IDENTIFICATION OF VISION IMPAIRMENT IN CONTEXT OF RPWD ACT 2016

You may have met children with visual impairment in the school, college or any other place where some of the use white cane or sighted guide or move independently .Seeing problems range from total blindness to minor visual problems or refractive errors. A number of terms are used in connection with loss of sight: blindness, partial sight, visual handicap, visual impairment low vision etc. Some people prefer to use the word blind to identify all people with visual impairments. On the other hand, there are those who believe that the word blind should be reserved to identify those with little or no usable vision. It is therefore necessary to understand the specialised terminology in order to define visually impaired who have sight problems. In a survey conducted by an agency it was found that main problem is to identify the visually impaired on the basis of their functional vision assessment by collecting information about them. Children with visual impairment also have the right to education just as normal children do. Inclusive education strives to address the learning needs of children with visual impairment, with a particular focus on those who are subject to being isolated and excluded. The philosophy behind inclusive education is to promote opportunities for all children to participate, learn and have equal treatment, irrespective of their mental or physical abilities. The awareness on types of visual impairment in schools throughout the country is still at an infancy stage. As a result, the number of children with visual impairment is not included in inclusive education settings due to lack of identifications. In India, a majority of children with visual impairment do not receive any formal education. This is because children with visual impairment and learning deficiencies are segregated from mainstream schools and other regular routines and social activities of normal children. This includes having a balanced curriculum that is appropriate for all categories of children, teachers who have the ability to handle the individual needs within the classroom and thereby promote an environment where personal development, social skills and student participation are strongly encouraged