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Self-Determination

Building self-advocacy skills, decision-making abilities, goal-setting, and understanding one's rights and needs as a person with visual impairment.

How to Pick the Perfect Seat in Class

Alex
Grade: 7
Visual Impairment: Retinitis Pigmentosa
Tools: large laptop, ipad, cctv
TVI email: brooke.schieffelbein@negaresa.org

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Have you been in a classroom, sat down, and instantly regretted it in a few minutes? Maybe because you can't see, your chair is practically broken, or your partner is very annoying. Well, I’m here to help you find that perfect seat.

 

First, pick a seat which you are comfortable with. Make sure you pick the best seat because you never know when the teacher will be like, “I hope you like where you're sitting because this is your seat for the rest of the year.” 

Also, don't sit at the front of the class, or you'll seem like the class pet. But of course, don't forget about your needs like vision, for instance. If sitting at the front is the best for you, go for it. But don't sit at the back of class because you'll seem like the trouble maker who can't stop talking like a Pac-Man. 

Now, let's say you mess up, and your teacher moves you to Hawaii all by yourself. You then have to advocate for yourself. But don't be all touchy feely. Say something more like, “Hello teacher, I can't move seats because I have low vision and I won't be able to do my work. Can I please be in the front? Or can you at least make the slides bigger? Thank you!”

How to Read The Board When You're Called On

Alex
Grade: 7
Visual Impairment: Retinitis Pigmentosa
Tools: large laptop, iPad, CCTV
TVI email: brooke.schieffelbein@negaresa.org 
 

Have you ever sat down in a classroom and the teacher is just like “Hey can I get a volunteer to read the board?”

Then they might say “I guess I’ll call someone random” And the next thing you know your name gets called. And you just sit there not able to read the board and hit them with “Ummmmmmm?”

Well, I’m here to solve that problem for you. 

 

  • Ask your teacher to screenshare what is on the board to your personal laptop 

  • Ask your teacher to share the slides through google drive

  • Ask your teacher to read it out loud

  • Ask for enlarged print for next time

  • Ask a friend to read it for you

How to Choose the Best Front Row Seating

Etta
Grade: 5
Visual Impairment: Achromatopsia
Tools: , CCTV, monocular, magnifier, electronic magnifier
TVI email: mabry.blevins@negaresa.org
 

In middle school you might be seated in the very back of the classroom and you can’t see what the teacher is doing on the board. Here are some ways on how you can jump right up to the front.

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  • Look at the board. Just see if you can tell what's happening

 

  •  Look to see if there are any available seats in the front row. If so just go on up, no one will stop you.

 

  •  If you look over and there are no available seats in the front row then ask the teachers. They won’t scream at you if you need to change seats.

 

Now that you can see it, enjoy it. You worked so hard.

How to Request a Vision Break

Evelyn
Grade: 7
Visual Impairment: craniopharyngioma, compressive optic neuropathy, obstructive hydrocephalus
Tools: large print, braille, electronic magnifier, monocular
TVI email: donna.liska-johnson@negaresa.org

 

Have you ever used your vision to the point of getting stressed or getting a headache? You probably needed a vision break. You don’t want to overdo it. Here's how to ask for your vision break.

1. Raise your hand or go up to the teacher

2. Be polite and ask, “Please may I have a vision break?” 

3. Usually the teacher will say ok, but if not, ask how long you must wait before you can take a break because your eyes are tired/ you have a headache…etc.

4. Be specific with the teacher such as I need only 5 minutes, or I may need to go to the clinic and lay down for about 15 minutes. 

5. Most teachers will let you take a break, but if you have a substitute or a different teacher who doesn’t know you well, be sure to tell them you have vision breaks documented in your IEP.  

Make sure you have a trusted adult who can assist as needed or a trusted peer that can “back you up” should the need arise.  This is why it is important to let new teachers know that you have a visual impairment and what that means for you in class (extended time, etc.) 

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