Special Senses

Visual Impairment and Blindness
Learning Disabilities
Deaf and Hearing Impaired
Attention Deficit Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Visual Impairment and Blindness

Visual impairment is defined as any dysfunction in the perception of light. It may be a permanent or temporary condition, and may range from partial to complete in severity. Blindness is the complete loss of vision. It is important to note that the legal definition of blindness differs from the literal definition. An individual with a severe visual impairment may be considered legally blind. Causes of visual impairments or blindness are varied and may or may not involve other body systems. Individuals who are blind or are visually impaired will require different degrees of accommodation depending on the degree of impairment. Orientation to a geographical location, books and academic materials in alternate formats, extra time to take examinations (i.e., to facilitate a reader and scribe), and taping class lectures are some of the available accommodations utilized by person who are visually impaired or blind. SSD does provides adaptive technology and software for students who are blind or visually impaired.

Learning Disabilities

The definition utilized by the California State University is as follows: A generic term that refers to the heterogeneous group of disorders manifested by significant difficulties in the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning or mathematical abilities. These disorders occur in persons of average to very superior intelligence and are presumed to be due to a central nervous system dysfunction. Even though a learning disability may exist concomitantly with other handicapping conditions (e.g. sensory impairment) or environmental influences (e.g., cultural/language difference) it is not the direct result of those conditions or influences.”

In spite of the student's intelligence and efforts, academic performance is often inconsistent. Difficulties may exist in several areas for a student with learning disabilities. Eye-hand coordination, high levels of distractibility, visual discrimination, auditory discrimination and comprehension, visual or auditory perception, memory, spatial orientation and time management are some of the areas in which an individual with learning disabilities experiences difficulty. Accommodations vary according to the nature of the learning disability.

(Click Here) For more information on learning disabilities, types and relevant accommodations,

Deaf and Hearing Impaired

Deafness is the total loss of hearing or a loss to the point the student's hearing is nonfunctional for the usual needs of life. Hard of hearing refers to a partial loss. Types of accommodations that may be used are sign language interpreters, amplifiers, auditory trainers, closed captioned videos and films, preferential seating, notetakers and real time captioning. The SSD office will assist faculty and staff in working with sign language interpreters, amplifiers or real time captionists.

Attention Deficit Disorder Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

is a syndrome characterized by various learning and behavioral problems, including short attention span, impulsivity, and sometimes hyperactivity, without any major physical or psychiatric cause. Taping lectures may help the student to "fill in the gaps". A selective classroom setting and a distraction-free testing environment may be appropriate academic accommodations.

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