When I experienced a significant vision decline in high school, one of the most common questions from my teachers, case manager, and teacher of the visually impaired (TVI/TSVI) was “so what can you see?” I was the only student identified with low vision at my…

I frequently get questions about the most common classroom accommodations for low vision from parents, students, and support team members trying to figure out what accommodations they need for Student Assistance Plans (SAPs), 504 Plans, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and college Disability Services files. While…

Eight items every student must know about their IEP so they can self-advocate.

As a student with low vision who also has photophobia/photosensitivity to bright lights, I often take vision breaks throughout the day to rest my eyes. When I’m working on visually demanding tasks such as reading, working on my computer, or taking notes in a classroom,…

I have an eye and brain condition affected by flashing lights. Here’s how I work with instructors to modify assignments and course content as needed

When I was in middle school and high school, I frequently experienced anxiety related to receiving IEP disability accommodations for visual impairment. There were times where I felt my disability made me stand out a lot and that it was obvious that I had trouble…

How my support team implemented “quiet place” accommodations so I could manage visual fatigue and sensory overload at school

When I was in middle and high school, many teachers and school staff members encouraged me to develop strong self-advocacy skills so that I could feel comfortable talking about my low vision and what accommodations I would need in the classroom. Talking to a substitute…

When preparing for an IEP meeting, a 504 Plan meeting, or a Disability Services meeting, parents and students will often be asked to come up with sample accommodations that can be used to provide services for students in the classroom. However, it can be very…

My experiences with my state Protection and Advocacy organization, and why every student with a disability should know about them

Here are the accommodations I request for accessible print materials

When I was in middle school and high school, I didn’t know very much about document accessibility or how to create or remediate accessible assignments for low vision, but I could quickly figure out if someone handed me an assignment if I could read it…