The field of educating students with visual impairments has a long history, beginning with the establishment of the first residential school in France in the late 1700s, continuing with the founding of residential schools in most of the United States, and progressing to the current practice of educating most students in general education classrooms. Although definitions of visual impairment vary widely, educational definitions focus on eye conditions that have an adverse effect on progress in school and include students who are functionally blind and those with low vision. About 1 in every 1,000 students of school age has a visual impairment that influences learning, and about 60 percent of those students have additional disabilities. Visual impairments are caused by a wide variety of conditions related to the eye or to the part of the brain that interprets visual signals. Development, learning, behavior, and social and emotional domains are significantly affected by a visual impairment, and as a result, students with this disability have educational needs that are unique and that must be addressed in a direct manner through specialized instruction.

Students with visual impairments generally are identified early in life by an eye care practitioner, but eligibility for special education services is established through individualized assessments that determine the impact of the visual impairment on learning. Educational placements are the same as those for other students with disabilities, although more of these students may receive home- and center-based services than other young children, and specialized residential options are more often considered than for most students with disabilities. Best practices for students with visual impairments include the provision of instruction in the expanded core curriculum, use of disability-specific principles of special methods, and decisions on appropriate educational placements. The views of parents and families of children with visual impairments vary based on the nature of the visual impairment, the presence of additional disabilities, and the appropriateness of educational placements. The field of educating students with visual impairments is facing a severe personnel shortage and a limited range of placement options, which has the potential to hamper appropriate services for these students.

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