Chapter 10: Student Activities | Course Companion for Children with Disabilities, Fifth Edition

10: Vision: Our Window to the World

Student Activities

Contact a staff member at an early intervention program to discuss the types of services offered and the methods used.

Ask what services are available for infants and young children diagnosed with severe visual impairments. Ask how these services are initiated and coordinated.
Ask what types of professionals are involved in these programs?
Ask what the general therapeutic and educational goals of the program are. What types of interventional strategies and therapeutic modalities are employed?
Ask what the risks to parents and families in these programs?
Ask the staff member to discuss what factors determine when a child is ready for transition to a school-based program and how this transition is handled.

Contact an eye care professional or vision rehabilitation specialist with special training in low vision rehabilitation in vision therapy for children.

Ask what approaches to evaluation of visual function are employed, especially in children with associated developmental disabilities?
Ask the professional to discuss what functional and developmental challenges these children face.
Ask what types of optical, nonoptical, and electronic assistive devices are available to help these children optimize their visual outcome and reach their maximum functional and developmental potential?
Discuss the range of services that these children require and what other types of professionals are involved in helping these children reach their maximal potentials.
Ask how these services are coordinated and financed? What insurance issues are involved?