Chapter 12 Learners with Blindness or Low Vision
12.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
1) As a disability of children, blindness is
A) one of the most prevalent disabilities.
B) about average in prevalence compared to other sensory disabilities.
C) the least prevalent disability.
D) increasing rapidly in prevalence.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC1K5
2) The legal definition of blindness involves assessment of
A) color perception and visual acuity.
B) field of vision and depth perception.
C) visual acuity and field of vision.
D) depth perception and color perception.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC1K5
3) Even though he has visual acuity of 20/20, Jeff is considered legally blind. This is
possible if he has severely restricted
A) angular vision.
B) peripheral vision.
C) partial vision.
D) low vision.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC1K5
4) A common criticism of legal definitions of blindness is that visual acuity
A) is difficult to measure objectively.
B) doesn’t predict how well people use their remaining sight.
C) is defined in different ways by different professionals.
D) doesn’t provide information about the cause of blindness.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC2K2
5) The educational definition of blindness and low vision stresses
A) the method of reading instruction.
B) using visual acuity as a predictor of how people will function.
C) the method of vision assessment.
D) using whatever remaining sight a person has.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC1K1
6) For educational purposes, individuals who are blind
A) are able to use a magnifying device.
B) can still read print if it is large enough.
C) have absolutely no sight.
D) must use braille or aural methods.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC1K1
7) Many students who are legally blind would not be considered blind from an
educational perspective because they
A) have a coexisting condition.
B) are able to use vision for learning.
C) are able to read Braille.
D) are able to use hearing for learning.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC1K1
8) Some people think both the legal and educational definitions of blindness are flawed
because both focus on
A) method of reading instruction.
B) use of technology.
C) limitations rather than skills.
D) braille or aural methods.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC1K5
9) What percentage of school-aged children does the federal government classify as
visually impaired?
A) 0.5%
B) 0.05%
C) 5.0%
D) 0.005%
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
10) Blindness occurs most often in
A) adulthood.
B) adolescence.
C) early childhood.
D) preadolescence.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
11) The transparent gelatinous substance in the eye is known as the
A) aqueous humor.
B) cornea.
C) vitreous humor.
D) retina.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC2K1
12) The structure in the eye which refines and changes the focus of the light rays is the
A) lens.
B) pupil.
C) vitreous humor.
D) retina.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC2K1
13) The watery substance found between the cornea and lens of the eye is the
A) aqueous humor.
B) vitreous humor.
C) cornea.
D) iris.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC2K1
14) The colored portion of the eye that contracts or expands depending on the amount of
light striking it is the
A) pupil.
B) lens.
C) iris.
D) cornea.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC2K1
15) Each of the following is a limitation of the Snellen Chart EXCEPT
A) It measures visual acuity for distant but not near objects.
B) It does not accurately indicate visual efficiency.
C) It depends on a person’s ability to recognize letters.
D) It does not accurately indicate how a person uses vision in natural settings.
Praxis: III.C.
CEC: CC8K4
16) Janice is described as being able to detect some objects in the environment when they
are fully lit. This is an example of a skill a teacher might note when performing a
A) functional vision assessment.
B) visual acuity assessment.
C) visual efficiency assessment.
D) visual sensitivity assessment.
Praxis: III.C.
CEC: CC8K1
17) David has myopia. Another term for this condition is
A) nearsightedness.
B) farsightedness.
C) blurred vision.
D) color blindness.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
18) Clara has good vision for assignments written on the blackboard, but she has
difficulty with the print in her textbook. She may have a refraction problem known as
A) myopia.
B) hyperopia.
C) astigmatism.
D) glaucoma.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
19) The condition that results when the cornea or lens of the eye is irregular resulting in
blurred vision is known as
A) myopia.
B) hyperopia.
C) astigmatism.
D) glaucoma.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
20) A group of eye diseases that cause damage to the optic nerve is
A) myopia.
B) hyperopia.
C) glaucoma.
D) cataracts.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
21) A condition that involves an underdevelopment of part of the eye and is often
associated with brain abnormalities such that a child is at risk for speech and
cognitive disabilities is
A) retinopathy of prematurity.
B) optic nerve hypoplasia.
C) fetal alcohol syndrome.
D) cortical visual impairment.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
22) Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is caused by
A) premature birth.
B) excessive oxygen given to infants at birth.
C) fetal alcohol syndrome.
D) degenerative hereditary disease.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
23) A hereditary disease that usually causes the field of vision to narrow and also affects
night vision is
A) diabetic retinopathy.
B) nystagmus.
C) cortical visual impairment.
