Challenges and strategies of working with learners with low vision: Implications for teacher training

Learners with low vision can be trained to increase their visual functioning through a planned programme of visual experiences. Such a low vision training programme was introduced in Kenya in 1994. However, despite its implementation over the last 15 years, challenges still persist among teachers who work with such learners. The purpose of this study was to document challenges that learners with low vision have on teachers’ performance when teaching learners with low vision in special primary schools for the visually impaired in Kenya. The study was carried out in 6 schools for the visually impaired respondents in the study including 78 teachers survey through questionnaire and observation. The study established challenges faced by teachers as lack of appropriate devices for learners, lack of adequate training of teachers and lack of regular teacher auditing. Strategies suggested to address the challenges were supply of low vision devices, low vision teams based at each school reconstituted to provide co-ordinated learning support and regular case conferencing be mounted to provide teacher support.