In our low-vision aids and print-reading course, we sit down with the student to determine magnifiers that best suit the student’s vision when reading for leisure and work. Students learn techniques to improve reading speed and build reading comprehension. The target threshold has been set at a reading speed of 100 wpm using 9th-grade level materials. The target threshold for reading comprehension is set at 75%, using 12th-grade level materials.

When evaluating a student’s usable vision, students are asked to read three types of everyday reading materials which use progressively smaller print: a newspaper headline, a large-print article and a newspaper article. We pay attention to how close to the eyes the reading materials are held, whether both eyes are used, whether the student squints, and whether the student reads fluently or haltingly. Each student also reads from screening cards. These are specifically designed to help determine how much magnification a student needs. If a student does not already have a low-vision aid that works well for them, and has not previously worked with someone in the low vision field, the student can try out various types of aids that can be effective in the range of magnification they need. Types of magnifying aids available include: hand-held magnifiers, stand magnifiers, hand-held video magnifiers and desktop video magnifiers. Estimated time to complete course: A good reader who is familiar with the magnification aid can complete the evaluation in a week. More often the test is not finished until the second week. In that case, extra practice time is provided, followed by more testing.