Services for the Blind

... a person shall be considered blind whose central visual acuity does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses or whose visual acuity, if better than 20/200, has a limit to the central field of vision to such a degree that its widest diameter subtends an angle of no greater than 20 degrees.

In contrast, Hoover and Bledsoe (Stolov & Clowers, 1981, p. 377) report that the term blindness refers to " ... anatomic and functional disturbances of the sense of vision of sufficient magnitude to cause total loss of light perception." The term visual impairment is defined by the American Medical Association (Renston, 1988, p. 46) as " ... any deviation from the generally accepted norm which affects (a) central visual function; (b) peripheral visual function; (c) binocular visual function; or (d) color perception. The deviation may be anatomic or functional, partial or total, and temporary, reversible, progressive, or permanent." There are also numerous definitions for the term legally blind (Braille Institute, 1988; Renston, 1988; White & Schllosinger, 1988). As per the Braille Institute (1988, p. 11), the term "legally blind" is defined as: " ... even with maximum correction the person has no more than 10% of normal vision in the better eye

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clothes, money, valuables, and food without the presence of visual cues. In addition to these functional losses, there are other important social and psychological losses, including the loss of: physical integrity; confidence in the remaining senses; reality contact with the environment; visual perception of the pleasurable; light security; visual perception of the beautiful; several types of recreation designed for the sighted; career choices; job opportunities; financial security; personal independence; social adequacy; self-esteem; anonymity; and total personality organization. While not every blind or visually impaired individual will manifest all of these losses, it is clear that the above list is formidable. Further, given that these losses are interrelated, the rehabilitation program must necessarily address the whole complex of problems that are associated with lost or impaired vision. The Braille Institute (1990) reports that those individuals experiencing blindness or visual impairment typically encounter problems with relationships, particularly with those close to them, their families and friends, and for adults, their co-workers. There are often periods of adjustment necessary, particularly for those individuals
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Braille Institute, Rehabilitation Act, Apples IBMS, Department Justice, Association Renston, Blind Rehabilitation, Television Magnifier, Braille Institute's, Independent Living, Stolov Clowers, braille institute, visually impaired, and/or visually, blind and/or, blind and/or visually, and/or visually impaired, blind visually, renston 1988, blind visually impaired, visual impairment, los angeles, impaired individual, visually impaired individual, angeles braille institute, independent living,
Approximate Word count = 2481
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)