The visual function of low vision children may

vary. Parents should pay attention to the

following tips:
Encourage the child to use visual aids, such as
magnifier, telescope, CCTV;
Prepare one extra pair of spectacles for the
child in case the other one is damaged. Check
the screws of the frame regularly to ensure that
they are firmly in place to prevent the
spectacles from sliding down;

Useful Telephone Numbers and

Websites for Enquiry on Support Services
Education Bureau Special Education
Resource Centre
http://www.edb.gov.hk/serc
Hong Kong Eye Hospital

How to Support
Children with
Visual Impairment

3698 3900

2762 3000 / 2762 3007

Patient Resource Centre

2762 3103

Adjust the source and intensity of light to

ensure that it is best for reading and writing;

Hong Kong Society for the Blind

http://www.hksb.org.hk

2778 8332

Choose books with sharp colour contrast, clear

diagrams and magnified words when doing
paired reading with the child. Point to key
words or pictures to draw the childs attention.

Parents Resource Centre for the

Visually Impaired Children

2994 9655

General Eye and Low Vision Centre

2778 1772 (Kowloon)
2470 1818 (Yuen Long)
Hong Kong Blind Union

2339 0666

Trailwalker Vocational And Education

Resource Centre

2337 2736

Retina Hong Kong

http://www.retina.org.hk

2708 9363

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Optometry Clinic
http://www.polyu.edu.hk/so/clinic.htm
Ebenezer School and Home for
the Visually Impaired
http://www.ebenezer.org.hk

2766 5225

2817 6076

Education Bureau

What is Visual Impairment?

Roles of Parents

Low vision

The educational needs of visually impaired children

and ordinary children are in general the same.
Visually impaired children also need to be provided
with ample opportunities to acquire knowledge
and skills, foster responsibility and develop positive
attitudes. In the course of the development of a
visually impaired child, parents should pay
attention to the following areas:

Can be classified into (1) severe low vision, (2)

moderate low vision, and (3) mild low vision,
depending on the visual function.

Accept and understand the difficulties the visually

impaired child encounters, but never over-protect
or under-estimate the child;

Severe low vision

Encourage the child to know and accept

himself/herself, build up confidence and express
his/her feelings and needs so that proper
response and support can be given;

Visual impairment ranges from total blindness to

low vision.

Total blindness
No visual function, that is, no light perception.

Objects visible to children with normal vision at or

beyond 120 metres can only be seen by children
with severe low vision at 6 metres, or their visual
field is 20 degrees or less.

120M

6M

Moderate low vision

Objects visible to children with normal vision
within 60 to 120 metres can only be seen by
children with moderate low vision at 6 metres.

60M

6M

Mild low vision

Objects visible to children with normal vision
within 18 to 60 metres can only be seen by
children with mild low vision at 6 metres.

1 8M

6M

Provide proper ophthalmological

care for the childs visual
impairment. Arrange regular visits to
eye clinics to help the child adjust to
any change in vision;
Teach the child good manners in
communication: for example,
making eye contact with the
person he/she is talking,
listening attentively, sitting or
standing aright;
Frequent outdoor activities to
allow the child to master
his/her sensory skills and to
explore the surroundings.
This will help him/her
develop a better
understanding of things
around.

www.edb.gov.hk

2008

Totally blind children depend very much on their

auditory and sensory skills to guide their activities.
To help their child acquire the basic skills for
independent living, parents should:
Provide a secure living environment for the
child: for example, no wet floor, and keeping
access free from obstruction at home;
Tell the child what is going to happen
beforehand to enable him/her to have a better
idea of the situations in question so that he/she
can make proper responses;
Step up Sound Tracing Training to help the
child distinguish the source and direction of
sound;
Provide detailed explanations and clear
instructions to strengthen the childs sense of
direction and spatial relationship;
Remind the child to touch the back of the chair
or desk to make sure it is in the right
position before sitting down;
Let the child hold your arm
while walking to enable
him/her to know whether you
are moving on a flat surface,
upstairs, downstairs, or
changing direction through
your bodily movements.

