Working with Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

Classroom Accommodations

May include but are not limited to:

• All writing on board accompanied by voicing of material; any visual materials (including drawings on board) or physical demonstrations accompanied by detailed oral description.
• All course documents (including handouts) in an accessible format* to be sent to student via email in advance of the date they will be distributed in class.
• PowerPoint (PPT) presentations with integral visual components accompanied by oral description; if PPT slides are distributed in class as a handout, the same content should be provided to the student in accessible format* via email.
• Emails sent to the class and the individual in an accessible format*; do not paste .jpg or .pdf content into message body unless all important information is also included in a textual form in the message.
• Additional access to videos shown in class (preferably in advance) and transcripts where available.
• Peer note-takers and/or ability to record classes.
• All electronic media assigned to the class (e.g., material posted on Canvas, textbook “companion” materials, websites, social networking sites, etc.), must be equally accessible for all students enrolled in the course, or alternatives provided that allow students with disabilities to (independently) access and acquire the same materials and information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as sighted students with substantially equivalent ease of use. A large number of recent rulings by the Department of Justice and Office for Civil Rights have emphasized the obligations of higher education in this area and litigation continues in this area.

* Reliable accessible file formats for documents are .rtf, .doc, and .txt.

Other Tips for Inclusive Classrooms

• Noise in classroom controlled, including “side” conversations among students. Reliance upon auditory memory to encode all new information and simultaneously follow a conversation can present a formidable cognitive load.
• When calling upon students to speak, state their name, so everyone will know who is speaking, When calling upon a blind or low-vision student to speak, please do so clearly and at a reasonable volume. Classroom acoustics can be less than optimal, producing confusing interference.
• Some students may require preferential seating; please help us obtain cooperation without calling undue attention to the student.
• Service/guide dogs are always allowed to accompany their handlers/partners. Under the law, these animals are recognized as a matter of access (similar to a ramp) and are not an accommodation. PA law extends the same protections to service animals in training.

Assessment

• The A.D.A. prohibits students from being evaluated on material that (by virtue of form or content), disadvantages them due to the nature of their disability. Please take time to construct evaluative measures and assignments that are accessible to all students.
• Avoid use of “textbook companion” sites and software in your course for homework, quizzes, and exams that are not fully accessible to persons who use assistive technology. Many of the electronic tools packaged with textbooks are not accessible. Please consult with the Director of Disability Services if you are unsure whether your materials and technology are inclusive and compliant with our legal obligations.
• Typically, blind and visually-impaired students require additional time on exams and in-class writing assignments, and make use of a computer with assistive technology. The student’s Letter of Accommodation will describe your role in providing accessible exams.

General Information about Disability, Confidentiality and Disclosure

Disability information is confidential; any and all disclosure is at the discretion of the individual. Regardless of whether the student has a “visible” disability, it is not appropriate for the instructor to reference the student’s disability or accommodations in the presence of others. If you are unsure whether a particular situation or media will be accessible to a student, please communicate with them privately.