Perspectives of Visually Impaired Students An Overview

1
Perspectives of Visually Impaired StudentsAn
Overview

• Sharron Sturgess
• University Disability Officer

2
What is a visual impairment?According to the RNIB

• A person can register as severely sight impaired
  (blind) if they can only read the top letter of
  the opticians eye chart from three metres or
  less.
• A person can register as sight impaired
  (partially sighted) if they can only read the top
  letter of the chart from six metres or less.

3
The RNIB goes on to say

• There are around two million people in the UK
  with a sight problem, i.e. that while wearing
  glasses they are still unable to recognise
  someone across the road or have difficulty
  reading newsprint.
• Among these two million people, over 370,000 are
  registered as blind or partially sighted. There
  are another 20 who are eligible for registration
  but have not done so.

4
Common causes of sight problems

• Some people will be affected by a sight problem
  from birth.
• Others may inherit an eye condition.
• Some people may lose their sight as the result of
  an accident.
• Illness can lead to conditions such as diabetic
  retinopathy.

5
Cont

• Some ethnic groups are at a higher risk of
  acquiring certain eye conditions.
• Socio-economic factors, Trachoma, responsible for
  15 of the worlds blindness, is caused by poor
  hygiene and inadequate sanitation.
• Age-related eye conditions, 95 of people with
  sight problems in the UK are 65 or over.

6
What do VI people see? According to the RNIB

• Being blind does not always mean that a person is
  living in total darkness. 49 of blind people and
  80 of partially sighted people can recognise a
  friend at arms length.
• Around one-fifth of people who are registered
  blind have some light perception vision or lower.
  The rest will have some useful sight.

7
Furthermore

• Different eye conditions affect sight in
  different
• ways for example
• Glaucoma can result in tunnel vision, where all
  side vision is lost and only central vision
  remains.
• Diabetic retinopathy can cause blurred and patchy
  vision.
• Macular degeneration can lead to a loss of
  central vision whilst side vision remains.

8
Who are our VI students?

• UCAS code 2 declarations may include
• Registered Blind
• Registered Partially Sighted
• Colour blind
• Irlens syndrome
• Those who have correctable sight conditions such
  as short sightedness

9
Cont

• But VI students also include
• Those who lose their sight during their studies
• Those whose sight continues to deteriorate beyond
  a point at which they can study without support
• Those who dont declare because they dont know
  support is available, for example international
  students

10
What are their support needs?

• Need to consider
• Previous educational background
• Previous level of support
• The course of study
• DSA
• Non educational needs
• Being a student

11
Previous educational background
12
Previous support
Use of human support
Use of Technology
Resources
Exam Concessions
13
Course of study
14
DSA Where are they in the process?
Evidence
Application
Assessment of Needs
LEA Approval
Equipment/ Support in place
15
Non-academic needs

• Accommodation
• Mobility and Orientation
• Practical issues
• Financial needs
• Mental health issues
• Social integration
• Transport issues

16
A student firstCommon problems all students face
regardless of impairment or additional need
A student first

• Being accepted
• Making friends
• Accommodation
• Workload
• Taking responsibility for yourself

• Money
• Academic success
• Home sickness
• Relationships
• Health, physical, mental and sexual

Common problems all students face regardless of
impairment or additional need