Situation of Children with Visual
Impairments in Ethiopia
Presentation Layout
I.
Understanding visual impairment
II. Prevalence and etiological conditions
III. Developmental effects of visual impairment
IV. Educational situation of children with visual impairment
V.
Early Identification and Intervention practices
VI. Inclusive Education : The Way of the Future
1. Understanding Visual
Impairment
Children with Low Vision
 Educated using sight

Enlarged prints & magnification
 Visual acuity measure :20/200-20/70
Visual acuity & Behavior

Visual Acuity- distant and near vision
measures
Visual Behavior (educator’s focus)
Personal factors

Environmental factors


• Intelligence
• Motivation
• Family background
Educational definition
Educated using other channel from sight,
 Tactile and haptic perceptions (static and
dynamic)
 Visual Acuity measure : >20/200
(Shnellen chart)

DEGREE OF IMPAIRMENT & ALTERNATIVE
DEFINITIONS
Category of vision
Normal Vision
Low Vision
Degree of Impairment
Alternative Definitions
None
-
Slight
Near normal vision
Moderate
Moderate low vision
Severe
Severe low vision. Counting fingers at 6m or
less
Blindness
Profound
Profound low vision or moderate blindness.
Counting fingers at 3m or less
Near-total
Severe or near total blindness counting
fingers at 1m less or hand movements at 5m
or less
Total
Total blindness (including absence of the
eye)
2. Prevalence of Visual
Impairment in Ethiopia
Incidence and prevalence of visual impairment in Ethiopia
Onset of Visual Impairment
Age
Per
cent
0-2
3-5
32%
6-9
16%
10-12
8%
13-15
16%
Prevalence :30 %
15-25
16%
No RES
3. Etiological conditions of
visual Impairment
3.1 Disabling factors & types of Visual Impairment
Visual Impairment can be because of :


Congenital conditions &
Acquired conditions
Types of Visual Impairment




Trachoma (irritation and scaring of cornea)
Cataract (cloudiness of the lens)
Glaucoma (pressure within the eye)
Refractive errors, diabetic retinopathy etc.
3.3 Causes of VI Ethiopia
Reflection
23%
Measles
Cataract
7%
7%
Small Pox
11%
Eye Disease
22%
Unknown
11%
Others*
19%
4. Developmental Profile of Children
with Visual Impairment
4.1 Language Development
(The Blind & The Child with Low vision)
a) Motor and physical development
b)Cognitive & language
c) Social-emotional conditions
4.2 Cognitive and Learning
Characteristics
A.
Impact of lack of Interaction
Psychosocial situation (cognitive,
emotional & behavioral factors)
A.
Learning Characteristics
Onset/family & social environment
Visual acuity & Visual Behavior
The Blind
The Low vision
5. Educational Status of Children
with Visual Impairment
(special class in Bahir Dar)
5.1 Educational Status of Children
with Visual Impairment
6.



Educational Status of Children
with Visual Impairments
(blind and low vision)
Type of schools
• Special schools
• Special classes
• Inclusive schools n
Challenges
• Space & facilities
• Teachers qualification
7. Early Intervention and inclusive
practices
Early Intervention
Traditional practices
Home-based services
Early childhood education
Inclusive Practices

Discussions

Challenges of IE
Areas of enhancement for the
Blind
Orientation and mobility
 Listening skill training
 Braille training (braille writer, slates &
styles)
 Talking books and calculators

Areas of educational
intervention




Residual Vision Training
Enlarged prints (enhanced image
devices
Closed - circuit TV (enlarge print
materials)
Optical aids
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.
What is the difference between visual acuity and
visual behavior? (Psychology students)
2.
How do people in your community perceive
persons with visual impairment? How do you
assess the engagement of the blind people in the
community ? (Social work and international
students)
3.
Identify the differences in the educational
consideration of the blind and the child with low
visions. (Pedagogy and education students)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1.
2.
Discuss about speech and language
development of the blind and the low
vision. (Language students)
Discuss about the psychosocial
conditions of persons with visual
impairment? Consider the situation of
the blind and the low vision .
(Anthropology students )
Thank You !!