Assistive Technology for students with Vision Impairments

Visual Impairments An article in Kids Health states that, “The American Foundation for the Blind estimates that 10 million people in the United States are visually impaired.” The term visual impairments is used to describe all kinds of vision loss. The loss may be total or partial. Vision can often be restored completely by glasses, contacts or surgery. Vision loss occurs when there is a failure in communication between the brain and optic nerve, which makes vision impossible. Visual impairment could possibly impact the common order of learning in social, motor, language and cognitive developmental areas. Reduced vision often results in a low motivation to explore the surrounding environment. Vision impairments often affect a child’s ability to read as well as write, because it is hard to learn information you can’t easily see. Children may be hesitant to interact and be social because of a need for glasses and other children may make fun of them. Students may be socially immature and less assertive than others. (1) The SmartView Graduate Portable Video Magnifier is a tool that can take a snapshot of images and store them easily for later use. The SmartView is ideally suited for those who need to see things on their desk as well as across the room. This device can help students see things clearly, provide snapshots of images and has ability to magnify handouts and papers on your desk, or bring the blackboard, whiteboard, overhead presentation or speaker from across the room closer. http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/products/low_vision/desktop_portable_magnifiers/_details/id_127/smartview_graduate_video_magnifier.html Intel Reader is another device for the visually impaired. It aids independence for people with visual impairments, blindness, or reading disabilities by providing convenient and flexible access to a variety of printed materials. A picture is taken of the reading material; it is then converted into digital text, and then is read aloud. http://www.enablemart.com/vision/low-vision-assistance/text-to-speech-hardware/intel-reader I believe assistive technology will continue to develop. Most of the devices I saw while researching we large and not easily portable. I think more devices will become easily accessible for transportation. I also think combining both of the devices I discussed would be helpful. A student can enlarge a file but also have it read aloud to them if need be. Citation: 1) http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/sight/visual_impairment.html# 2) http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/products/low_vision/desktop_portable_magnifiers/_details/id_127/smartview_graduate_video_magnifier.html 3) http://www.enablemart.com/vision/low-vision-assistance/text-to-speech-hardware/intel-reader