Visual Impairment (including blindness) means an impairment in vision that even with corrections, adversely affects a student's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness
The federal statute defines blindness as follows:
The term "blindness" means a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with best correction (the use of a correcting lens). An eye which is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be considered for purposes in this paragraph as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less.
Criteria for Eligibility (A and B, C, D, or E must be met)
A. A loss of vision that significantly interferes with the ability to perform academically and which requires the use of specialized textbooks, techniques, materials, or equipment.
AND
B. Visual acuity in the better eye or eyes together with best possible correction of
1. Blindness 20/200 or less distance acuity and/or near acuity OR
2. Partial Sight 20/70 or less distance acuity and/or near acuity
C. Blindness due to a peripheral field so contracted the the widest diameter of such field subtends and angular distance no greater than 20 Degrees and that it affects the student's ability to learn OR
D. Progressive loss of vision which may in the future affect the student;s ability to learn. OR
E. Other blindness resulting from a medically documented condition.
Special Education is committed to providing young children and eligible students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education consistent with federal and state laws. Individual special education programs are cooperatively developed by an individual education planning (IEP) team which includes parents, teachers, and administrators and, when appropriate, other specialists. These teams make every effort to provide the appropriate special education program to children in a setting as close to the regular classroom as possible