Visual Impairments (VIs) in Children
A surprising amount of people will lose their sight as they get older. This is the type of visual impairment most people are familiar with. It seems common for older adults to be losing sight.
Children, on the other hand, are often ignored.
This page on the American Printing House for the Blind website claims there are more than 60,000 blind students in the united states compared to over 7 million blind adults.
Despite the number being much smaller, let me put this into perspective. I don't know if this would be the same in other states, but in Massachusetts there is usually at least one visually impaired minor per suburban town. I would estimate that there are at least two or three per city. (Note that I am including infants through adolescents here.)
These children have varying levels of sight. Some are totally blind (meaning no light perception). Some can read print and function without a cane. Most of the blind population is between these two extremes.
Tools such as the magnifiers and canes mentioned in my book Can I See? are essential to the success of these students. They give the child near equal opportunity in their environment.
Some children don't use their tools though. They're embarrassed by them. There are even times when adults question a child's need for such things, making the child feel confused and distraught. This still happens to me as at age 18, and it started about age 8.
Children can be mean. Adults can be insensitive. And very few people are ever nice to themselves. Sometimes being a VI kid can feel like the hardest thing in the world.
That being said, it's often fun too. I learned to laugh when people said ignorant things, because they were just so incorrect! I liked letting people try out my tools, because they would always be amazed, and they would often use them in a way that just looked silly!
But if you do want to help, the best I can say is be respectful. A VI kid is just like any other kid. They can like sports, video games, books, art, music, or anything else a normal kid would like. They can do so many of the same things.
if you see any sort of special needs child, say hello. Smile. Treat them like you would any other child. It will mean a lot.
Children, on the other hand, are often ignored.
This page on the American Printing House for the Blind website claims there are more than 60,000 blind students in the united states compared to over 7 million blind adults.
Despite the number being much smaller, let me put this into perspective. I don't know if this would be the same in other states, but in Massachusetts there is usually at least one visually impaired minor per suburban town. I would estimate that there are at least two or three per city. (Note that I am including infants through adolescents here.)
These children have varying levels of sight. Some are totally blind (meaning no light perception). Some can read print and function without a cane. Most of the blind population is between these two extremes.
Tools such as the magnifiers and canes mentioned in my book Can I See? are essential to the success of these students. They give the child near equal opportunity in their environment.
Some children don't use their tools though. They're embarrassed by them. There are even times when adults question a child's need for such things, making the child feel confused and distraught. This still happens to me as at age 18, and it started about age 8.
Children can be mean. Adults can be insensitive. And very few people are ever nice to themselves. Sometimes being a VI kid can feel like the hardest thing in the world.
That being said, it's often fun too. I learned to laugh when people said ignorant things, because they were just so incorrect! I liked letting people try out my tools, because they would always be amazed, and they would often use them in a way that just looked silly!
But if you do want to help, the best I can say is be respectful. A VI kid is just like any other kid. They can like sports, video games, books, art, music, or anything else a normal kid would like. They can do so many of the same things.
if you see any sort of special needs child, say hello. Smile. Treat them like you would any other child. It will mean a lot.