Blind or visually impaired pupils need adjustments made to the classroom environment, to the teaching materials and to the tasks in order to take part effectively. Each blind pupil or each pupil with a visual impairment brings to the classroom his or her own unique visual needs. These needs must be taken into consideration when planning and when teaching a class. The specific duties of the teacher may vary depending on the blind pupil’s age and needs. The role of the teacher will include some of the things on the list below.

What the teacher should do:

• Treat all your pupils equally. This includes discipline and special privileges.
• Interact with the blind or visually impaired pupil in every lesson.
• Have high expectations of all of your students including the blind and visually impaired.
• Understand and respect the extra skills that the blind pupil will be learning (i.e. the use of Braille, sound, touch, various special tools etc.)
• Be more verbal with the blind pupil.
• Ensure your blind pupils understand your classroom routines so they can interpret situations they cannot see.
• Verbalise anything you write on the board.
• Explain or describe illustrations in a story book to help the blind pupil.
• Arrange the blind pupil’s desk area for maximum independence.
• Provide prompts for the blind pupil (e.g. instead of fetching something for the pupil, describe its location so the pupil can fetch it themselves).
• Regularly evaluate your classroom to keep track of the blind pupil’s progress.
• Allow tactile exploration
• Allow the blind pupil to help others as to be helped by others.

 
What the teacher should NOT do:

• Don’t ask your blind pupil questions like “can you see..?”
• Don’t make them sit at the front of the class if they don’t want to.
• Don’t shout at them if they get things wrong. Be patient with them.
• Don’t refuse them the opportunity to find out what works best for them.
• Don’t forget to encourage tactile exploration.
• Don’t tolerate teasing or harassing of the blind or visually impaired pupil.

Every pupil has the right to an appropriate education whether they are sighted or blind. As much as possible, the teacher should try to treat the blind or visually impaired pupil the same as any other pupil. As the teacher, when you set a positive example, the classmates will follow in your steps and feel encouraged to do the same.

[related_posts_by_tax posts_per_page=”4″]