Classroom Support For Visually Impaired Students

The 2018 Disability Conference promotes the accessibility and inclusivity of various institutions and provides support to differently-abled people and their families. It inclines with the conference focus of equipping differently-abled people to have the same opportunities as everyone else. In line with this, institutions like schools have to ensure that all students have equal chances and access to learning. 

For students who are dealing with notable visual impairment, the students must have access to a Certified Teacher for the Visually Impaired (TVI), including a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) for consultation. However, there are practical tips teacher can implement for teaching visually impaired students inside the classroom, and these are: 

  • Addressing The Students By Their Name

Teachers should speak to their students using their names, whether they are visually impaired or not. For visually impaired students, addressing them with their names allows them to distinguish when their teachers are talking to them or asking them a question. Teachers should approach all the students by their names to help visually impaired students identify their other classmates and create connections inside the classroom. They should also encourage all their students to do the same when they’re talking with each other.

  • Always Explain Visual Materials

You have to clearly explain all the visual materials you’re using while you’re teaching visually impaired students. In this way, all of your students can participate and will feel included in conversations. You should describe the image, and if you’re writing on the chalkboard or whiteboard, it’s best to dictate the words. Avoid using gestures so that everyone can gain access to the information and follow along. Always use positional concepts such as behind/in front or left/right and descriptive sentences.

  • Provide Beneficial Seats

Organize advantageous seats for your students who are visually impaired to help them become comfortable and safe inside the room. For example, if a student is only capable of using his/ her left eye, then place him/her on the right side of the classroom. Avoid making them sit facing a light source as well so that they won’t face difficulties. 

  • Treat All Your Students Fairly

As much as you are making adjustments for your visually impaired students, it’s also essential that you uphold them on the same rules and behavioral expectations like everyone else in the class. Avoid giving preference treatments to them so that they’ll feel like one of their peers inside the classroom.  …

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Psychiatry Focus: Sensory Processing Disorder

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a relatively new condition first described by an occupational therapist named Anna Jean Ayres in 1972. She described the state as the inability of the neurological process to organize sensation from one’s own body and the environment, makes it impossible to use the body effectively within the context (Midgley, 2014).  …

Sensory Processing Disorder

What’s a sensory processing disorder? How is sensory processing disorder managed? Learn about sensory processing disorder.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is commonly associated with the autism spectrum disorder, but it can affect children even through adulthood. It is frequently diagnosed in preschool age. Find out how to manage this illness.

Sensory Processing Disorder

Sensory integration issues involve damage to the sensory processing center of the body.

“These kids are not breaking down in school because their parents are doing a bad job or because they are bad kids. Their brains are wired differently,” says Elysa Marco, MD, a cognitive and behavioral pediatric neurologist.

Kids: Sensory Processing Disorder

Jean Ayres, Ph.D., likened SPD to a neurological “traffic jam that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory processing information correctly.”

Challenges

It is challenging for parents and teachers to rear a child’s behavior with SPD. Sensory Processing Disorder also plays a sensible part in different milestones as the child grows.

Many children with sensory processing problems can suffer from overstimulation or under sensitivity to their environment. Sensory integration challenges are symptoms and behaviors when somebody experiences difficulty learning from their senses and responding appropriately to them.

This can be sensory information connected with sight, hearing, contact, smell, and taste or data connected with bodily sensations, similar to agony, pain, and movement sensations. A child with sensory challenges could act very differently in ways that aren’t standard for his age. Others could stay away from specific activities.

Many children sometimes experience difficulty with sensory integration (or sensory information). When these responses happen regularly or for extended periods, they can impede social association, leading to social isolation, learning, and child behavior or advancement issues.

Kinship

The developmental milestone significantly affected in adulthood is establishing sensical relationships. Sensical relationships about sensory integration issues are inherently tricky and take in the mix of SPDs, making it into a different ball game.

One study indicates that individuals who avoid sensory stimulation may avoid more sensory stimulation from others, show maladaptive behavioral tendencies in forming relationships with others, and form an avoidant attachment with others which may lead to difficulties with interpersonal relationships.

Definition

SPD is like experiencing the extreme or downgraded version of a particular sense. Imagine intolerance to wearing clothes with tag labels and inner linings and removing them one by one because the itch is intense or inability to enjoy concerts and parades because it is too crowded and the noise is too extreme. That is what a sensory integration type of condition is.

Adults – Sensory Processing Disorder

“For adults with SPD, small and sometimes not so small irritants feel unbearable and intolerable,” shares Dr. Robyne Howard, PsyD, owner and founder of Lakefront Counseling Group Ltd. “SPD affects how the brain absorbs information from our body’s receptors; our skin, joints, eyes, ears, nose.”

This is what a person with SPD feels; for these reasons, it can be challenging to connect with others, and dating can be complicated. From an online counseling site, here are a few tips on how to deal with a person with SPD if you are currently dating one:

Dating Someone With Sensory Processing Disorder

Mindset for Sensory Processing Disorder

Maybe you have read facts or researched the condition because of your partner or friend. Information online gives you an overview of the overall state, its signs, and its symptoms. Take the time to get to know the person. Keep in mind that he/she is unique. When choosing a place to hang out or activities to do, consider the preference of the person, and communicating with him/her is perfectly okay. Ask for his/her suggestions and take cues from previous conversations.

In school, we are taught that humans have the traditional five senses, but in reality, we have eight. And the not-so-popular ones are the proprioceptive system (body awareness), vestibular system (balance), and interceptive system (state of internal organs). Adults with sensory integration challenges experience a range of sensations, meaning the body may over- or under-respond to particular senses. For example, your friend or partner is not very keen on crowded and repetitive noise, but you would like to work together.

Your friend or partner might have a particular dietary plan to regulate their sensory integration.  Be proactive with their dietary restrictions. Do not sabotage it by forcing him/her to try a new restaurant that uses ingredients that he/she avoids. Be adventurous within the allowed food selection. Nutrient-rich and natural food is always a good idea.

Do daily check-in with your partner about their sensations level. According to research, there are fluctuations in the experience of these sensations. Always be prepared to cancel or postpone plans depending on their senses.

Seek Counseling For your disorder.

Like any other relationship, at times, challenges and issues cannot be solved just by the couple involved.

Be sensible enough to seek help from specialists (occupational therapist/s, psychiatrists, sensory integration therapy specialists, etc…)

to advise your relationship with a person with SPD.

FAQs ON SPD

What are the signs of sensory processing disorder?
What are the 3 patterns of sensory processing disorders?
Is sensory processing disorder a form of autism?
Can a child have sensory issues and not be autistic?
Is SPD a mental illness?
Can a child outgrow sensory processing disorder?
How do I know if my child has SPD?
What does SPD look like?
Are sensory issues part of ADHD?
What is a sensory meltdown?

 …

Different Types Of Sensory Aids

If you personally know someone who has an impairment and you want to help them in any way possible, be sure to understand that there are different ways that you can do.

First of all, make sure that you understand their condition. Some of the impairments that individuals have are congenital, which means that they were born with their specific kind of condition, while others have acquired them, meaning that they developed a certain impairment due to an accident or a disease. You must be very sensitive about tackling these impairments with them because some may not have accepted their conditions yet. Luckily, if the impairment is not too severe, there are different types of sensory aids depending on their needs.…