Services Available for

Blind/Low Vision Students

Hastings and Prince Edward District School
Board provides the services of a Vision
Resource Teacher.
The Vision Resource Teacher is responsible
for providing direct or consultative assistance
to students, staff and parents regarding the
visual impairment of students.
Vision Services provides consultation and
itinerant services to students in their home
schools as required for direct and indirect
instruction.
Vision Resource Teachers may provide:
Assessments
Teaching strategies, resources and
connect personnel and parents/
guardians with applicable community
agencies and resources
Liaise with provincial school personnel
Assist in IEP creation and ongoing
changes
Braille Instruction
Help acquiring alternative format
material
Support services for academic difficulties
Provide direct instruction as needed
Provide instruction and guidance on
assistive technologies (Braillers, Braille
note-takers, CCTVs, Daisy and other
audio players, computers with vision
specific software, magnifiers, abacus,
slate and stylus, talking calculators,
scanners and OCR software)
Frequency of Consultation or Instruction:
Vision Itinerant visits vary from several times a
year to several times a week.

Other Involved Support

CNIB

Provides Orientation and Mobility (O&M)

instruction for Legally Blind students to
help insure safe and effective movement
within the educational environment
http://www.cnib.ca/

Transcription/Braillist

Hastings and Prince Edward DSB has a

Braille Transcriber for the production of
Braille resources in integrated classroom
settings

Vision Services
Program Support for
Students with
Visual Impairment

W. Ross Macdonald

The Provincial School for the Blind and

Deaf Blind
http://www.psbnet.ca/eng/index.html

Contact Information
Geoff Courneya
Coordinator Blind and Low Vision
Vision Resource Teacher
Special Education Services
Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board
156 Ann St., Belleville, ON K8N 1N9
Phone: 613-966-1170 ext. 2253
Fax:
613-966-9322
Email: gcourneya@hpedsb.on.ca

156 Ann Street, Belleville, ON K8N 1N9

Phone: 613-966-1170
Fax:
613-966-9322
Email: speced.services@hpedsb.on.ca
Website: www.hpedsb.on.ca/ec/services/spe

September, 2012

Special Education Services

SUPPORTING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Possible signs of
Vision Difficulties
If the student displays any of the
following, a vision assessment
should be performed by an
Optometrist or Ophthalmologist.

Definitions of
Visual Impairment
Low Vision:

Squinting or rubbing of eyes

Leans in closely or holds material close

while reading and writing

Has difficulty recognizing familiar people

Moves cautiously

Bumps or trips over objects in the

environment

Light sensitive

Tilts head to one side

Eye(s) shake

Complaints of blurred or double vision

Eyes not in alignment

Experiences of burning, itching, redness,

excessive tearing or dryness in the eyes

Crusted, swollen, red-rimmed or

abnormal appearance in the area around
the eye

Frequent headaches

Closes a particular eye while completing

tasks

Visual acuity is 20/70 or less with asad

correction in the better eye.

Referral of Students with

Suspected Visual Impairment
to Vision Services

Student referrals must be made

through:
Elementary: In-School Resource Teachers
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Secondary: Interdepartmental Special
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Process:
Permission and consents for the release of
information are requested

Blind:
Visual acuity is 20/200 or less with asdf
correction in the better eye.

Blind and Low Vision Exceptionality:

Blind and Low Vision (PV)
A condition of partial or total impairment
of sight or vision that, even with
correction, adversely affects educational
performance.

Information pertaining to the students visual

impairment is requested from some of the
following:
Parents/Guardians,
Ophthalmologists/Optometrists,
Doctors and Public Health Nurses

If appropriate, a request will be made to

obtain a Functional Vision Assessment from
W. Ross Macdonald (Provincial School for
the Blind) for further recommendations
A dA Functional Vision Assessment is NOT an e
eye exam. It is an educational evaluation of
the students use of his/her vision within an
academic setting

Results from the Functional Vision

Assessment will be shared formally with
Parents/Guardians and the Vision and
School Resource Teacher

Vision Resource Teacher will meet with

involved parties and will assist to implement
required accommodations for the student