Variable Lighting in the Classroom
If your braille-reading student has some usable vision, it will be necessary to find out about how their vision functions in different environments. For example, your braille-reading student may be affected by different lighting in the classroom. While some students may need added light to access information, such as different colours and shapes, others may need limited lighting to reduce glare. Most classrooms come with variable lighting controls that allow you to turn on or turn off specific rows of lighting.
It is important to remember that, every eye condition is different. Your student's TVI will complete a Functional Vision Assessment that will help you understand how different types of lighting may affect your student’s learning.
To help determine lighting needs for your student, find out the following information:
- Review previous functional vision assessments and eye-care specialist reports to find out specific information about your student's vision.
- Talk to your students' TVI and previous classroom teachers about any lighting adaptations they may have made for your student.
- Take the time to speak to your braille-reading student about what types of lighting may help him or her in their learning.