Orientation Tips

Sometimes, your visually impaired student might have a problem finding his belongings. Use these few tips to diminish his/her level of stress and the amount of time wasted in the search of objects.

• Can't find an eraser or a pencil? Tie is to your student's desk so if if falls, he/she will be able to retrieve it easily.

• Can't find his/her outside clothes? Provide the last hook or the first or last locker of a row so your student is not being caught between two people, having to count his/her way to his/her space or is not stopping people from coming and going avoiding him/her to be involved in frustrating situations.

• Can't find his mittens or other outside clothing items? Give your student a routine to follow if he/she doesn't have one already. Show him/her to put certain items always in the same place. For example, to put his/her mittens in the left sleeve of his/her jacket. Also, provide a shelf or a container if necessary that would only be used by this student.

• Can a classmate help out? Always encourage students that are offering their help but also let them know that your visually impaired student will be the one to ask for help first as sometimes, someone's help can be more problematic than helpful if it interferes with your students routines.

• Can helping my visually impaired student be affecting negatively his/her independence? Always encourage your student to try on his/her own first as you are showing him/her to become independent in life as much as possible as help is not always available. Also explain to your student that he/she must be the one to ask for assistance and only after trying it several times first.

• What about bullying? There is no place for bullying at all! Having a student with special needs or not, bullying is to be dealt with and stopped right away!

• How to go from point A to point B in the school, in a safe manner? Invite your visually impaired student with his parents to school prior to the first day of school. This way, you can safely guide him/her through the school without all the commotion of a first day of school. Give him/her clues or objects that are located by a room to help identify it more easily. Help him/her count doors and even meet with other staff members that he/she will interact with during the school year.

Believe me, those useful tips will help both of you to have a more positive school year.