Guide
Common IEP terminology for low vision
Before your have your first IEP meeting, here are ten phrases and terms to become familiar with.
Shortly before my first IEP meeting in kindergarten, my mom befriended a special education teacher who told us about common IEP terminology and helpful terms and phrases to know before the first IEP meeting. Over the years, we’ve learned a lot more about low vision IEPs and disability accommodations, and today I will be sharing ten phrases to know before the first IEP meeting, and common IEP terminology for low vision.
IEP definition
An Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, is defined as “a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.” Students with IEPs are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, also referred to as IDEA. Students with IEPs receive services from the moment they enter school until the moment they graduate or turn 22, whichever comes first.
Related links
- Introduction To Low Vision IEPs: Post Round Up
- Explaining Child Study Teams Using The Scientific Method
- Eight Things You Need To Know About Your Disability Accommodations
- Transitioning to a 504 Plan Before College
The 13 conditions
There are 13 conditions covered by IEPs. These conditions are:
- Specific learning disability
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Emotional disturbance
- Speech or language impairment
- Visual impairment, including blindness
- Deafness
- Hearing impairment
- Deafblindness
- Orthopedic impairment
- Intellectual disability
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple disabilities
- Other health impairment
I bolded the term “visual impairment including blindness” because many students with low vision are often put into a different category due to the school overlooking the vision impairment box. My school struggled to figure out what box to check for me, until my parents suggested visual impairment. Even though I also have a neurological condition that could be listed as “Other Health Impairment”, my classroom accommodations are primarily focused on vision.
Related links
- How I Respond To Questions/Comments About My Eyes
- Having An Undiagnosed Chronic Illness In High School
- How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity
Teacher of the visually impaired (TVI)
The teacher of the visually impaired, also known as a TVI (or TSVI), works with the school, teachers, and student to adapt the educational environment for students with vision loss. They are certified by the state to work with visually impaired students and can visit as often as needed. I did not work with my TVI directly in the classroom, but I would meet with them about once every other week during a free period.
Related links
- Ten Lessons My TVI Taught Me
- Ten Things I Wish My TVI Taught Me About Transition
- Eight Things I’m Glad My TVI Taught Me About Transition
Print disability
One time, when I couldn’t see a worksheet that the teacher had given me, I was told out of frustration that I just needed to sit there and try harder to see it, which would be impossible since I have a print disability. Print disabilities are defined as organic dysfunctions that prevent a student from being able to read standard print. Two examples of conditions that would cause print disabilities are vision impairment and learning disabilities.
Related links
- Five Myths About Print Disabilities
- What I’ve Learned About Print Disabilities
- My Eight Favorite Free Fonts For Print Disabilities
Accessible materials
If a student has a print disability, then they qualify for accessible materials. This can include large print, Braille, digital formats, audio recordings, or similar. The IEP typically defines what accessible materials look like for each student, including details such as page size, font size, paper color, and more.
Related links
- Ten Spooky Inaccessible Assignments and How To Fix Them
- Common File Types For Vision Impairment and Print Disabilities
- How I Document Accessibility Preferences With Low Vision
- Paper Colors And Low Vision
- Low Vision Accommodations For Print Materials
Accessible textbooks
For textbooks or other learning materials, schools may utilize outside services to create accessible materials. Here in Virginia, students receive textbooks and educational materials from AIM-VA free of charge. Students with print disabilities can also receive books from Bookshare for free.
Related links
Accessible testing
If a student uses accessible materials in the classroom, then they will need the same accommodations and materials when taking standardized tests. While this might not be directly written into the IEP, students need an IEP for testing accommodations.
Related links
- SAT Accommodations for Low Vision
- ACT Accommodations For Low Vision
- State Standardized Tests/ SOL Accommodations For Low Vision
- AP Exam Accommodations For Low Vision
- Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students
- Remote Testing Accommodations For Low Vision
Low vision (or other) specialist
Before the first IEP meeting, families are required to get proof of disability from a specialist. For me, I would visit my low vision specialist who would certify that I had low vision and required large print in the classroom. This has to be recertified on an annual basis.
In sixth grade, I had eye surgery performed by a low vision specialist in New York. This was more than 150 miles away from my school in Virginia, and my school stated that they would not accept the report from the specialist in New York, since they were out of state and I have never lived there. We had to find a local specialist that could certify my low vision and help me get additional accommodations following my surgery.
Related links
- My Experience With Decompensated Strabismus Eye Surgery
- Veronica’s Four Eyes: All About My Glasses For Low Vision
Assistive technology
I had never heard of the term assistive technology until I was in high school, and now I’m studying it at college. The legal definition of assistive technology is “Any item, piece of equipment or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of children with disabilities.” Assistive technology is so important because it helps students succeed inside and outside the classroom. My IEP did not mention any specific types of assistive technology, because I was constantly checking out new devices and learning all I could.
Related links
- Five Myths About Assistive Technology
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- How To Embrace Assistive Technology With Limited Funding
Occupational therapy (OT)
Occupational therapy helps people of all ages, however in the context of working in schools, occupational therapy helps students with disabilities and other impairments to participate fully in educational and social activities. The occupational therapist will meet with students to complete exercises, work with assistive technology, and assist students with learning to complete basic tasks. My mom and I worked closely with an occupational therapist in elementary school, who told us that if we started with services early, then I would have a strong foundation for the future. This has proven true time and time again, and I am extremely grateful for all the ways my occupational therapist helped me- thank you, Mrs. W!
Related links
- How I Use Technology To Improve Handwriting
- Why I Prefer My Schoolwork Digitally: Updated Edition
- Dear Elementary School Teacher
Adaptive PE
Adaptive PE provides alternative physical education classes and activities for students with disabilities or injuries. I was referred to adaptive PE in high school and the teacher did an assessment to figure out what exercises I could do, though adaptive PE is available for students in all grades. Some of my friends also were referred to the service after having surgery and benefited a lot from the customized instruction.
Related links
- Gym Classes and Low Vision
- Eyes Free Fitness Review
- Creating Custom Workouts With Amazon Alexa
- Creating Audio Description For Dance Tutorials With YouDescribe
Self-advocacy
Self-advocacy is defined as “the action of representing oneself or one’s views or interests.” In the context of disability and IEP goals, another definition that is frequently used is “the process by which a person controls their own life.” This was my biggest IEP goal, so it came up at literally every IEP meeting I ever attended, and it’s something I had to practice a lot in high school. I have an entire post dedicated to learning to self-advocate below.
Related links
- Learning to Self-Advocate
- Ways To Practice Self-Advocacy In The Virtual Classroom
- Tips For Handling Academic Ableism In The Classroom
- What If I Have To Report Disability Accommodation Violations?
List of common IEP terminology for low vision
- An Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, is defined as “a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.”
- There are 13 disability categories for IEPs, one of which is visual impairment
- The teacher of the visually impaired, also known as a TVI, works with the school, teachers, and student to adapt the educational environment for students with vision loss.
- Print disabilities are defined as organic dysfunctions that prevent a student from being able to read standard print
- Accessible materials can include large print, Braille, digital formats, audio recordings, or similar.
- Low vision specialists can provide proof of disability and provide guidance about accessible materials
- Occupational therapy helps people of all ages, however in the context of working in schools, occupational therapy helps students with disabilities and other impairments to participate fully in educational and social activities
- Adaptive PE provides alternative physical education classes and activities for students with disabilities or injuries
- Self-advocacy is learning how to speak up for yourself, as well as learning, building a support network, problem-solving, and knowing when to reach out for help
By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com
Updated October 2023; original post published January 2018.
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