Blind/Visually Impaired Program

The BVI Program provides accommodation services to prospective and current students who are blind or have low vision. Most students with visual impairments have some usable vision. A person is declared "legally blind" when, with best correction, he/she can see less at 20 feet than a person with normal vision can see at 200 feet. Although not declared legally blind, a person is considered visually impaired if he/she sees no better at 20 feet than those with normal vision see at 70 feet.  

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for services with SAC and the BVI Program, students must have a documented disability which represents a significant barrier to one of life’s major activities. 

Current and comprehensive documentation of the disability is required in order to be eligible for the program.

If you are an individual who is blind or visually impaired and are interested in learning more about what UW-Milwaukee has to offer, feel free to contact  Jean Salzer at 414-229-5660.

Suggestions for prospective students – after you have been accepted:

There will be many new things to learn, not the least of which is how to get around campus. The following suggestions will help you come to campus prepared to learn.

• Contact your Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor if you haven’t done so already to discuss your plans. 
• Contact Badger Association of the Blind to learn as much as you can about assistive technology and orientation and mobility training. Badger has staff who can teach you how to use the buses independently and get around campus.
• Contact the UW-Milwaukee Testing Center to set up your placement and/or CLEP testing. Remember to let them know you’ll need accommodations.
• Contact the BVI Program Manager to set up an appointment to discuss your accommodation needs, ideally before the placement testing.

Suggestions for returning students – before the semester begins:

• Meet with the BVI Program Manager to discuss accommodation needs,  review faculty/instructor contacts, and retrieve necessary forms.
• Follow the Alternative Textbook Policy and Procedures if you will be utilizing alternatives to print services; determine how you will receive your textbooks in an accessible format (see Alternative Textbook Program).
• Become acquainted with instructors before the start of the semester to explain your accommodation needs, including lecture, text and exams.
• Inform the BVI Program Manager if you need in-house format changes to course materials or if you have problems/concerns with faculty responses or a lack thereof.

Suggestions for students – during the semester:

• Maintain contact with the BVI Program Manager regarding accommodation needs and potential changes to specific accommodations (e.g., longer test time necessary for math exams)
• Maintain contact with the faculty member/instructor regarding any needs that are not being met in the classroom setting (i.e., notetaker lacks skills, visuals are not being described well, etc.)
• If you are taking exams with the Student Accessibility Center, schedule those exams and complete (or ask for assistance to complete) the alternative testing forms in a timely manner (by the fourth week of the semester or as soon as you are aware a test will be given)

Services – for students

Students who meet eligibility criteria receive self-advocacy counseling, individual advising and liaison assistance. In addition, students may be eligible for academic accommodations based upon specific disability-related needs.

These accommodations may include but are not limited to:

• Priority Registration
• Notetaking Assistance
• Exam Accommodations
• Alternatives to Print for Exams and Textbooks
• Assistive Technology Assessment and referral
• Tutoring
• Classroom Orientation Tours
• Laboratory and Library Assistance

Suggestions – for faculty/staff:

• Decide which text you will use at least two months before the semester begins, as it takes this long for alternative formats to be created.
• Meet with a student who has requested accommodations to work out a plan for the semester (text, classroom, exams).
• Provide specific verbal reference and description for visual materials provided in class.
• Try to find a way for the student to touch in place of ‘looking at’ things whenever possible.
• Be patient. The student must rely on memory and needs time to tie thoughts together with few, if any, visual reference points.
• Partially sighted students will require a clear copy, possibly in large print of handouts. SAC provides enlargement services.
• For exams, give BVI students an equal chance but not an advantage, i.e., do not let a BVI student use notes if the other students are not allowed to do so.
• Extra time may be necessary for research papers, as coordination of research assistance may be involved. This will be noted on the student’s VISA as necessary and is used minimally.
• Encourage students to utilize SAC’s services.
• Things You Need to Know about Students with Blindness and Visual Impairments

Services – for faculty and staff

Students who are blind or visually impaired are fully capable of completing the same coursework that students without sensory impairments are. They may, however, require assistance or accommodations to create equal access to the coursework. BVI students often develop their own alternative techniques to learning. Part of the BVI Program includes faculty and staff orientation to these and other techniques. It may be as simple as a phone call or it may mean a short meeting, but the program is dedicated to assisting in any way it can. Feel free to contact the BVI Program if you have any questions.