"Vision Impairment" Quest

Can Kids Who are Blind Read Books?

Follow the 10 steps below for your Web Quest.

• Step 1:  See what you think about kids with vision impairement.  Take the Attitude Checkup" 
  

• Step 2:  Think about some questions ask.  Let's see...  

• Step 3:  Check out some quick facts.

• Step 4:  Check out some great websites to start our search.
  

• Step 5: Now look at even more cool sites.

• Step 6:  Find out about people we can read about to help with our Quest. 

• Step 7:  Learn about videos/books that can give us information.
  

• Step 8:  Check out your own environment to look for barriers in your school and neighborhood.
  

• Step 9:  Just for fun...  Learn how the eye works and why some kids need glasses.

• Step 10:  Now check and see if your attitudes have changed.  Take the Attitude Checkup again.

Let's See...

If kids can't see, can they read and write like other kids?  What causes vision loss?  How do people with vision impairments get around? Does being blind make you sad all the time?  Can a blind person go shopping? Do blind kids recognize colors?

Some things to think about....

• Can someone who is blind use money?

• Can someone who can't see match the colors of their clothes in morning?

• Is it ok to pet a seeing eye dog?

• Should I help someone who can't see cross the street?

• How do people who are blind read the newspaper?

Can you think of more questions to help us in our Quest?  Write them down so that you'll remember them as you search the Internet.  

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Quick Facts

Here are some little known facts that may help you answer some of your Web Quest questions.  Remember, these facts will only give you basic information.  You'll need to search the Web further to find more in-depth information for your Quest.

• There are approximately 10 to 11 million blind and visually impaired people in North America.

• Nearly two-thirds of children with vision impairment also have at least one other developmental disability, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, or epilepsy.

• Vision impairment is more common in older people.
  

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Web Search Locations

Search these sites for information to help you in your Web Quest.  Each site looks at the topic under investigation from a different point of view.  Each site may have more links to send you off in new directions. 

Kids Health: What is Vision Impairment

What would life be like if you couldn't see a dog wag its tail or watch a ladybug crawl through the green grass? You might try to imagine it. But for some kids, using their imagination doesn't help because they can't see. These kids are blind or visually impaired. Learn about:

• What vision impairment is and what causes it.

• How a doctor tests for vision impairment and how vision impairments are treated.

• How kids with vision impairment learn.

• What it is like to live with vision impairment.

National Federation of the Blind check out some questions from kids about blindness and read the answers.

Guide Dogs for the Blind:  Access and Etiquette

Guide dogs help their masters travel independently and move gracefully and safely through crowds and across streets. People's reactions to the dogs vary—some want to pet, feed, or interact with the dogs, while others believe dogs should not be allowed in public places. Learn about what you should do when you see a guide dog with a person who is blind. 

CDC's Vision Impairment Site

This site answers many questions that can help on our Quest:

• What is vision impairment?

• How common is vision impairment?

• What causes vision impairment? Can it be prevented?

• What is the cost or economic costs of vision impairment among kids?

• Where can people with vision impairment and their families get information and help?

• How can we improve the health of people with vision impairment?

• Where can I go to learn more about vision impairment?

National Federation of the Blind News Service

People with vision impairments can use their phone to "read" the daily newspaper.

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More Cool Sites

Here are some more cool sites that have information about the topics in this Quest.    

The Braille Bug
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) created the Braille Bug web site to teach sighted children about braille, and to encourage literacy among all children.

Center for Disability Information & Referral:  Disability Awareness for Youth
Learn about braille and how kids who can't see use it to read and write.

Kids Health:  What's color blindness?
To understand what causes color blindness, you need to be cool with cones and what they do. No, not ice cream cones! We're talking about the cones in your eyes.

KidsClick
This reference site was created by librarians.  The simple search engine finds good Internet sites about disabilities and other subjects.  Type in the word "disabilities" or choose "D" in the search subjects by letters option.  

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People

The people featured on these websites may be able to help with your Web Quest.

Tenth Kenyan National Games for the Blind and Partially Sighted
Take a look at photos of kids who have a vision impairment playing various sports.  To view the photos you must scroll to the right.

Famous People who are no longer living:

Helen Keller:  Read the story of a girl who was deaf and blind, but learned to read and write. 

Louise Braille: Learn about the boy who invented braille.

Famous People who you may have seen on TV or in newspapers:

Ray Charles: Read the answers to frequently asked questions about the famous singer and piano player.

Stevie Wonder:  Read about the famous singer and song writer.

Erik Weihenmeyer: Read the story of Erik Weihenmeyer, who is the only blind person to ever stand on Mt. Everest's peak.

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Date: September 28, 2006
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities