Eligibility Criteria for the area of
Visual Impairments Or Blindness
Table of Contents ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR VISUAL IMPAIRMENT............................................................................................................. 3 MISSION STATEMENT............................................................................................................................................................................3 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INITIAL DETERMINATION VISUAL IMPAIRMENT ELIGIBILITY...............................3 VISUAL DEFICIT FLOW CHART .........................................................................................................................................................3 EXCLUSIONARY FACTORS..................................................................................................................................................................4 EXIT CRITERIA .........................................................................................................................................................................................4 BEST PRACTICE........................................................................................................................................................................................4 PLACEMENT DETERMINATION: CONTINUUM OF SERVICES ..............................................................................................4 GLOSSARY..................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI)........................................................................................................................ 5 Legal Blindness....................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Visual Impairment.................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Low Vision............................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Cortical Visual Impairment.................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Partially Seeing ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Blind ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Functionally Blind.................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Medically Blind ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Functional Vision Assessment.............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Visual Acuity ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
04-01-03 BASSC Resource Manual VI Section.doc
VI - Page 2 of 5
Phone (618) 3554700
2411 Pathways Crossing Belleville, IL 62221
Eligibility Criteria for Visual Impairment MISSION STATEMENT The Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative defines its mission for students with visual impairments as that of empowering students to become responsible, self-sufficient and creative citizens by offering them individually prescribed, success-based learning environments focusing on physical/emotional health, as well as academic needs in the least restrictive environment. The cooperative also strives to promote the dignity and respect of all students by advocating for public policies, research, and services, which advance individual choices and human rights.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INITIAL DETERMINATION VISUAL IMPAIRMENT ELIGIBILITY A child can be determined to be visually impaired when all of the following are met. A. A visual impairment or a progressive vision loss has been diagnosed by an optometrist or ophthalmologist, within the past 2 years. For Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), a Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) test or neurologist report is necessary to confirm diagnosis. B. Visual acuity has been determined to be: 1. For visually impaired – 20/70 to 20/200 in the better eye with best correction, or 2. For legally blind, 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction or a visual filed measuring 20 degrees or less, or 3. Documentation from an optometrist or ophthalmologist of a vision deficit is required BEFORE an educational eligibility of visually impaired/blindness can be determined. C. Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) reports the results of a Functional Vision Assessment. D. The IEP Team determines that the visual impairment adversely affects the child’s educational performance.
VISUAL DEFICIT FLOW CHART
Visual Deficit
Legally Blind
1. 2. 3.
Functionally Blind Medically Blind Cortical Visual Impairment
04-01-03 BASSC Resource Manual VI Section.doc
Visually Impaired
1. 2. 3.
Low Vision Legal Blindness Cortical Visual Imapirment
VI - Page 3 of 5
EXCLUSIONARY FACTORS An individual will not be considered eligible for services under Visual Impairment if: 1. 2.
3. 4.
The student is blind or visually impaired in one eye, but the better eye has a best corrected acuity of 20/25 to 20/60. The vision loss is determined by a qualified medical profession (MD, DO, OD) to be temporary, and the duration of the loss will not substantially or permanently impact learning or academic performance (i.e. scratched cornea, swollen eye, pink eye). The disability is more accurately described by another category of eligibility (i.e. hysterical blindness may qualify under E.D.). The student has visual acuity within the normal range (20/20 to 20/60), but has visual perception problems adversely affecting their education (may qualify as LD or OHI).
EXIT CRITERIA Exit decisions must be individualized and based on current best practice as determined by the appropriate IEP team members. A student is no longer eligible for special education services as a student with a visual impairment when it is determined that: 1. 2. 3. 4.
The disability no longer has as adverse effect on the students educational performance; or The visual impairment no longer exists as documented by a medical professional (MD, DO, OD); or The student accepts a standard high school graduation certificate upon completion or required goals/objectives and credits; or Student completes the school year in which he/she reaches the chronological age of 21 years.
The determination of continued eligibility or noneligibility is made at the IEP meeting on the basis of the re-evaluation.
