Study Guide
Overview and Test Objectives
Field 061: Visually Impaired
Test Overview
| Format | Computer-based test (CBT) |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 100 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 2 hours 30 minutes* |
| Passing Score | 220 |
*Does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial
Test Objectives
| Subarea | Range of Objectives | Approximate Percentage of Questions on Test | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | Human Development and Students with Special Educational Needs | 001–010 | 20% |
| II | Visual Impairments | 011–017 | 14% |
| III | Assessment | 018–026 | 16% |
| IV | Program Development and Intervention | 027–046 | 34% |
| V | Professional Knowledge and Legal Issues | 047–054 | 16% |
Hover over each subarea for details of subtest content or see table above.
Sub area 1 20%
Sub area 2 14%
Sub area 3 16%
Sub area 4 34%
Sub area 5 16%
Subarea I—HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Objective 001—Understand human development during infancy.
Includes:
- the characteristics and sequence of physical, sensory, motor, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development in infancy and other developmental issues of particular importance during infancy
Objective 002—Understand human development during early childhood.
Includes:
- the characteristics and sequence of physical, sensory, motor, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development during early childhood and other developmental issues of particular importance during early childhood
Objective 003—Understand human development during middle childhood.
Includes:
- the characteristics and sequence of physical, sensory, motor, cognitive, linguistic, social, and emotional development during middle childhood and other developmental issues of particular importance during middle childhood
Objective 004—Understand human development during adolescence.
Includes:
- characteristics of physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development during adolescence and other developmental issues of particular importance during adolescence
Objective 005—Analyze the effects of physical, biological, cultural, and environmental factors on human development.
Includes:
- the effects of physical, biological, cultural, and environmental factors on cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, physical, sensory, and motor development
Objective 006—Understand mental impairments.
Includes:
- characteristics of students with mental impairments
- the effects of mental impairments on human development, learning, and behavior as they relate to visually impaired and unimpaired students
Objective 007—Understand specific learning disabilities.
Includes:
- characteristics of students with specific learning disabilities
- the effects of learning disabilities on human development, learning, and behavior as they relate to visually impaired and unimpaired students
Objective 008—Understand emotional impairments.
Includes:
- types of social/emotional and behavioral disorders and their characteristics
- the effects of emotional impairments and behavior disorders on human development, learning, and behavior as they relate to visually impaired and unimpaired students
Objective 009—Understand speech, language, and hearing impairments.
Includes:
- major types of speech, language, and hearing impairments and their characteristics
- the effects of speech, language, and hearing impairments on human development, learning, and behavior as they relate to visually impaired and unimpaired students
Objective 010—Understand physical and health impairments.
Includes:
- types of physical and health impairments and their characteristics
- the causes of physical and health impairments
- the effects of physical and health impairments on human development, learning, and behavior as they relate to visually impaired and unimpaired students
Subarea II—VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Objective 011—Identify visual impairments and their characteristics.
Includes:
- the classification and characteristics of visual impairments and degrees of loss
- terms related to visual impairments
- behavior that may indicate the presence of a visual impairment
Objective 012—Analyze the influence of visual impairments on human development.
Includes:
- psychological aspects of visual impairments
- the influence of visual impairments on social, emotional, cognitive, language, sensory, and motor development
Objective 013—Analyze the functional effects of visual impairments.
Includes:
- the effects of visual impairments on learning style, communication skills, daily living skills, and mobility
Objective 014—Understand the causes of visual impairments and methods of prevention.
Includes:
- causes of visual impairments
- factors that affect vision
- methods of preventing visual impairments
- the effects of diseases on vision
Objective 015—Understand anatomical and physiological aspects of vision.
Includes:
- anatomical structures involved in vision and their functions
- processes involved in vision
Objective 016—Understand the basic principles of light and optics.
Includes:
- the properties of light
- the principles of optics and their application to the measurement and physiology of vision
Objective 017—Understand the development of vision and visual perception.
Includes:
- stages, characteristics, and sequences in the development of vision and visual perception
- the characteristics of vision and visual perception at various developmental levels
Subarea III—ASSESSMENT
Objective 018—Understand legal requirements relating to assessment.
