Questions and Answers about Visual Impairments

Question: Now that my child has been diagnosed with a visual impairment, what do we do next?

Answer:  The professional who has diagnosed your child’s vision impairment will be very helpful in guiding you in this process. You can also receive assistance from your child’s school or the school system’s specialist for the visually impaired.

Question: Will my child be able to see well enough to get around safely?

Answer:  This will depend upon the degree of your child’s visual impairment. If necessary, your child can receive special orientation and mobility training that will assist him.

Question:  Will my child’s vision get worse? Are there factors that will cause his vision to get worse?

Answer:  Some vision impairments do get worse as a person gets older. This can be clearly explained to you by your child’s eye-care professional.

Question:  Would my child benefit from learning Braille?

Answer:  Many people with visual impairments benefit from learning Braille. If your child’s visual condition will get worse as he gets older, it would be beneficial for him to beginning learning Braille as soon as possible. In that way, any vision that he has will be helpful in the learning of Braille. Braille is more difficult to learn as people get older because of changes in the sense of touch.

Question:  Are there sources to help pay for the glasses?

Answer:  Yes. If your child is younger than the age of 14 years, you may contact the Social Services and ask to speak to the Social Worker for the Blind. If your child is over the age of 14 years, you should contact Division of Services for the Blind.

Question:  Are the times that my child won’t need to wear glasses?

Answer: This depends entirely on his visual difficulties. There may be times that your child won’t need his glasses.

Question: My child has behavior problems and paying attention. Could his behavior be related to his vision loss?

Answer:  If your child is having difficulty seeing he may have a hard time paying attention, which may cause behavior problems.

Question: Will my child be in a classroom with his peers?

Answer: Many children with visual impairments can be served in a classroom with their peers. There may be times that a child may benefit from separate instruction with others who are visually impaired. The school system and the specialist for the visually impaired program should be able to discuss your child’s specific needs with you.

Question: Will my child be able to attend college?

Answer:  A visual impairment should not prevent your child from attending college. In fact, special assistance may be available through the Division of Services for the Blind to assist him in being successful in college.

Question:  What can I do around the house to stimulate language with my child who has a visual impairment?

Answer:  Any child will benefit from lots of conversation in the home. A child with a visual impairment will benefit from extra exposure to items in the home including touching them, if necessary, so that they can “understand” and learn about them.