Visual Impairment
A. Definition. Visual Impairment (including blindness) means an impairment in vision that even with corrections adversely affects a student's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness.
1. If a student has the two disabilities of deafness and blindness, the student must be classified as having deaf-blindness and not developmental delay or multiple disabilities. The LEA shall notify State Deaf-Blind Census of all students who have both visual and hearing impairments
B. Criteria for Eligibility. Evidence of the criterion listed in Paragraph 1 and criteria listed in either Paragraphs 2, 3, 4, or 5 must be met:
1. loss of vision which significantly interferes with the ability to perform academically and which requires the use of specialized textbooks, techniques, materials, or equipment; and
2. visual acuity in the better eye or eyes together with best possible correction of:
a. blindness―20/200 or less distance and/or near acuity; or
b. partial sight―20/70 or less distance and/or near acuity;
3. blindness due to a peripheral field so contracted that the widest diameter of such field subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees and that it affects the student's ability to learn;
4. progressive loss of vision, which may in the future affect the student's ability to learn; or
5. other blindness resulting from a medically documented condition.
C. Additional Procedures for Screening
1. Orientation and mobility screening will be conducted to screen the student's ability to travel around in his or her environment. (There is a suggested screening checklist in the Appendix.)
D. Procedures for Evaluation. Conduct all procedures described under §513, Evaluation Components.
E. Additional procedures for evaluation:
1. an eye examination conducted by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. When the impairment results from an active disease process, it shall be verified in the report of an ophthalmologist. When this condition is progressive or unstable, the need for a yearly eye examination shall be documented in the integrated report;
2. the educational assessment shall include:
a. a functional vision assessment (an assessment of the degree to which the student utilizes vision to operate within the environment);
b. an assessment of the student's reading and writing skills, including the student's needs in appropriate reading and writing media (including an assessment of the student's future needs for instruction in Braille or the use of Braille). For the student who is a non-reader, learning medium assessment would involve systematic examination of how he/she obtains information (visually, tactually, and/or auditorally);
3. based upon the orientation and mobility screening results an assessment, if warranted, shall be conducted by a qualified orientation and mobility instructor for the purpose of identifying the student's ability to travel safely and efficiently in a variety of environments and situations with or without the use of special mobility devices and visual aids;
4. a family interview which addresses the following additional factors:
a. the needs of the family in understanding the student;
b. the community service agencies currently providing assistance to the family in relationship to the student;
c. the expectations of the parents for the student;
d. an appraisal of self-help and other functional skills exhibited at home;
5. when the data indicate a severe visual impairment, the evaluation coordinator should consider referring the student to the Statewide Assessment Center for Students with Visual Impairments for assistance in conducting specialized aspects of the evaluation.
F. Procedures for Reevaluation. If the visual impairment is progressive or unstable the triennial evaluation must be conducted.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:1941 et seq.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 35:914 (May 2009), effective July 1, 2009.
