LOW VISION AIDS
Some visually impaired
Some bisually impaired people are totally bind while most have some remaining vision.
They may only be able to see lights, colors, shapes, or large objects and letters at very near
distances and letters at very near distances. These people are called low vision people.
Previously there were no low vision aids to help these people. Low vision students were
taught Braklle. This placed certain limitations on their education,ability to become employed, and
to live independently. Most books, office documents. newspapers, and magazines are only produced
in regular size print and not in Braille.
Now there are low vision aids to help these people. They are being encouraged to use their
remaining sight. There are magnifying glasses that can be used for reading. These aids can magnify 2
to 25 times the size lf moumal print. There are many differnt type lf magnifiers - some are hand held that
have fixed magnifications and light sources inside. There are also closed circuit televisions (CCTV) which
magnify letters onto the TV screen. Print materials can be magnified as much as 60 times the normal size.
There are also both monocular and binocular aids that can be used to see what is written on the bisck board,
the numbers on buses, etc. Lamps are used to help improve lighting. Book stands help low vision people when
reading and writing at very short distances. There are also software programs that magnifythe letters on the
computer screen.
With these aids, low vision prople now have access to print materials. Some low vision can use regular
print with or without magnification. They do not need to use Braille. Other low vision students who have less
residual vision might need to learn Brailly but will still at times be able to augment their reading and writing with
print materials by using magnifiers. and CCTV - especially for books and documents that are not in Braille.
Over the years much effort has gone into developing new technical equipment for low vision people.
It is worthwhile since it provides more options for low vision people in their education.
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