Includes:
- state and federal requirements related to screening, referral, and assessment
- the rights of students, parents, and guardians in relation to assessment procedures
- procedures for addressing and correcting violations of rights in relation to assessment
- legal requirements related to nondiscriminatory assessment
Objective 019—Understand formal assessment instruments.
Includes:
- types, characteristics, uses, advantages, and disadvantages of formal assessment instruments
- evaluation criteria and principles, and procedures for selecting formal assessment instruments
Objective 020—Understand methods of informal assessment.
Includes:
- methods, characteristics, uses, advantages, and disadvantages of informal assessments
- principles and procedures for selecting or creating informal assessment methods
Objective 021—Apply methods used to assess functional vision.
Includes:
- tests, procedures, observational techniques, and the selection of assessments and procedures for assessing various aspects of functional vision
- procedures for administering vision assessments to students with visual impairments
- the interpretation of vision assessment data
Objective 022—Apply assessment procedures appropriate for developmental areas, educational achievement, and skills specific to the visually impaired student.
Includes:
- assessment procedures appropriate for developmental areas
- educational achievement
- skills specific to the visually impaired student
Objective 023—Understand tests, procedures, and observational techniques for assessing the orientation skills, mobility skills, and motor development of students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- procedures for selecting, administering, and interpreting data from tests
- procedures for assessing orientation, mobility, and motor development
Objective 024—Understand instruments used in intellectual assessment.
Includes:
- types, characteristics, uses, advantages, and disadvantages of instruments in intellectual assessment
- the interpretation of data provided by intellectual assessment
Objective 025—Apply continuous assessment procedures.
Includes:
- methods and procedures for maintaining and using continuous assessment procedures
- the interpretation and use of continuous assessment data in the revision of IEPs
Objective 026—Apply assessment data to the development and revision of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
Includes:
- the use of functional vision assessment data
- orientation, mobility, and motor development assessment data
- intellectual assessment data
- developmental, achievement, and skill assessment data in the development and revision of IEPs
Subarea IV—PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND INTERVENTION
Objective 027—Identify procedures for conducting a comprehensive evaluation.
Includes:
- components of a comprehensive evaluation used to determine eligibility for special education and related services
- requirements and procedures for conducting a comprehensive evaluation
Objective 028—Understand the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- members of the multidisciplinary evaluation team and the individualized educational planning committee and their roles
- appropriate annual goals and short-term instructional objectives for an IEP
- information that must be specified in an IEP
- requirements for reviewing and revising an IEP
- the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, and guardians in the development of an IEP
Objective 029—Understand the implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- appropriate activities and curriculum components to meet IEP objectives
- procedures for evaluating progress toward IEP goals and objectives
- appropriate ways of communicating with persons involved in the implementation of an IEP
- procedures for modifying and updating an IEP
Objective 030—Analyze the continuum of alternative placements and programs available to individuals with visual impairments.
Includes:
- school and community placement options for students with visual impairments
- community-based services and their characteristics
- placement options and programs within the continuum of services for various students
Objective 031—Identify the roles of personnel who provide ancillary and other related services to students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- the roles of ancillary and related service personnel who may be involved in educational programs for students with visual impairments
Objective 032—Understand sensory training techniques used with students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- factors that influence the use of sensory input in the perceptions of visually impaired individuals
- the use of sensory training techniques, activities, and materials by students with visual impairments
Objective 033—Apply the use of low vision aids.
Includes:
- types, characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and use of low vision aids
- appropriate procedures for instructing and training students with visual impairments in the use and maintenance of low vision aids
Objective 034—Understand basic techniques for teaching orientation and mobility skills to students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- techniques, activities, and devices for orientation and mobility training
- the interpretation of reports and recommendations generated by orientation and mobility specialists
- the roles and responsibilities of the teacher of the visually impaired and the orientation and mobility specialists
Objective 035—Understand literary braille code and the Braille Code of Mathematics and Scientific Notation (Nemeth).
Includes:
- literary and Nemeth braille code
Note: Due to the full implementation of Unified English Braille (UEB) in Michigan, as of January 2016, any items assessing literary braille will not contribute to a candidate's score.
Objective 036—Identify techniques for braille reading and writing instruction.
