Types of Problems a Visually Impaired Child Would Have

All children go through different developmental stages that have their own opportunities and obstacles, but visually impaired children face additional challenges while they progress through their childhood years. They may face coordination difficulties, emotional stress, difficulty learning in a traditional setting and organizational challenges--all coupled with additional attention and curiosity from their peers.

Coordination

• According to Family Connect, physical balance and coordination can be a challenge for visually impaired children, as they can't always see the objects around them--they rely instead on sound and familiarity with their environment. Family can help by always putting toys away in a designated area. Avoid rearranging furniture as well. Other things that family and friends can do to aid with coordination is to walk with the child through unfamiliar areas and install ramps as opposed to stairs when possible.

Engaging with the World and Developing Interests

• According to Growing Strong, visually impaired babies and children may not naturally develop an interest in objects or activities like other children, since they can't interact with their environment the same way. Blind children rely entirely on sound and feeling. Since visually impaired children can't see everything around them, they don't know to investigate things further and ask questions. Encourage your child to move about their environment and to ask questions when she can't understand something, and prompt discussion with your child about different subjects. Also, engage her with objects of varying textures and weights, as well as items that make unique sounds.

Emotional Stress

• American Foundation for the Blind says that even in cases where the impairment comes on gradually or they've had a visual impairment since birth, visually impaired children will feel stress in new or unfamiliar situations, particularly when they feel isolated from peers. Starting at a new school or entering a new class can be particularly stressful. Visually impaired children also may occasionally feel sad or frustrated. Friends and family can help by listening to the child's concerns and encouraging the child to share his feelings. Teachers can help by fostering understanding and open discussion about visual impairment within the class, while also keeping expectations of the visually impaired children high.

Learning Challenges

• According to the National Federation of the Blind, there are a few learning problems that visually impaired children may experience in any learning setting, and particularly in a traditional classroom. If educators use a board to draw out graphs, charts, or other examples, visually impaired children can't always see it or benefit from it. The same concept applies to physical exercises and group activities, which are very visual. Educators can help teach visually impaired children by including specific verbal explanations and tangible objects that children can touch and feel.

Organization

• Because they can't always see what objects are around them or specifics in terms of what papers are labeled, visually impaired children may have difficulty with organization, including homework management. The National Federation of the Blind recommends developing a storage system with bins, folders, and braille labels to help the child organize his or her schoolwork. For children who have some sight, the American Foundation for the Blinds also recommends labeling things in colors that the child can identify. Children who are color blind may also benefit from large icons to label each subject.