Vision Awareness Training for Post-Primary Schools

This 1-hour workshop aims to equip mainstream teachers with foundational knowledge and practical strategies to effectively support students with vision impairment (VI) in their classrooms. Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the Diverse Impact of Vision Impairment:

• Differentiate between various types and severities of vision impairment and recognise that "vision impairment" is a broad term encompassing a spectrum of functional vision.
• Identify how vision impairment can impact a student's learning across different domains, including:
  • Academic: Reading, writing, accessing visual information (whiteboards, textbooks, digital content), completing assignments, and participating in visually orientated subjects (e.g., art, science diagrams, geography maps).
  • Social & Emotional: Developing social skills, understanding non-verbal cues (e.g., body language, facial expressions), participating in group activities, feeling isolated, and building self-confidence.
  • Mobility & Orientation: Navigating the classroom and school environment safely, identifying objects, and moving between classes.
  • Incidental Learning: Recognise that students with VI miss much of the incidental learning that sighted peers acquire visually, necessitating explicit instruction in areas like social cues or environmental awareness.

2. Implement Practical Classroom Adaptations:

• Apply simple, immediate strategies to make the classroom more accessible, such as:
  • Optimising seating arrangements to maximise visual access.
  • Ensuring good lighting and minimising glare.
  • Verbalising all written content on boards or projected screens.
  • Providing high-contrast and clear print materials.
  • Allowing for increased time for reading and task completion.
• Recognise the importance of providing materials in various accessible formats (e.g., large print, audio, digital copies that can be enlarged or read by screen readers).
• Understand the value of clear, concise verbal instructions and physical guidance when necessary.

3. Appreciate the Role of Assistive Technology (AT):

• Gain awareness of common assistive technologies that support BVI students (e.g., screen readers, screen magnifiers, Braille displays, accessible keyboards, voice recognition software).
• Understand that AT is a tool for independence and access, and that students may require support in utilising it effectively.
• Identify the need for an IT environment that is compatible with various AT solutions.

4. Foster an Inclusive and Supportive School Environment:

• Promote a whole-school approach to inclusion, understanding that supporting BVI students is a shared responsibility.
• Identify key school personnel and external services (e.g., Visiting Teacher Service, Special Needs Assistants, relevant charities like Féach) who can provide specialised support and resources.
• Encourage peer understanding and empathy to reduce social isolation and build a supportive community around BVI students.
• Know when and how to seek further specialist advice for individual student needs and complex challenges related to vision impairment.

We ask all participants fill this form before the session, there will be another one afterwards too.

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