D) retinitis pigmentosa.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
24) A condition characterized by a preference for looking at near objects, non-purposeful
gazing, distinct color preferences, attraction to rapid movements, and abnormal visual
reflexes is
A) cortical visual impairment.
B) strabismus.
C) retinitis pigmentosa.
D) nystagmus.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
25) As a result of improper muscle functioning, Zelda’s eyes are misaligned. This
description suggests which one of the following conditions?
A) strabismus
B) coloboma
C) retinitis pigmentosa
D) nystagmus
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
26) In comparison to sighted children, children who are blind
A) have a few subtle differences in language functioning.
B) differ with regard to all major aspects of language.
C) are not impaired in language functioning.
D) have restricted language development due to their lack of visual experiences.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K5
27) Most professionals now agree that the intelligence of people with blindness
A) is usually higher than that of people with sight.
B) is markedly lower than that of people with sight.
C) is slightly lower than that of people with sight.
D) can’t be compared directly to that of people with sight.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC8K4
28) Which of the following statements about the conceptual abilities of children with
visual impairment is true?
A) The performance of infants with visual problems is the same as that of their
peers with sight on conceptual tasks.
B) Adults need to directly encourage infants and toddlers with vision problems to
explore their environment as they are less likely than their sighted peers to do
so on their own.
C) Touch is just as efficient as sight for arriving at conceptualizations of objects.
D) Infants with vision problems pick up information incidentally in the same way
as their peers with sight.
Praxis: I.A.
CEC: CC2K4
29) A skill used by people who are blind to aid them in acquiring mobility is
A) sequential mapping.
B) spatial ability.
C) Doppler effect.
D) tactual perception.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC4S1
30) When walking, Lisa, an eighteen-year-old with blindness, has learned to attend to
the subtle changes in pitch of echoes from objects as she moves towards them.
Which phenomenon is responsible for these changes?
A) obstacle sense
B) Doppler effect
C) echolalia
D) tactual perception
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC3K1
31) People who are blind
A) develop better acuity in their other senses.
B) are superior to sighted people in musical ability.
C) have lowered thresholds for sensation in touch and hearing.
D) learn to make better use of the sensations they obtain.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC3K1
32) The lower achievement scores of students who are blind or who have low vision is
most likely due to
A) their visual problem itself.
B) their listening skills.
C) emphasis on using braille forms of achievement tests.
D) lack of exposure to braille or low expectations.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K2
33) Social adjustment problems for children with visual impairment are most likely the
result of
A) inherent personality problems.
B) society’s reaction to people who are blind.
C) stereotypic behaviors.
D) blindisms which cannot be controlled.
Praxis: II.B.
CEC: CC2K2
34) People with sight can facilitate communication with people who are blind by
A) using “telephone skills” when conversing in person.
B) telling the person who is blind when they are smiling.
C) avoiding use of visual cues such as smiling.
D) eliminating reference to sight or color.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC6S1
35) Repetitive movements such as rocking, rubbing the eyes, and grimacing displayed by
some people who are blind are known as
A) blindisms.
B) redundant behavior.
C) stereotypic behavior.
D) perseverations.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC3K1
36) The basic unit of braille is a
A) single dot.
B) word.
C) cell of dots.
D) circular array of dots.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC7K1
37) Approximately what percentage of the population of people with blindness currently
uses braille as a primary reading method?
A) 12%
B) 34%
C) 62%
D) 84%
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC7K1
38) The National Federation of the Blind had a braille bill passed to
A) ensure that teachers of students with visual impairment are proficient in
braille.
B) require braille instruction for all students with visual impairment.
C) increase the availability of devices like the Kurzweil Personal Reader.
D) provide funding for students to attend special schools to learn braille.
Praxis: II.A.
CEC: CC7K1
39) The major disadvantage of large-print books is that they
A) are not available in libraries.
B) take up a great deal of storage space.
C) encourage students to be dependent on them.
D) take much longer to read.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC7K1
40) Use of compressed speech enables students with blindness to
A) listen to recorded texts at a faster rate.
B) tape record reports rather than type them.
C) develop better listening skills.
D) participate more fully in class discussions.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC7K1
41) Which mobility aid is most often recommended by professionals?
A) the long cane
B) a guide dog
C) tactile maps
D) human guides
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC4S1
42) An advantage of using guide dogs is that
A) they require extensive training.
B) they walk fast.
C) they detect obstacles sooner than a cane.
D) the dog leads so the person who is blind does not have to remember as many
locations.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC4S1
43) All of the following are appropriate actions pertaining to guide dogs and their owners
EXCEPT
A) Patting the dog after asking the owner’s permission.
