Nichcy Disability Fact Sheet - Visual Impairments, Including Blindness (Page 4 of 8) in pdf

“Isn’t the bunny soft? And feel how

long his ears are!” speaks to the

How IDEA Defines V

How IDEA Defines Visual Impairment

isual Impairment

child’s sense of touch and helps the

child build a picture of the “whole”

IDEA provides the nation with definitions of many disabilities

from the many details.

that can make children eligible for special education and related

services in schools. Visual impairment is one such disability the

Being able to see enables us to

law defines—as follows:

capture the “whole” of an object

immediately. This isn’t so for children

Visual impairment including blindness…

with a visual impairment. They cannot

…means an impairment in vision that, even with

see the “whole,” they have to work

correction, adversely affects a child’s educational

from the details up to build an under-

performance. The term includes both partial sight

standing of the whole.

and blindness. [§300.8(c)(13)]

T T T T T he Help Available

he Help Available

under IDEA

Accessing early intervention (EI)

To identify

If you suspect (or know) that your child has a

the EI program in your neighborhood, consult

visual impairment, you’ll be pleased to know there’s

NICHCY’s State Organizations page for your state,

a lot of help available under IDEA—beginning with a

online at:

free evaluation of your child. IDEA requires that all

by-state

children suspected of having a disability be evaluated

without cost to their parents to determine if they do

Early intervention is listed under the first section,

have a disability and, because of the disability, need

State Agencies. The agency that’s identified will be

special services under IDEA. Those special services

able to put you in contact with the early intervention

are:

program in your community. There, you can have

your child evaluated free of charge and, if found

•

Early intervention | A system of services to

eligible, your child can begin receiving early interven-

support infants and toddlers with disabilities

tion services designed to address his or her develop-

(before their 3rd birthday) and their families.

mental needs associated with the visual impairment.

•

Special education and related services | Services

Accessing special education and related ser-

available through the public school system for

vices | If your child is between 3 and 21 years of age,

school-aged children, including preschoolers

we recommend that you get in touch with your local

(ages 3-21).

public school system. Calling the public school in

your neighborhood is an excellent place to start. The

Visual impairment, including

school should be able to tell you the next steps to

blindness, is one of the disabilities

having your child evaluated free of charge. If found

specifically mentioned and defined

eligible, your child can begin receiving services

in IDEA. If a child meets the

specially designed to address his or her educational

definition of visual impairment in

needs and other needs associated with the disability.

IDEA as well as the State’s criteria (if

any), then he or she is eligible to

Developing a written plan of services | In both

receive early intervention services or

cases—in early intervention for a baby or toddler

special education and related services

with a visual impairment and in special education for

under IDEA (depending on his or her

a school-aged child, parents work together with

age).

program professionals to develop a plan of services

IDEA’s definition of visual impairment is given in

the child will receive based on his or her needs. In

early intervention, that plan is called the IFSP (indi-

the box above.

vidualized family service plan). In special education,

the plan is called the IEP (individualized education

program). Parents are part of the team that develops

their child’s IFSP or IEP.

NICHCY:

Visual Impairment, including Blindness (FS13)

Nichcy Disability Fact Sheet - Visual Impairments, Including Blindness Page 4

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