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By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
​Updated March 11, 2018

When assembling materials for a Functional Vision Assessment Kit, it is generally a good idea to plan to have two assessment kits. The first kit can be designed for students that are pre-readers and for those with multiple disabilities. The other kit can contain a variety of materials that reflect different age and reading levels. The kits should include both formal and informal tools to assess vision.

FVE Kit for Readers

1. Writing Tools:

  • Black markers, 20/20 pens, felt-tip pens of various thicknesses.
  • Ballpoint pens of various colors.
  • Colored markers, pencil crayons, crayons, paints, and chalk.
  • Pencils of various thicknesses (such as graphite pencils).
  • Black-lined paper/pads with varying degrees of white space between lines
  • Regular blue-lined paper.
  • White sheets of paper (for drawing or coloring on).
  • A variety of colored paper (to check for contrast preferences).

2. Reading Tools:

  • Print materials (from children’s books) of various font sizes, styles, and complexity.
  • Printed materials on a variety of colored sheets.
  • Examples of poor-quality photocopies and high quality photocopies.
  • Maps in large print and regular size print.
  • Math pages.
  • Dictionary pages (from primary, junior, and adult level dictionaries.
  • Telephone directory pages
  • Mazes, Dot-to-Dots, Hidden Picture, and Visual Discrimination pages.
  • Color filters and Bright Line Reading Guide

3. Distance Eye Charts:

Good Lite Lea Symbols Distance Chart
I have used the Lea Symbol charts frequently as they can be used with readers and pre-readers. The response card is very helpful when working with pre-readers as well as non-verbal students as the student can point to the picture that they see.
Good Lite LEA Distance Vision Screener Flipchart
This distance vision eye chart is helpful when assessing students that have difficulty with visual clutter as only one line is presented at a time. The LEA symbols can be used with pre-readers and readers.
Good Lite HOTV Distance Folding Chart
Older, academic students, may be insulted if they are presented with the Lea Symbols. For this reason, it is beneficial to also have either HOTV symbols or numbers acuity charts.

4. Near Visual Acuity:

Good Lite Lea Symbols
This is a good tool to use with students who can read as well as students who are pre-readers or emergent readers.
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Lea Numbers Near Vision Card
The Lea Numbers can be used with students who know their numbers.
Sloan Letter Near Vision Eye Chart
A sloan letter near vision eye chart can be used to assess a student who can readily identify letters.

5. Color Vision Testing

Color Vision Testing Made Easy
This assessment tool is great for assessing student's color vision. It uses simple, easy to recognize symbols and can be used with students as young as preschoolers that know their shapes.
Picture of the Pseudo Chromatic Color Test app
The Pseudo Chromatic Color Test app, a free app on the iTunes store, can be used as part of the color vision portion of the Functional Vision Assessment. The app can pick up on any difficulties the student may have and it also provides information on how to interpret the results.
Paint Swatches. Another strategy is to obtain a selection of paint swatches in various color hues. Cut the swatches in half and encourage the student to locate the matches.

6. Miscellaneous Items:

  • Penlight and Flashlight with color filters and glow stick or glitter lights (response to light source and tracking).
  • Objects related to the student's school environment (e.g. books, crayons, pencils, markers, scissors, glue, slate and stylus.
  • Occluders (blindfolds, handkerchiefs, darkened glasses, or other to cover one or both eyes).
  • Games that can be used to assess various visual skills (e.g. Memory/Lotto, concentration games, playing cards, color swatch match).
  • Picture cards (black & white, photographs, and magazine pictures).
  • Scissors and bold outline shapes printed on paper to be cut out with scissors.
  • A tape measure to measure midrange and distance
  • 18" Ruler to measure near
  • A stopwatch.
  • A mirror (imitation and response to reflection)
  • Stickers that can be used as reinforcers or to mark distance.
  • Black felt board for contrast.
  • Adjustable Slant board
  • Tabletop/Tray as needed

Functional Vision Assessment Kit for Pre-Readers

  • Toys or objects that are shiny or that reflect light (e.g., mirror, sparkly paper, metallic pom-pom).
  • Toys or objects of different sizes (1/2”, 1”, 2”, 3”, 4”, and 5”).
  • Toys or objects of different colors (e.g., pastel, primary, and neon colors).
  • Toys or objects that have movement characteristics (e.g., Slinky or Bumble Ball, pull back cars, wind up toys).
  • Toys that light up.
  • Toys that make sounds.
  • Toys that do not make sounds.
  • Bubble making toys.
  • Pairs of multiples of the same object.
  • Age-appropriate real-life materials (e.g., cups, spoons, money, or clothing)
  • A dark-colored and white towel, cloth, or large piece of paper for the backdrop of a visual display.
  • A slant board to display materials at a student’s eye level. Simple form board (puzzle)
APH NewT Kit
The NewT Kit from APH provides the majority of tools you will need to complete a FVE/LMA assessment. It includes acuity charts; photos, colored pictures and line drawings to match and sort; an array of environmental print and reading passages; and more!
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The ToAD kit from APH provides tools, toys, and puzzles that assist the educator as he or she performs assessments or activities. In addition to its uses for assessment and for vision development activities, ToAD serves as the Vision Modality for the Sensory Learning Kit.
FVE Kit Materials Checklist
I developed this FVE Kit material list, available on the Printables page, as a quick reference to use when putting together items for a FVE kit. Select materials that are age appropriate, developmentally appropriate and gender neutral.

Conducting a FVLMA On-Demand Webinar

Cover slide of Strategies and Tips for Conducting the FVLMA with the letters FVLMA in different colors and each wearing glasses
This presentation provides a walk-through of the process and steps of conducting a Functional Vision Evaluation and Learning/Reading Media Assessment. Key points include interpreting the eye report, materials to use in the assessment, conducting interviews and observations as well as strategies for direct assessment and writing a professional and thorough report that is informative to all audiences.  Next steps are also covered including the importance of a low vision assessment, determining the need for additional assistive technology and implications for service.  ​

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