Functional Vision Assessment Guide 

This guide is designed to help direct support providers observe and understand how a person with combined hearing and vision loss may use their residual vision in everyday life. It is not meant to replace a professional vision assessment but serves as a practical tool to support daily interactions, improve access, and promote greater independence.

By learning what to look for and how to check for functional vision, providers can make small but meaningful changes—like adjusting lighting, using high-contrast materials, or changing object placement—to better meet the needs of the individual they support.

Use this guide to explore how vision is used during real activities and environments. The observations you make can lead to personalized strategies that enhance communication, safety, and participation in daily routines. 

Visual Acuity (Clarity of Vision)

What to Look For:

• Can the individual see objects up close? At a distance?
• Do they recognize people or items better when they are large or high contrast?
• Do they prefer a specific text size or color?

How to Check:

• Show objects of different sizes at varying distances.
• Try high-contrast materials (e.g., black background with yellow or white text).
• Observe if they move closer to see better.

Visual Field (Range of Sight)

What to Look For:

• Does the person notice things in front of them but not to the side?
• Do they turn their head to look at things?
• Are there areas where they don’t respond to objects?

How to Check:

• Move an object or light around their field of vision and observe their response.
• Note if they only react to items in a specific area (e.g., directly in front, to one side).

Light Perception (Sensitivity to Light & Dark)

What to Look For:

• Do they react to light turning on or off?
• Are they sensitive to bright lights or glare?
• Do they use light changes to navigate?

How to Check:

• Use a flashlight or turn room lights on/off and watch their reaction.
• Try different levels of brightness and see if they have a preference.

Shadow Perception

What to Look For:

• Do they respond to shadows moving across a surface?
• Can they use shadows to understand object placement?

How to Check:

• Move objects in and out of the light and see if they react.
• Observe if they use shadows to find objects or navigate spaces.

Functional Vision in Daily Activities

What to Look For:

• How do they find objects or people?
• Do they use vision to assist with tasks (e.g., eating, playing, dressing)?
• Do they rely on touch or sound more than vision?

How to Check:

• Observe them during routine activities.
• Present familiar objects and see how they locate them.
• Watch if they visually scan an area or rely on other senses.

Lighting and Glare Preferences

What to Look For:

• Do they squint or turn away from bright light?
• Do they struggle more in dim lighting?
• Are certain lights or positions easier for them to see in?

How to Check:

• Test different lighting conditions (bright, dim, natural light).
• Observe behavior in different environments (indoors, outdoors, different times of day).

Recommendations for Support

• Use high-contrast materials (e.g., bold colors, large fonts).
• Adjust lighting based on their comfort (e.g., avoid glare, use consistent lighting).
• Use tactile and auditory cues along with visual information.
• Organize environments to make navigation easier (e.g., clear pathways, labeled items).
• Avoid white backgrounds and

Conclusion

This simple assessment helps you understand how a DeafBlind individual with intellectual disabilities uses their vision. The information gathered can guide adjustments to improve their daily experiences and independence.