BEST PRACTICE Once a child is identified as visually impaired, it is important that the parents take the child for eye exams as recommended by their optometrist or ophthalmologist. This is not only to protect the health of their child’s eyes and ocular system, but also to offer accurate acuity information to the school staff, so appropriate educational programming can take place.
PLACEMENT DETERMINATION: CONTINUUM OF SERVICES Students with Visual Impairments or Blindness should be educated with their peers who are nondisabled to the fullest extent possible. Services may be provided within any of the following placements ranging from the least restrictive option to most restrictive option. a.) Special Education instructional and/or related services provided for 20% or less of the pupil’s school day OUTSIDE the regular education classroom (i.e., Consult, Speech Only, services provided in Reg. Ed./REI, Inclusion) b.) Special Education instructional and/or related services provided for 21% to 60% of the pupil’s school day OUTSIDE the regular education classroom (includes pull-out services, resource or self contained, 21-60%) c.) Special Education instructional and/or related services provided for more than 60% of the pupil’s school day OUTSIDE the regular education classroom (includes Full Time Class in Reg. School Building) d.) Full time class is Special Public Day School e.) Private Day Program f.) Private or Public School Residential g.) Other (specify)
04-01-03 BASSC Resource Manual VI Section.doc
VI - Page 4 of 5
GLOSSARY Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI). An individual with at least a Bachelor’s Degree in education for vision disability and approved by ISBE to teach the vision impaired student. Legal Blindness An individual who is legally blind has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the best correction, or a visual field of no more than 20 degrees. Legal blindness is a term that connotes eligibility for government or other benefits and services. However, many people with legal blindness have useable vision and may read regular or large print. (Definition taken in part from the American Foundation for the Blind – website: www.afb.org). Visual Impairment Medically identified organic differences in the visual system which are so severe that even after medical and conventional optical intervention, the student is unable to receive an appropriate education within the regular educational setting without services or equipment from a teacher of students with visual impairments. (Definition adopted from “Low Vision” by Nancy Levack, 1998 TSVBI). Low Vision Having a significant visual impairment but also having some useable vision with acuities ranging from 20/70 to 20/200. Acuity is not a consideration for a medically determined progressive visual disorder or for students with cortical visual impairment. For students with documented nystagmus, amblyopia or strabismus, the acuity range may differ. (Definition adopted from “Low Vision” by Nancy Levack, 1998 TSVBI). Cortical Visual Impairment (Also referred to as cortical blindness, cerebral blindness and/ or a neurological visual impairment.) Temporary or permanent absence of vision caused by damage to the blood supply of the visual areas in the occipital lobe of the brain. The retina will appear normal; visually evoked electrical response (VER) is markedly diminished. Students with CVI may exhibit fluctuating vision even within the course of one day. (Definition taken from Dictionary if Eye Terminology, Third edition, by Barbara Cassin and Sheila Solomon, 1997). Partially Seeing (Also known as partially sighted) This is a legal description for someone whose best corrected vision is worse than 20/70 in the better eye; may benefit from instruction by the teachers of student with visual impairments. (Definition adapted from Dictionary of Eye Terminology, third edition, by Barbara Cassin and Sheila Solomon, 1997.) Blind (Blindness) Inability to see. (Definition of Eye Terminology, Third Edition by Barbara Cassin and Sheila Solomon, 1997.) Functionally Blind A students who is legally blind and who is unable to efficiently use print as their primary learning medium. For these students, instruction in the use of tactile/auditory learning medium is necessary. These students generally have light perception, ability to see color differences, and can see shadows. Medically Blind A child who is legally blind in both eyes from a medical procedure/disorder such as retinal detachment, enucleation (surgical removal of the eyeball), anophhthalmia, microphthalmia, etc.., Functional Vision Assessment Conducted by a teacher of students with visual impairments to determine the student’s functional vision within the academic setting. Visual Acuity The measurement of the sharpness of vision in respect to the ability to discriminate detail. A visual acuity measurement should not be the only criteria used to predict one’s visual function or educational performance.
04-01-03 BASSC Resource Manual VI Section.doc
VI - Page 5 of 5
