TIPS VISUALLY IMPAIRED/LOW VISION
Visually impaired and low vision children don’t have the same opportunities for incidental learning nor do they have the ability to readily imitate the behaviors of others. They often need more time and extra help to learn what to do with toys and how to interact with others.Many visually impaired and blind children are resistant to touching new or different textures for many reasons. Fear, Pain, Tactile Defensiveness, and not liking their hands messy.
Continually expose to different textures and a variety of tactile experience as early as possible. Be Patient!
Talk, Talk, Talk
Use language to describe all the world for your child. Make everyday routines
into learning experiences. Include your child in cooking and cleaning
activities. Allow them to taste, smell and listen to what is around them. Describe everything you hear in great detail. Ex. Foot steps, doors closing,
opening a bag, opening the refrigerator, water running, wind blowing, birds chirping, smells
of flowers in bloom and even the trash truck on trash day. Without sight we take for
granted what we learn and see with our eyes.
KEEP SHOES OFF when indoors.
This will help to explore with toes and feet for different floor textures and heights underfoot. Rugs, tiles, wood, carpet are all different feeling with your feet.
Be sure to allow your child to be outside with no shoes on to experience the same sensations. Grass, cement sidewalks, mulch, etc. . .
For a child with visual impairment mark steps within your home with bright colored tape. Duck tape will help with depth perception.
Contrast Lighting
Color, contrast and lighting are very important in helping a low vision
child. Optimize on full visual potential.
Color - Research has proven babies are first attracted to objects that
are black and white, then to objects that are bright, bold, primary colors, florescent or neon colors
that are reflective materials.
Contrast - When you present your child with a visual activity pay close
attention to the contrast between the object and it’s background around you.
Lighting - Look at lighting in your home. Most children with low vision
benefit from even lighting that can be controlled.