B) Approaching the person on the side opposite from the dog.
C) Asking the person if he or she needs assistance before offering it.
D) Holding the dog’s harness when you are asked to lead the person somewhere.
Praxis: II.B.
CEC: CC2K3
44) Guide dogs must learn each of the following except
A) keep on a direct route, ignoring distractions.
B) see when a traffic light has changed color.
C) stop at all curbs until told to go.
D) lie quietly when the handler is sitting down.
Praxis: II.B.
CEC: CC2K3
45) When guiding a person who is blind, you should
A) take his or her arm and push him/her ahead of you.
B) let the person take your arm and walk slightly behind you.
C) walk at a slower pace than normal.
D) allow the person to go through a door ahead of you.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC4S5
46) Oscar, a ninth grader who is blind, uses a device that converts regular print into
synthesized speech. What is the machine called?
A) Descriptive Video Service
B) VersaBraille
C) Kurzweil 1000
D) Kurzweil Personal Reader
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC7S9
47) Historically, residential institutions were the preferred means of service delivery
because they
A) offered a number of specialized services in one place.
B) provided more opportunities for social development.
C) maximized the academic achievement of students with visual impairment.
D) reduced the burden on families of caring for a child with blindness.
Praxis: III.D.
CEC: CC1K1
48) Professionals who work in early intervention programs for infants who are blind
often recommend that initial efforts focus on
A) feeding skills.
B) mobility skills.
C) parents’ feelings.
D) social development.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC7K1
49) Impediments to independent living and feeling comfortable in society for people who
are blind or who have low vision include all of the following EXCEPT
A) paternalistic attitudes.
B) tendency to make superheroes out of people with disabilities for their
accomplishments.
C) difficulty with incidental learning.
D) cognitive deficits.
Praxis: II.B.
CEC: CC4S5
50) Each of the following is an accommodation that can be made on the job for those
who are blind or who have low vision EXCEPT
A) better lighting.
B) prompt snow removal.
C) obstacle-free hallways.
D) more time off.
Praxis: III.D.
CEC: CC4S6
12.2 True/False Questions
1) The majority of people who are legally blind have some useful vision.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC1K5
2) Blindness is primarily an adult disability.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
3) Most authorities believe that lack of vision significantly alters the ability to understand
and use language. Answer: FALSE
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K2
4) People who are blind have an extra sense that enables them to detect obstacles.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K5
5) Most people with visual impairment use braille as their primary method of reading.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC2K2
6) Children spontaneously compensate for poor vision by developing superior
listening skills.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K1
7) Authorities recommend the use of guide dogs as the most efficient mobility aid for
most persons who are blind.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC4S1
8) Itinerant teacher services to a general education classroom is the most popular
placement for students with visual impairments.
Praxis: III.B.
CEC: CC7K1
9) Most students who are blind receive the necessary training in daily living skills to live
independently.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC4S6
10) Adults who are blind are employed at about half the rate of those who are sighted.
Praxis: III.D.
CEC: CC4S6
12.3 Short Answer Questions
1) Write a case description of a student who is defined as legally blind but has low
vision from an educational perspective.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC1K5
2) Describe two behavioral, two appearance, and two complaint signs that might
indicate a student has a vision problem.
Praxis: I.C.
CEC: CC2K1
3) Compare the language development of children who are blind or have low vision to
that of children with sight and describe a problem associated with measuring
intelligence in students who are blind.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K5
4) Explain why there is a common misconception that people who are blind develop
an “extra sense.”
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K5
5) Describe stereotypic behaviors and explain why some professionals think a goal
should be elimination of such behaviors while others think they should not be
interfered with.
Praxis: I.B.
CEC: CC2K1
6) What are the advantages and disadvantages of the following mobility aids: the long
cane, human guides, and guide dogs?
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC4S5
7) Provide brief descriptions for at least four examples of technological aids for
communication, information access, and orientation and mobility. Then
summarize cautions when considering use of technology.
Praxis: III.E.
CEC: CC7S9
8) Which skills should be the focus of assessment for students with visual
impairments, and how should those skills be assessed?
Praxis: III.C.
CEC: CC8K4
9) Describe two reasons why many adolescents and young adults with visual
impairments might have problems becoming independent.
Praxis: II.B.
CEC: CC7S14
10) Describe four ways that special and general education teachers can
collaborate to serve students with visual impairments.
Praxis: III.B.
CEC: CC10K1
Chapter 12 Learners with Blindness or Low Vision
12.1 Multiple-Choice Questions
12.2 True/False Questions
12.3 Short Answer Questions