Includes:
- age-appropriate activities for developing readiness to read and write braille
- age-appropriate activities, techniques, and instructional materials for teaching braille reading and writing
- activities, techniques, and instructional materials for working with problem readers
Objective 037—Apply techniques for developing the communication skills of students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- techniques and activities for developing communication skills
- instructional media and materials for teaching communication skills
- activities and techniques appropriate for family members to use to aid the development of communication skills in students with visual impairments
Objective 038—Understand the use of educational materials, media, and equipment for students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- appropriate materials, aids, equipment, reading devices, writing equipment, and technological aids for students with visual impairments
- appropriate procedures for operating media, devices, and adaptive equipment
- appropriate ways of adapting and designing materials for various situations
Objective 039—Apply techniques for content-area instruction for students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- appropriate techniques and activities for content-area instruction
- ways to adapt instructional methods and materials for students with visual impairments
- ways to integrate the development of specialized skills in content-area instruction
Objective 040—Apply intervention and instruction techniques in the education of visually impaired students who have additional handicapping conditions.
Includes:
- intervention and instruction techniques and ways to adapt the classroom environment to meet the needs of visually impaired students who have additional handicapping conditions
Objective 041—Understand ways to develop the social skills of students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- factors and techniques involved in assessing the social needs and developing the social skills of students with visual impairments
- ways to interact with parents and involve them in meeting the social and emotional needs of students with visual impairments
Objective 042—Apply techniques for providing career education, vocational education, and vocational training and rehabilitation to students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- appropriate techniques and settings for providing career education, vocational education, and vocational training and rehabilitation
- appropriate methods for establishing career and vocational interests and skills
- the appropriate sequence of career education, vocational education, and vocational training and rehabilitation objectives and activities
- career and vocational opportunities available to youths with visual impairments
Objective 043—Apply techniques for teaching independent living skills to students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- techniques and activities for teaching self-help, home management, leisure, and recreation skills
Objective 044—Understand the use of technological advances in the education of the visually impaired.
Includes:
- uses and application of new technology related to techniques, materials, and equipment in the education of the visually impaired
Objective 045—Understand the development and implementation of behavior management programs.
Includes:
- types of behavior management programs and their characteristics
- procedures for developing, implementing, and revising individual and group behavior management programs based on progress
- appropriate ways to ensure coordination of the behavior management program among persons involved in the implementation of an IEP
Objective 046—Understand techniques for managing a classroom effectively.
Includes:
- appropriate techniques for managing a classroom effectively
- features that contribute to the safety, comfort, and usefulness of a classroom
- appropriate ways of adapting a classroom to meet the needs of students with visual impairments, including those with multiple impairments
- classroom factors that may affect learning
Subarea V—PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND LEGAL ISSUES
Objective 047—Understand the rights of students with special educational needs and the rights and responsibilities of their parents, guardians, advocates, teachers, and administrators.
Includes:
- the rights of students with special educational needs
- the rights and responsibilities of parents, guardians, advocates, teachers, and administrators
Objective 048—Apply procedures and processes for consulting with school personnel.
Includes:
- appropriate procedures for consulting with regular education personnel
- appropriate methods for reporting information to teachers and other professionals
Objective 049—Identify organizations, agencies, and resources involved in education and rehabilitation of the visually impaired.
Includes:
- national and state organizations, agencies, and resources that provide services to augment the education and rehabilitation program
Objective 050—Understand the historical development of education for students with visual impairments.
Includes:
- trends in the education of students with visual impairments
- persons who have influenced the education of students with visual impairments, and their achievements
- major goals and philosophies of education for students with visual impairments
Objective 051—Understand methods of communicating and interacting with the families of students with visual impairments, including those who are linguistically, culturally, and socioeconomically diverse.
Includes:
- appropriate ways to discuss assessment results with family members
- help parents and guardians understand human development and the special needs of their child
- convey information about a student's educational program and progress to family members
- coordinate techniques used in the school with those used at home
Objective 052—Understand current research on visual impairments.
Includes:
- sources of current research on visual impairments
- appropriate ways to apply research findings in the school
Objective 053—Apply federal laws and regulations concerning the delivery of special education and related services.
Includes:
- federal laws and regulations governing special education and related services
- landmark judicial decisions related to special education
- the application of federal laws to situations involving special education
Objective 054—Apply Michigan state laws and regulations concerning the delivery of special education and related services.
Includes:
- Michigan state laws and regulations and their application to the delivery of special education
- related services
- the preparation and responsibilities of special education and related service personnel