​ADA-Compliant Braille Signage

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), braille signage is legally required in public buildings, including schools. These signs benefit not only braille readers, but also:
  • Students with low vision (due to large print, high contrast, and simple icons)
  • Students with cognitive disabilities (due to uniform formatting and lack of visual clutter)
Key signage requirements:
  • Braille must be included on all signs that include letters or numbers.
  • Signs are required for:
    • Classroom and office identification
    • Restrooms
    • Elevators and stairwells
    • Directional signage
  • Room identification signs must be mounted on the wall adjacent to the door latch, allowing a person to read the sign safely without being in the path of the door swing.

​Navigating the Lunchroom

Cafeterias can be challenging to navigate, especially when crowded or noisy. Provide the student with guided orientation to the layout, including:
  • Tray and utensil locations
  • Where lines form
  • Where and how to find a seat
Support strategies:
  • Offer verbal directions or physical guidance as needed.
  • Ask cafeteria staff to verbally review the daily food options.
  • Encourage maximum independence, such as carrying their own tray—even if it initially contains just one item.
  • Gradually increase the complexity of the task using non-breakable and spill-proof items until the student can independently manage a full tray.
Learn more on the Mealtime Independence page.

​Fire Drills & Emergency Procedures

Students who are blind or visually impaired will likely not be able to interpret evacuation maps posted on walls. It’s critical to prepare them in advance through Orientation & Mobility (O&M) training.
  • Practice evacuation routes from all key locations: classroom, cafeteria, gym, etc.
  • During an actual emergency, instruct the student to take the arm of the nearest moving peer or adult and follow them quietly and quickly.
  • Avoid assigning a single peer as a “permanent buddy,” as that student may be absent or react unpredictably in a real emergency.
  • Collaborate with school administrators to review emergency preparedness plans that accommodate all students’ needs.

​General Safety Considerations

Furniture and Fixtures:
  • Cover sharp corners with edge protectors, foam pipe covers, or pool noodles.
  • Ensure furniture is stable and not easily knocked over.
  • Secure rug edges and tape down cords to prevent trips and falls.
Environmental Hazards:
  • Watch for overhanging obstacles like:
    • Upper cabinet doors
    • Hanging ceiling decorations
    • Fire extinguishers and drinking fountains
    • Wall-mounted phones and pedestal sinks
  • Keep doors fully open or fully closed; a partially open door can pose a significant risk.
  • Use doorstops or wedges to hold doors in place.
Clutter and Organization:
  • Eliminate floor clutter in classrooms and hallways.
  • Teach and encourage students to put items away after use.
  • In winter, ask students to place boots flush against the wall or store them in the classroom to keep pathways clear.
Electrical and Tactile Safety:
  • Use outlet covers, especially for young students or those who explore by touch.
  • Add high-contrast strips, tactile markers, or non-slip tread to stairs and drop-offs.
​By proactively adapting the school campus environment, educators and staff can help ensure the safety, independence, and inclusion of students with visual impairments. These modifications benefit not only those with vision loss but also contribute to a safer and more accessible environment for everyone.

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Full Article List

Guide: Start Here
Tools (VI Basics)
Plan: Referrals & Eligibility
Referral & Eligibility​ ​Medical Vision Information 
FVLMALow Vision Evaluations
Other Evaluations
Plan: IEP Planning
Plan: Collaboration & Accessibility
​Collaboration Accessible Materials ​Classroom Access Instructional Access Technology Access ​Additional Supports Service Delivery Models  ​
Teach: Compensatory Skills
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development ​Alternative Communication ​Emergent Literacy ​Braille Code
​Beginning Braille ​ Braille Fluency & Comprehension  Writing Braille ​​​Nemeth Code Instruction 
​​​Tactile Graphics ​Print Concepts ​​Abacus  ​​Organization Skills​ ​​Study Skills ​​Time Management
Teach: Sensory Efficiency Skills
​Auditory & Listening Skills ​​Visual Efficiency Skills ​​Optical Device Use ​Tactile Readiness
Teach: Assistive Technology 
AT Overview ​AT Use & Maintenance Braille AT ​iOS Instruction Audio Access​ ​Video Magnifiers ​​​Basic Computer Use Computer Access ​Productivity
Teach: Social Skills
Social Skill Basics​
Non-Verbal Skills​​​​ Verbal Communication Skills Cooperative Skills Identity & Self-Awareness ​Interactions & Relationships Managing Challenges & Safety
Teach: Self Determination
Teach: Independent Living Skills
Personal Care ​Hygiene & Grooming ​Personal Health Mealtime Skills ​​​ Food Preparation
Household Skills Clothing Management ​Money & Budget Shopping & Consumerism Phone Use ​Safety & Emergency Preparedness ​​Services & Community Resources
Teach: Orientation & Mobility
Teach: Recreation & Leisure
Teach: Career & Vocational
Printables
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Assistive Technology Printables
Social Skills Printables
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Independent Living Printables
Recreation & Leisure Printables
Career & Vocational Printables
Evelyn Jane Stories 
Learn: Teaching Strategies & Planning
Learn: ​ECC Units
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Learn: ​Interactive Activities
Learn: Recorded Presentations
Learn: Complete Set Bonus ​