Child’s Placement, Essay Example

The first step that I would take upon learning of this child’s placement in my classroom would be to ascertain the extent of this child’s visual impairment and when the impairment occurred. Determining whether the child is blind or has low vision would affect the future planning that I would undertake for this child.  I would also find out which resources were available for the child through both the school and his or her family, as well as determine the child’s educational experiences prior to entering my class.  My expectations for the child would be similar to those I would have for any child, as it’s my understanding that children with vision impairments benefit greatly from being treated like their peers.  I would undertake to make my classroom a welcoming environment that would encourage this child to take personal risks and develop strong relationships with his or her peers.  I would take steps to adapt my classroom environment to accommodate the student’s needs so that he or she would feel safe and would be encouraged to obtain the highest level of participation and mobility.  I would expect my school to assist in providing learning resources and technologies that would allow the student to participate fully in the learning experience.  I would further educate myself, as well as expect support from my school, in adaptive techniques that would suit the child’s particular needs.  This might include rearranging the desks and tables in the classroom and placing the child at a desk that has good access to natural lighting and is close to the blackboard.  Other resources could include large print books, magnifiers, and digital readers. I would also expect my school to provide access to individuals who can better help me understand the implications of visual impairments on the educational process so that I might provide the best possible learning plan for this student.