Transcript Functional Vision Evaluation - Stephen F. Austin State University

Functional Vision Evaluation
Introduction and
Direct Assessment Skills
Taken from: Step by Step developed by Dr. Dixie Mercer, Stephen
F. Austin State University.
What is a Functional Vision
Evaluation?
►A
process which is aimed at determining
how a student with visual impairment
typically uses their remaining vision (or
other sensory channels) in educational
settings.
► Builds on eye-medical information to
determine how the student uses their vision
to function in their lives
What is a Learning Media
Assessment?
►A
process aimed at determining the student’s:
► primary sensory channel
► level of competency in reading and writing
► whether or not the student is functionally blind
► whether or not on going assessment is needed
► primary LITERACY medium
► most appropriate LEARNING media
Literacy Medium
► How
the student is going to access the
general curriculum
► The basis for future decisions concerning
the student
► Braille, Large Print, Auditory (taped texts),
and or symbols
► Must address Braille as an option – It is
more than a choice of braille versus print
Learning Medium
► Include
instructional materials and methods
 How the student is best taught
 Support items and manipulatives
 Curriculum
LMA
► Is
required (along with the FVE) to
determine eligibility
 Must determine primary medium and if
functionally blind
► Best
practices –
 Should be updated as needed
 Should involve ongoing assessment
 Required annually for ECI students
► Must
address Braille
► Can only be done by a TVI
Goals of an FVE/LMA
► Provide
information on how the child
FUNCTIONS WITHIN THEIR
EDUCATIONAL SETTINGS and IN REAL
LIFE to:
 Parents
 Other teachers
 Administrators
Goals (continued)
► Provide
recommendations on:
 How to maximize the student’s visual
performance in educational settings.
 How to adapt the learning environment to
optimize visual performance.
 Additional visual assessment which may need to
be done.
Goals of an FVE/LMA
► To
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communicate
Needs
Functioning
Abilities
Establish programming goals
►Recommendations
►Effective
practices
FVE/LMA Rules
► Who
►
►
VI Teacher
O&M Specialist
► Who
►
can perform an FVE?
can perform an LMA?
Only a teacher certified in Visual
Impairment.
What must a FVE include?
► Assessment
of performance in a variety of
environments.
► Assessment of performance on tasks
requiring near and distance vision.
► Recommendations on:
 Whether or not a clinical low vision evaluation is
appropriate for the child
 Whether or not an O&M evaluation is
appropriate.
Steps involved in performing a
FVE/LMA
► Preview
Observation
► Collection and Analysis of Relevant
Information
► Parent Interview
► Teacher Interview
► Observations (three 45 minute observations
in a variety of environments, one of which
should include food)
Steps involved in performing a
FVE/LMA (cont.)
► Initial
FVE/LMA Protocol completion
► Direct Assessment
 Completion of FVE/LMA Protocol
► Recommendation
► Report
Writing
Writing
FVE/ LMA
► Is
a living document – and will travel with
the student
► Next to direct services – is the most
important part of your role
► Should be useful and easy to understand
 Free from jargon
TIPS
► You
are required by law to evaluate under
different conditions and in different settings
Start early
Don’t rush
Do the observations
Don’t ever do one in couple of days – if you do
you will be done ALL of them that way
 Don’t determine if the student will “qualify”
after one visit – collect data and then judge
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