Functional vision evaluation
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A functional vision evaluation looks at how a student uses their vision in everyday school tasks and settings.
Topic: Vision and hearing
In plain terms
An eye report tells what the eyes can see under test conditions. A functional vision evaluation, usually by a teacher of students with visual impairments, observes how the student actually sees in class: reading, moving around, finding items, seeing the board and handling glare or low contrast. It leads to practical recommendations.
How it shows up in an IEP
The evaluation informs present levels, accommodations such as lighting and print size, and goals for visual skills, device use and orientation.
Example
A functional vision evaluation shows a student misses items on the left side of a worksheet. The IEP adds a goal for systematic scanning and a reminder line on the left margin.
Related terms
- Learning media assessmentA learning media assessment is an evaluation that helps the team decide whether a student with a visual impairment should learn through print, braille or both.
- Low visionLow vision is vision loss that cannot be fully corrected with glasses, contacts, medicine or surgery and affects daily tasks.
- Visual perceptionVisual perception is the brain's ability to make sense of what the eyes see, such as telling shapes apart, finding items and judging space.
- TVI (teacher of students with visual impairments)A TVI is a certified special education teacher who specializes in teaching students who are blind or have low vision.
- Evaluation (special education)A special education evaluation is the set of assessments a school uses to decide whether a child has a disability and what services the child needs.
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