The visual function of low vision children may

vary. Parents should pay attention to the
following tips:
Encourage the child to use visual aids, such as
magnifier, telescope, CCTV;
Prepare one extra pair of spectacles for the
child in case the other one is damaged. Check
the screws of the frame regularly to ensure that
they are firmly in place to prevent the
spectacles from sliding down;

Useful Telephone Numbers and

Websites for Enquiry on Support Services
Education Bureau Special Education
Resource Centre
http://www.edb.gov.hk/serc
Hong Kong Eye Hospital

How to Support
Children with
Visual Impairment

3698 3900

2762 3000 / 2762 3007

Patient Resource Centre

2762 3103

Adjust the source and intensity of light to

ensure that it is best for reading and writing;

Hong Kong Society for the Blind

http://www.hksb.org.hk

2778 8332

Choose books with sharp colour contrast, clear

diagrams and magnified words when doing
paired reading with the child. Point to key
words or pictures to draw the childs attention.

Parents Resource Centre for the

Visually Impaired Children

2994 9655

General Eye and Low Vision Centre

2778 1772 (Kowloon)
2470 1818 (Yuen Long)
Hong Kong Blind Union

2339 0666

Trailwalker Vocational And Education

Resource Centre

2337 2736

Retina Hong Kong

http://www.retina.org.hk

2708 9363

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Optometry Clinic
http://www.polyu.edu.hk/so/clinic.htm
Ebenezer School and Home for
the Visually Impaired
http://www.ebenezer.org.hk

2766 5225

2817 6076

Education Bureau

What is Visual Impairment?

Roles of Parents

Low vision

The educational needs of visually impaired children

and ordinary children are in general the same. Visually
impaired children also need to be provided with
ample opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills,
foster responsibility and develop positive attitudes.
In the course of the development of a visually
impaired child, parents should pay attention to the
following areas:

Can be classified into (1) severe low vision, (2)

moderate low vision, and (3) mild low vision,
depending on the visual function.

Accept and understand the difficulties the visually

impaired child encounters, but never over-protect
or under-estimate the child;

Severe low vision

Encourage the child to know and accept

himself/herself, build up confidence and express
his/her feelings and needs so that proper
response and support can be given;

Visual impairment ranges from total blindness to

low vision.

Total blindness
No visual function, that is, no light perception.

Objects visible to children with normal vision at or

beyond 120 metres can only be seen by children
with severe low vision at 6 metres, or their visual
field is 20 degrees or less.

120M

6M

Moderate low vision

Objects visible to children with normal vision
within 60 to 120 metres can only be seen by
children with moderate low vision at 6 metres.

60M

6M

Mild low vision

Objects visible to children with normal vision
within 18 to 60 metres can only be seen by
children with mild low vision at 6 metres.

1 8M

6M

Provide proper ophthalmological

care for the childs visual
impairment. Arrange regular visits to
eye clinics to help the child adjust to
any change in vision;
Teach the child good manners in
communication: for example,
making eye contact with the
person he/she is talking,
listening attentively, sitting or
standing aright;
Frequent outdoor activities to
allow the child to master
his/her sensory skills and to
explore the surroundings.
This will help him/her
develop a better
understanding of things
around.

www.edb.gov.hk

2008

Totally blind children depend very much on their

auditory and sensory skills to guide their activities.
To help their child acquire the basic skills for
independent living, parents should:
Provide a secure living environment for the
child: for example, no wet floor, and keeping
access free from obstruction at home;
Tell the child what is going to happen
beforehand to enable him/her to have a better
idea of the situations in question so that he/she
can make proper responses;
Step up Sound Tracing Training to help the
child distinguish the source and direction of
sound;
Provide detailed explanations and clear
instructions to strengthen the childs sense of
direction and spatial relationship;
Remind the child to touch the back of the chair
or desk to make sure it is in the right
position before sitting down;
Let the child hold your arm
while walking to enable
him/her to know whether you
are moving on a flat surface,
upstairs, downstairs, or
changing direction through
your bodily movements.