Division on Visual Impairments

DVI Quarterly Volume 59(1)

A quarterly newsletter from the Council for Exceptional Children's Division on Visual Impairments containing practitioner tips for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and other professionals.

Issue link: http://dvi.uberflip.com/i/244495

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 21 of 65

22 to have a visual impairment. See the person first, not the blindness. I love it when friends leave me in parking lots. They aren't being unthoughtful; they are thinking of me, not blindness. Literacy is important - braille and large print. Reading is a key piece of life. Make it fun; find ways to encourage students to read. Technology allows [people with visual impairments] to lead a normal life. Learn all you can to share with your students. Q: What advice do you have for students with visual impairments as they begin a new school year? Katie: Accept your blindness; the sooner you do, the sooner those around you become more comfortable. I make blind jokes about myself all the time, showing others I am comfortable and that it isn't a big deal. Read - you really are going to need it later in life. Read about things you are interested in. Use your technology; it will help you do the same things your sighted peers do. Q: What advice do you have for students with visual impairments as they transition to life beyond school? Katie: Nobody owes you a thing; the world will not hand you anything. If you want something, you should work hard so you can appreciate it. It feels better to earn something than to accept a handout. Play to your strengths, be flexible, and continue to learn. Learning is lifelong. The only time you stop learning is when you stop breathing.

Articles in this issue

view archives of Division on Visual Impairments - DVI Quarterly Volume 59(1)