Blind & Visual Disabilities

Visual disabilities cause impairment in perceiving or processing visual information and can occur across a broad spectrum. A legally blind person is one whose vision, while wearing corrective lenses, does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye, or whose visual field is less than an angle of 20 degrees. Ninety percent of individuals who are identified as legally blind have some useful vision or light perception. Total darkness is rare. Color blindness and visual processing disorders are other types of visual disabilities.

Visual disabilities are not always obvious. Students may navigate independently or a use guide dog or white cane to enhance mobility. Students with visual disabilities may use magnification or text to speech software to access printed or electronic material.