These materials are from the archive of the SSC Website and may be outdated.

 

University of Edinburgh
 

Low Vision Aids

by Heather Mason

Training Checklists

(i) Near vision aid skills

Name

Type of LVA

Please date any entry

SKILL introduced with help no help
Can hold/handle aid correctly      
Can explain the purpose of aid      
Shows understanding of working parts      
Cleans aid appropriately      
Stores aid appropriately      
Can replace batteries      
Can replaces bulb      
Understands 'focusing'      
Can locate reading/viewing material
(including page numbers)		      
Can maintain focal length      
Tracks smoothly left to right      
Tracks at speed appropriate to reading level      
Has appropriate hand/head/eye coordination      
Move smoothly from line to line      
Develops concentration/stamina for longer use      
Chooses to use aid for particular tasks, eg;      
Demonstrate skills in a variety of activities, eg;      


General Comments:

 

(ii) Near vision study/living activities

Name

Type of LVA

Please date any entry

ACTIVITIES introduced with help no help
Dictionary work      
Contents pages      
A-Z Road Atlas      
Atlas      
Phone Book      
Graph work      
Timetables      
Calendars      
Word searches      
Picture interpretation      
Dot-to-Dot      
Rapid scanning      
Price labels/washing instructions      
Contents/ingredients/instructions      
Reading measuring equipment      
Newspapers      
Reading medicine labels      
Reading till receipts      


General Comments: eg; need for further training

 

Additional Activities:

(iii) Distance aids skills, eg; telescopes, binoculars

Name

Type of LVA

Please date any entry

SKILL introduced with help no help
Holds device correctly      
Understands the purpose of the aid      
Cleans aid appropriately      
Stores aid appropriately to prevent damage      
Understands concept of focusing      
Understands basic principles of focal length      
Scan without LVA to locate stationary object      
Focus aid to identify stationary objects      
View a large object via scanning      
Adjusts focus for objects at varying distances      
Modify scanning procedure to locate info      
Track a moving object using fixed focus      
Focus and track a moving target      
Develop stamina in use of aid      
Demonstrate skills in a variety of activities      


General Comments, eg; comments on any difficulties or extra training needed and attitudes to using LVA, eg; well motivated, motivated, only uses with encouragement, reluctant user, refuses to use LVA.

 

(iv) Distance aids activities

Name

Type of LVA

Please date any entry

ACTIVITIES introduced with help no help
Reading a notice board      
Blackboard/whiteboard work writing      
Blackboard/whiteboard work numerals      
Shop names      
Road signs      
Road names      
Watching TV      
Theatre visits      
Menus, eg; MacDonalds      
Bathroom scales      
Identifying moving objects      
Locating and reading bus numbers      


General Comments: eg; indicate type of activities if necessary, leisure activities at
home (any comments from parents), general enthusiasm and motivation, any
postural difficulties

 

Additional Activities:

(v) CCTV skills

Name

Please date any entry

SKILL introduced with help no help
Explain purpose of the device      
Operate following controls efficiently:      

main/power plug

      

on-off switch

      

reverse polarity

      

magnification control

      

focus mechanism

      

contrast

      

brightness

      

colour

      

zoom
 
    

typoscope

      
Appreciate controls are interdependent      
Operate the X-Y platform efficiently      
Scan printed material L-R      
Scan printed material from line to line      
Systematic scanning of irregular print:      

columns

      

graphs

      

maps

      

pictures

      
Skimming skills:      

index

      

contents

      

phone book

      

searching for answers

      
Simple writing activities:      

free writing

      

filling in answers/missing words

      


General Comments:

 

(vi) CCTV activities

Name

Please date any entry

Closed circuit televisions are used primarily for reading and writing activities but can be used in other subjects such as science, geography, technology to observe demonstrations or to look at objects in some detail. CCTVs can be used when the student is experiencing visual fatigue when using a hand-held LVA, eg; for reading or for use with homework tasks.

The activities included in the Near Vision/Study/ Living Skills Section are appropriate for developing CCTV skills. Students should also be aware of their potential in other areas including a selection of the following.

ACTIVITY introduced with help no help
Completing forms      
Filling in answers on worksheets      
Geometrical constructions      
Filling in and signing cheques      
Notetaking      
OS mapwork      
Science activities (close inspection)      
Stamps      
Photographs      
Coins and notes      


General Comments: eg; described the actual activity and skill being assessed if not obvious, need for additional training, other activities.

Low vision aids