Eighteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

Many school aged children suffer from undiagnosed visual problems or disorders. Often, the symptoms of these disorders are not easily visible or detected. Teachers generally spend far more time with students than their parents or guardians. Therefore, it is vital that these educators be made aware of possible visual challenges of their students, and alert the school nurse(s), who can further examine the visually challenged youngsters, alert the parents, and suggest ways to most positively deal with the situation. It is vital that teachers and nurses receive appropriate instruction to recognize the signs of visual impairment in youngsters and be able to assess and support these children so they may develop skills to effectively adapt to everyday living and their environment. Visually challenged students in the classroom require special accommodations in order for them to perform most effectively. This paper provides positive options for working with and supporting these youngsters, while still allowing them to be mainstreamed and hopefully, avoid stigmatization by their peers.