VI services

[Guest guest]

I thought this group would have the best ideas for me concerning vision

services for Craig. We have an MDT and IEP coming up and I'd like to be

prepared. Craig will be going to a new school next year (lifeskills class in

a regular high school). I think this would be a good opportunity to ask for

increased VI services. Craig is blind in his left eye (retinal detachment at

age 8) and highly myopic in the right. His vision is 20/70 in his right eye

with glasses, so he qualifies for VI services. The right eye is also at

increased risk of detachment, so protecting it is a big concern of mine.

Craig does read, which is one way of telling me daily if there would be a big

change in his vision (warning sign of detachment; he'd never be able to tell

me if he had " floaters, " another warning sign.) For the past several years,

the only VI service he receives are monthly vision checks using a chart. I

feel like we could be doing more to maximize his vision and make him more

comfortable. He has no depth perception and very limited peripheral vision.

He has some light sensitivity. We did take him to a low vision specialist in

Phila but didn't get much useful help or input from her. I would definitely

like to have him receive O/M (Orientation/mobility) services next year, at

the very least to teach him his way around the new high school. I just spoke

with a mom whose daughter's vision problems are much less severe than

Craig's, and her daughter goes out weekly with the O/M specialist and learns

things like how to cross a street safely. Craig could *really* use that type

of help; he has no clue and I'm always physically touching him in some way

for his safety when crossing streets. Does anyone have other ideas about

things an O/M specialist could help teach Craig? I think that if I come up

with several needs in this area, I'd be more likely to get increased sevices.

Many thanks!! Bev