Blindness
Learning Disabilities
and Blindness References online: Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind - The school was established for the purpose of providing comprehensive educational services for children who are blind and/or deaf and under the age of twenty-one. American Foundation for the Blind - AFB is dedicated to addressing the most critical issues facing this growing population: independent living, literacy, employment, and technology.
Childrens Books about Disabilities - For the latest childrens resources concerning individuals with the disability of Blindness. Healthy living for blind and partially sighted children -
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“Lack
of sight does not mean lack of vision.”
(Inspired by the athlete Tim Willis)
About half of the people who have a vision impairment became blind either before or at birth.
Causes of blindness:
Macular degeneration
Retinal blastoma
Rubella
Albinisim
Retinitis
Ushers
Glaucoma
Cataracts
Retinitis
(For more information on these terms look in the book, Adapted Physical Education and Sport: by Joseph P. Winnick on page 161).
We need to watch out for learned helplessness- the countless acts of overprotection by family, teachers, and well-intended strangers and the eagerness of others to “do for” instead of expecting persons with visual impairments to do for themselves-can teach persons with visual impairments that they are helpless and very limited in what they can do for themselves.
Blindisim habits to be aware of:
Rocking
Hand waving
Finger flicking
Digging fingers into eyes
Being blind doesn’t cause a person to have any physical problems. However, the lack of opportunities to be physically active can have harmful affects.
You must remember to be more in tune with other senses when teaching
blind students. Your students are going to be using their other senses
to participate so do activities that don’t require being able to see,
or have a tour/helper for each blind student. Blind people can do
just about anything if you teach them and provide the necessary equipment
and helpers.
Page 160, Adapted Physical Education And Sport
Winnick, Joseph P. Adapted Physical Education and Sport. Champaign,
IL: Human Kinetics, 2000
Teaching Adaptations For The Visually Impaired
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