Visual Impairments
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION
Visual Impairments, Birth-21
Students who hold or will be holding an Early Childhood, Elementary, or Secondary teaching certificate may receive the Visual Impairments Endorsement by satisfactorily completing the following program from the University of Northern Iowa.
SPED 4132 Introduction to Visual Impairments, 3 Hours
SPED 4136 Methods of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments, 3 Hours
SPED 4192 Experience in Visual Impairments, 3 Hours
SPED 4138 Anatomy of the Eye and Educational Implications of Low Vision, 3 Hours
SPED 4134 Foundation of Orientation and Mobility, 3 Hours
SPED 4192 Experience in Visual Impairments, 3 Hours
SPED 4126 Braille Learning and Tactile Communication I, 3 Hours
SPED 4153 Introduction to Assistive Technology for Instruction, 3 Hours
SPED 4125 Current Issues in Visual Impairments, 2 Hours
*TEACHING 3135 Student Teaching in Visual Impairments, 6-9 Hours
| Or |
*Post Baccalaureate students holding a Teaching Certificate may fulfill the student teaching requirement through completion of an additional university supervised SPED 5192 Experience in Special Education (Visual Impairments, 3 hours) in an approved setting.
TOTAL 32-35 Hours
Students taking courses for graduate credit should register for the above courses but with a “5” prefix (e.g., SPED 5132, SPED 5136, etc.)
Course Descriptions
SPED 4125 Current Issues in Visual Impairments (2 hours)
Current issues in the education of students with visual impairments. Topics will include current research, historical context, students with additional disabilities, and impact of visual impairments on their children and families.
SPED 4126 Braille Learning and Tactile Communication I (3 hours)
This course will address issues in braille reading, literary codes, and other methods of preparing braille materials along with instructional methods and strategies.
SPED 4132 Introduction to Visual Impairments (3 hours)
This course will be an overview of the field of visual impairments including types of services, placements, and instructional strategies along with legal, demographic, psychological, and historical perspectives of education for students with visual impairments. Hands-on experience through demonstration and simulation will provide the students with understandings and knowledge of educating students with visual impairments. Educational implications of students who are blind as well as who have low vision will be covered.
SPED 4134 Foundation of Orientation and Mobility (3 hours)
The course will focus on theory and learning of basic orientation and mobility skills and techniques by students with visual impairments. Students will gain understandings and knowledge about practical methods used for concept development, orientation skills, basic travel skills and techniques, and safe travel. Sighted guide techniques, electronic travel aids, and introduction to cane travel will also be covered.
SPED 4136 Methods of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (3 hours)
This course is designed to cover assessment issues of students with visual impairments and instructional strategies applicable to students with visual impairments in all subject areas. It will also focus on expended core curriculum for students with visual impairments. In conjunction with student teaching, this course will provide students with applying learned methods to teach students with visual impairments and to apply assessment and instruction needs in real-life situations.
SPED 4138 Anatomy of the Eye and Educational Implications of Low Vision (3 hours)
This course will focus on basic structure of the eye and the visual system. Evaluation of the educational needs of specific visual disabilities along with assessment instruments and techniques, including functional vision assessment will be discussed. Other topics include research in technology relevant to reading and writing with optical and non-optical devices, psycho-social implications of low vision conditions, curricular materials appropriate for students with low vision, and interpretation of ocular reports presented for specific visual disabilities will be covered.
SPED 4153 Introduction to Assistive Technology for Instruction (3 hours)
Modification of physical structures, equipment, materials, and procedures for disabled students with accompanying physical, sensory, and/or multiple impairments.