Characteristics of Individuals with

Visual Impairment

Cognitive Characteristic

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Lowenfield(1973) has described the impact of blindness or low vision on cognitive development by identifying basic limitations on the child in the following three areas:1. Range and Variety of experience.

When a child has a visual impairment, experiences must be gained by using the remaining sense, especially touch and hearing.

2. Ability to move around. Vision allows for early and free movement within the environment, but blindness or severe visual impairment restricts such movement. 

3. Interaction with the environment. Because visions allows for quick gathering

of information at a distance, people with typical vision have immediate and direct control of the environment.

Academic Characteristic

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The impact of visual impairments have no cognitive development likewise affects the development of academic skills, particularly in the areas of reading and writing (Steinman, Lejeune, & Kimbrough,2006)  

Social and Emotional

Characteristics

• Social behavior typically is developed by observing social events and customs and imitating them (Ophir-Cohen, Ashkenaz, Cohen,& Tirosh,2005).

• Refinement occurs through repeated use of social behaviors and, if needed, indirect feedback from socially competent persons.

Behavior Characteristics

• Visual impairment alone does not cause a student to have significant behavior problems or disorders, although it does generally have some subtle influences on behavior.

• Some students with visual impairment demonstrate stereotypic behaviors, or repeated behaviors that serve no apparent constructive function.

 

How Is Visual Impairment identified?

The initial identification of a congenital visual impairment generally occurs by an eye cares specialist early in a child's life. When an ophthalmologist, a physician specializing in the care of the eyes, or an optometrist, a professional trained to identify eye problems and to prescribe corrective lenses, detects a visual impairment that cannot be corrected by regular eyeglasses, that professional generally advises the parents to contact their local school regarding special education services.