[blindkid] Monocularism and the IDEA

[Carlton Anne Cook Walker]

Hello,

Please note that the following is not intended to be and is not to be taken
as legal advice.  Please note the disclaimer below.

A student qualifies for special education services under the IDEA (and is
thus entitled to an IEP) when the s/he has, "an impairment in vision that,
even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance
"[see 34 C.F.R. section 300.8(13)].

In most cases, I argue that it does.  The IDEA defines physical education
classes as being included in the educational curriculum, and loss of depth
perception and/or visual field loss adversely impacts a student's ability
to access the general physical education curriculum [20 U.S.C. section
1401(29)(B)] (and, perhaps, other educational matters, such as visual
stamina).

While a 504 plan might be available, such a student may indeed qualify for
an IEP.  The services may be minimal, and may only constitute consultative
services to staff.  Nevertheless, given that the IEP is a far more powerful
document than is a 504 Plan, I would always prefer the IEP route.

Also, please note that the "adverse educational impact" language is
federal, and more restrictive state qualifications cannot take away a
child's federal rights (to an IEP).


>From an educational point of view, and without having assessed the student
myself, issues that I would look for include:
* Depth perception concerns (stairs, curbs, balls coming at you, throwing
items accurately, etc.)
* Field loss (it may be more difficult to efficiently gather information
from either the right or left side, especially when dealing with
fast-changing environments)
* Glare concerns (it can be more difficult to shield from glare if the
glare occurs on the "good" eye side)
* Eye fatigue
* Visual acuity in the "good" eye (given the student's reduced visual
field, large print is less efficient than for a student with a full visual
field because the student can see fewer words at a time in the reduced
field of view)




I hope this helps,

Carlton


-- 
Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Teacher of Students with Blindness/Visual Impairment
105 Creamery Road
Boiling Springs, PA   17007
Voice: 717-658-9894
Twitter: braillemom


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