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As the term indicates, a visual impairment involves an issue with sight which interferes with a student’s academic pursuits. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) officially defines the category as “an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child’s educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness.”

Early intervention can help a child strengthen his or her vision. This means that as a parent, you should waste no time if you suspect that your child possesses a visual impairment.

While the causes vary, there are several common signs which may indicate that a child has a visual impairment. These include:Irregular eye movements (for instance, eyes that don’t move together or that appear unfocused)Unusual habits (such as covering one eye or frequently rubbing eyes)Sitting abnormally close to a television or holding a book close to the face

Plan ahead. You can arrange to speak with school officials or teachers before the school year even begins. If the year has started, plan to speak with a teacher or counselor on at least a monthly basis.Make meetings happen. Agree on a time that works for both you and your child’s teacher and stick to it. If it’s convenient, meet in your child’s classroom so you can get a sense of their physical learning environment.Create goals together. Discuss your hopes for your child’s school success. Together, write down specific and realistic goals and talk about how to help your child reach them.Listen carefully. Like you, your child’s teacher wants to see them succeed at school. Listen to what they have to say—even if it is sometimes hard to hear. Understanding your child’s challenges in school is the key to finding solutions that work.Share information. You know your child’s history, and your child’s teacher sees them every day: together you have a lot of information that can lead to better understanding of your child’s hardships. Share your observations freely, and encourage your child’s teachers to do the same.Ask the hard questions and give a complete picture. Be sure to list any medications your child takes and explain any other treatments. Share with the teacher which tactics work well—and which don’t—for your child at home. Ask if your child is having any problems in school, including on the playground. Find out if they are eligible for any special services to help with learning.

Minnesota's child protection system responds to situations where children are alleged to be maltreated and helps support families to safely care for their children.

In Minnesota, approximately 25,000 children are reported for abuse and neglect to the child protection system each year, which counties and tribes assess

Small steps • Meet and greet your neighbors to generate a friendly environment. • Get to know other parents in your neighborhood. • Help families under stress by offering to babysit or run errands. • Provide food to families in need. • Volunteer at schools, libraries, community centers or other locations that offer children's activities. • Talk with children one-on-one to develop a sense of connection. • Report any concerns about a child being harmed to local county social services agency or the police. Big steps

The involvement and progress of the child with a disability in the general curriculum. All related services for which the child qualifies. Appropriate educational accommodations necessary for the child to be successful. The child's present levels of educational performance. Measurable annual goals and objectives for the child's education.

So how can you help?

Listening to children’s feelings.

Rewarding effort, not just “the product.”