Visual Impairment Including Blindness (VI)

IDEA §300.8 (13) Visual impairment including blindness means an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child’s educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness.

Training information and documents are available by following the links below:

Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP)
A national professional organization which administers testing and awards national certification to Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists and Certified Low Vision Therapists.

American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss.

The National Braille Press (NBP)
The National Braille Press is a nonprofit braille printing and publishing house. NBP has an extensive catalog of books and a children's book club.

National Center to Improve Practice in Special Education Through Technology, Media and Materials (NCIP)
This website provides: Technology for Students Who are Visually Impaired Collection: Table of Contents. General information, practices, products, organizations and publications that support users who are visually impaired may be accessed through this website.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
NFB is the largest organization of the blind in America.

National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS)
The Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA) is the main federal program authorizing state and local aid for special education and related services for children with disabilities. One significant improvement in the 2004 legislation was the addition of sections defining the provision of textbooks and instructional materials in accessible formats for students who are blind or print disabled. NIMAS will guide the production and electronic distribution of curricular materials in accessible, student-ready versions, including braille and digital talking books.

National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) is a national membership organization of parents and friends of blind children reaching out to each other to give vital support, encouragement, and information.