing observation of identified visually impaired children
• Specialized skill instruction
• Inservice training to staff
• Orientation and mobility (from a certified O&M specialist)
• Coordination of involvement of other agencies/doctors
• Provision of adapted materials and/or device