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Education


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When a child has a visual impairment, learning and development may need to be helped along the way. Intervention, encouragement, and special educational planning therefore become an essential part of the school years. Often, children require some training and instruction from teachers who specialize in working with blind and visually impaired students. Your child might also need certain accommodations and arrangements, like books or materials in a format like braille, or a seat near the front of the class, in order to participate fully in the classroom and extracurricular activities. Learn more here about the educational process—and your child's rights.

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Know Your Rights
If you live in the United States, your child is entitled to a variety of educational services under the federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Your Child's IFSP or IEP
Learn more about how the formal plan for your child's education is created, and how it changes over time.
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Your Child's Educational Team
Who are the professionals on your child's educational team, and how can you work with them to help your child succeed in school?
Assessments
Before your child can begin to receive any kind of instruction, it's important to find out what she needs to learn and the best way for her to learn it. Your child will undergo some specialized assessments that relate specifically to her visual impairment.
Expanded Core Curriculum
In addition to the same basic academic subjects that sighted children learn, children who are visually impaired usually need to learn another set of skills known as the "expanded core curriculum." They are sometimes also referred to as "disability-specific skills" or "vision-related skills" because they are useful specifically for individuals who are visually impaired.
Literacy
FamilyConnect has tips for every stage of development, to help parents of children who are blind or visually impaired develop critical literacy skills.
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