Academic tips for students who are blind or visually impaired

• Offer preferential seating; paying attention to lighting and glare on dry erase boards, overheads, computer projections
• Understand the level of visual impairment
• Maintain regular contact with DRS office and student for accessibility needs
• Verbalize any written or visual information
• Provide visual and auditory cues
• Review general room layout (exits, desks, lecture location, etc.)
• Use directives, i.e.: left, right, step up, step down
• Use enhanced verbal descriptions
• Give comparisons and analogies with familiar objects that do not depend on prior visual knowledge
• Ignore assist dogs, they are not to be touched or talked to

Common Assistive Technology:

• Screen Magnification software: ZoomText
• Alternative text: Braille, audio books, enlarged text
• Screen Reading software: Jaws and ZoomText
• Dual monitor set up for computer classes 

CGCC referral sources: