Students are placed in EVS programs by referral only. While anyone can make a referral, no student will be placed without an eye report submitted by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. CBVH serves children and young adults who are legally blind. All students receive a full evaluation at HHVI by a team of professionals, who recommend an appropriate educational program for the individual student. Placement is made based upon this IEP and with parental approval.
Legal blindness manifests itself in a wide range of visual functioning.
Many children who are legally blind use their residual vision to read various types of print and to travel independently while others require braille to read and a cane to travel. A functional vision assessment tells us how a student uses vision. Upon placement, an informal assessment is also conducted by the vision teacher to determine visual functioning in the classroom setting. This process may assess visual behaviors, use of programmatic assistive equipment, seating arrangements, lighting, and visual and tactile perception. On-going assessment is essential to react to the student's changes in vision, educational needs, and any changes in the school environment.