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Disability Services Faculty & Staff Disability and Accommodations
| General Accomodations | Disability Accomodations |
|---|---|
BLINDNESS / VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Impaired vision affecting central visual acuity field of vision, color perception, or binocular visual function; degree of severity may be low vision, legal blindness or total blindness; vision may vary due to lighting, color contrast, physical health, eye condition, weather, etc.
Limitations may include:
- limited space, form and/or depth perception
- difficulty reading regular print
- illegible handwriting
- poor color discrimination
- deficient night vision
- need for mobility/orientation training/assistance
Accommodations may include:
- extended time for exams and lengthy reading assignments
- tape recording lectures, exams, responses, etc.
- seating to avoid glare or bright light
- front seating for viewing blackboard or overhead projector
- use of reader and/or scribe
- alternate format, i.e. audio, large print, Braille, computer disk, email
- tactile drawings
- computer with voice synthesis
- print copy of overhead transparencies
- note taking assistance
Communication Tips:
- Speak directly to the person in a normal tone of voice. DON’T SHOUT; blindness and deafness are not related impairments.
- When meeting, identify yourself and others with you. When conversing in a group, identify whom you are addressing.
- Offer assistance if it appears necessary, but pay attention to the person’s response-take your cues from him or her.
- Be specific with verbal directions to places, give approximate distances.
- Walk alongside and slightly ahead of the person; don’t hold onto the person’s arm unless asked to do so. The person can take cues from the way you respond.
- Avoid escalators and revolving doors if possible. On the stairs, assist the person by putting his or her hand on the railing.
- When assisting in sitting down, put the person’s hand on the back of the chair.
- Don’t leave people who are blind in an open area or without saying that you are leaving. When you leave, lead the person to a landmark so he or she can get a sense of direction.
- Do not pet a guide dog-you may distract the dog from its important job.