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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Hi:</SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o
ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">After assisting my student who has
autism who can’t talk but can walk around, <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>with the assistance of the parents going
to three appointments to get an accurate visual diagnosis, both the parents and
I <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>got an accurate visual diagnosis
from the ophthalmologist of cvi. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>this student was examined by one
optometrist and two qualified ophthalmologists. The second ophthalmologist
informed both the parents and me that my student has the visual impairment of
cvi. In the past I was told that the student exhibited exotropia but both
ophthalmologists ruled out the diagnosis. The child eyes look fine but the brain
doesn't seem to process the information provided by the eyes. The student will
not look at something unless the student is told to look at food or an object. I
have used the picture exchange communication system suggested in the book from
AFB Press "Autism Spectrum Disorders with Visual Impairment: Meeting Students'
Learning Needs” to teach the student to communicate that the student wants a
desired food to eat. I'll be able to continue to teach the student how to
communicate requests. I also took a mandated autism workshop which gave general
strategies for working with students who have autism. Thanks, Scott, for the
valuable resource about cortical visual impairment.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sara Rooz</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Certified Teacher of the Blind and
Visually Impaired in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Independent Related Service Provider
Vision Education Service in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York
City</st1:place></st1:City></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Email: <A
href="mailto:sararooz@gmail.com">sararooz@gmail.com</A></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P>
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