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Considerations for the Child
Who Has Multiple Disabilities...
Will a Visit to the Low Vision Clinic Be Beneficial?
Students evaluated at
the Low Vision Clinic represent a wide range of ages, developmental
levels and abilities, as well as levels of visual functioning. Often,
the appropriateness of a low vision clinic evaluation for the child who
has additional disabilities depends on variables that need to be
considered by the parents, the teacher of students with visual
impairments (TVI), and perhaps other members of the child’s educational
team.
Children with multiple disabilities often respond best in
an environment that is familiar and consistent. Additionally, responses
may be influenced by such things as the effects of medications or other
physical states that are not always predictable. These
are some of the reasons it is possible that a child with multiple
disabilities will not always test true to their ability level during a
clinical evaluation. Parents and other team members should carefully
consider possible variables and weigh their expectations for the outcome
of a visit to a Low Vision clinic. Parents are encouraged to bring
along familiar toys or other items that their child enjoys. This being
said, we welcome students of all ability levels to the clinic.
Outcomes of a Low Vision Clinic visit that may be beneficial include:
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To establish a baseline of general visual functioning
level, or perhaps an acuity measurement.
For very young children, or nonverbal children who are not able to
respond to a traditional test of acuity measurement, it may be
possible to use other methods to obtain a general indication of
their level of visual functioning, or even a distance acuity
equivalent, and to give a prognosis for expected levels of visual
functioning they likely will develop.
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To help parents and teachers obtain information
to better understand their child’s visual condition and visual
functioning – “how” he/she sees.
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To determine if there is a refractive error (need for corrective
lenses) and whether the refractive error is significant enough
to prescribe eyeglasses.
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To provide information and assistance in the process
of determining appropriate learning strategies that will possibly
enhance the student’s functioning level,
and to assist educational team members with trial and/or acquisition
of recommended devices, equipment, or strategies. The Low Vision
Clinic Team includes professionals who are available to explore
suggestions, and possibly demonstrate some learning techniques and
equipment with your child at the time of your clinic visit.
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To provide re-evaluation to determine if visual
functioning is improving, remaining stable or otherwise changing,
and what those changes may indicate in terms of other programming
needs.
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