According to the NC Department of Public Instruction, a student may be eligible for services from a Teacher of the Visually Impaired if:
The student is functionally blind and has such little vision that they use Braille as their primary reading medium.
The student is partially sighted but able to use regular or large print as their reading medium and the visual acuity is between 20/70 and 20/200 in the better eye after correction.
The student is legally blind meaning that visual acuity is 20/200 or less in the better eye after correction or the peripheral field is so contracted that the widest diameter subtends an arc no greater than 20 degrees.
There is documentation for low vision which includes a diagnosed pathology, and a functional vision assessment describes that the visual deficits are enough to interfere with the student’s learning process.
Services could include:
compensatory functional academics, including communication modes
orientation and mobility
recreation and leisure skills
social interaction skills
independent living skills
career education
use of assistive technology
visual efficiency skills
For more information or to find a teacher for the Visually Impaired contact Jay Hardwig or Rachel Harris at 828.255.4770