Familiarize a visually impaired student with the floor plan of the classroom. Remind other students to keep walkways clear of book bags and personal items. If desks and tables are moved, orientate the visually impaired student to the changes. Areas that are frequently used by students like exits, places to turn in work and centers should be unobstructed. Teach the visually impaired student routes to the other classrooms, restrooms, water fountains, the main office and the cafeteria. Practice emergency procedures regularly throughout the school year.
Add special supplies and equipment to the classroom. Enlarge worksheets with a photocopier with enlarging capabilities. Provide books and other reading materials in large-print editions. Allow the visually impaired student to use a magnifier like a monocular. Include high-contrast felt pens in the art center and let the student use those for writing assignments. Make a braille writer and a tape recorder part of the classroom's equipment. Keep 3-D models such as animal bones, rocks and fossils in the classroom. Include thermoforms, which are raised line pictures, diagrams or graphs that can be traced with the finger. Keep a sun visor in the classroom to reduce the glare from lights.
Modify classroom instruction. Have the student sit at the front of the room. Say his name when you speak directly to him, and read all notes out loud as you write them. Use specific directions such as "forward," "left" and "right" instead of "over there" and "here." Describe with vivid detail visual aspects of lessons. Provide hands-on activities that promote learning through a sense of touch. Record audio tapes of reading materials and allow the student to tape answers to assignments and test questions.