Vision Impairment Guide for Educators

Educators play a key role in increasing the potential of children with visual impairment (VI). Your input helps to ensure that they get the right attention at the right time.

Here are some tips to help you be an active member of a child’s team:

1. Understand diagnoses. Learning some of the language that doctors use in their notes will help you avoid confusion and miscommunication. Because understanding a child’s VI diagnosis is so important, be sure to follow up when you further explanation.
2. Keep the prognosis in mind. Along with understanding a child’s diagnosis and its implications, it may be helpful to be aware of the prognosis. When speaking with a healthcare provider, be sure to ask about the child’s prognosis.
3. Know that families will look to you for your expertise. Parents of children with vision impairment often have a steep learning curve. Even if you can’t answer some of their questions, you may be able to help them find what they need. Plus, your input will help set their minds at ease.

Treatment for VI can feel fragmented and confusing — both for children and their families.

But when teachers and other professionals team up to work with visually impaired children, it’s more straightforward and less stressful for everyone.

To help promote this team approach, the Vision Enhancement Center (VEC) plans to develop a HIPAA-compliant database. The database will allow a child’s teachers, healthcare team, and parents share information.

Your feedback is vital to the success of the VEC. Please share your thoughts and ideas with us at lauren.bolling@chp.edu.