College of Education and Human Development

Faculty in Mason’s Special Education Program Authors Chapter in Book for Teacher Candidates Entering Field of Special Education

Kimberly Avila

Kimberly Avila, assistant professor in the Special Education program within the School of Education at George Mason University, wrote a chapter appearing in a recently published book titled Exceptionality in Schools and Society: A Guide for Future Educators. The chapter, “Teaching Students with Blindness and Visual Impairment,” provides teacher candidates entering the field of special education with an overview of how blindness and visual impairment impacts access to education. In authoring this chapter, Avila discusses the special education referral and eligibility process, Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements, accommodations, technologies for students with visual impairments, and instructional strategies. The chapter details the collaborative role of teachers of students with blindness and visual impairment, general education teachers, special educators, para-educators, and administrators as they team to provide inclusive and appropriate education for students with visual impairments.

In her writing, Avila emphasizes the diverse nature in which students are identified and referred for blindness and visual impairment services. She also addresses several types of visual impairment, including those that are ocular, brain-based, and ocular motor in nature, varied characteristics presented by students, impacts on education, and methods to deliver relevant services. In addition, Avila details the spectrum of visual impairment, from total blindness to low vision, with information on meaningful assessment specific to varied needs of students. The chapter features a table summarizing common technologies in the visual impairment field that are becoming more widely available and which address myriad student needs. A discussion of accessibility as a method to ensure equitable access to education for all students, including those with various conditions affecting vision, is also included in the chapter.

Avila explained why she wrote this chapter and how it aligns with her research interests. “As the professor-in-charge of Mason’s Teacher Preparation Program in Blindness and Visual Impairment, I am committed to equipping all educators with information to address meeting the needs of students with blindness and visual impairment,” she stated.

“Many students with visual impairments do not present with obvious characteristics that their vision, ocular motor skills, or brain-based condition impacts access to education,” Avila continued. “This chapter aims to inform all educators of blindness and visual impairment as it may present in the overall population of children and students in schools today. Likewise, the summaries of vision conditions, evaluation procedures, terminology, and accommodations are reviewed to allow teachers access to fundamental information as they prepare to work with students who are visually impaired in various settings.”

Avila ended her remarks by expressing her gratitude for the opportunity allowing her to provide content specific to students with blindness and visual impairment for inclusion in the book. She stated, “I would like to thank Dr. Donna Sacco and Dr. Christopher O’Brien from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte for the incredible collaborative opportunity to author this chapter and for their dedication in ensuring teacher candidates are provided with an overview of blindness and visual impairment in the school years as part of their comprehensive book. I had the pleasure of collaborating with Dr. Sacco as we both pursued our PhD’s at Mason and am grateful for the continued scholarship as we both work to further our fields of practice.”

The book containing the chapter written by Avila is available for purchase and may be ordered by clicking here.

More information about Mason degree offerings in Special Education, with a concentration in Blindness and Visual Impairments PK-12, may be accessed on the Special Education program website.