The purpose of this study was to analyze the current status in early identification, assessment and placement to educational institutions, and education for students with multiple disabilities in young children and students in special schools for students with visual impairments; and to suggest future improvement strategies for providing appropriate education for the young children and students as early as possible.
For this purpose, first, literature review was carried out to help with developing questionnaires for this study and suggesting improvement strategies. Second, a survey was conducted with the teachers of young children and students in 12 special schools for students with visual impairments.
This study put together the findings from literature review and survey, and presented the following improvement strategies for providing appropriate education with students with visual impairments as early as possible.
First, in order to identify, assessment, and place young children and students with visual impairments, introduce comprehensive early identification system, suggestion of appropriate procedures and methods for screening program in Act on propriate procedure for Disabled Persons, Etc., development of assessment scales for students with visual impairment, activation of the management of Local propriate procedure Sppport Centers across the nation, and consideration of various service delivery system in placement decision for students with visual impairments.
Second, in order to improve education for students with multiple disabilities with visual impairments, introduce the establishment of comprehensive assessment system for investigating current status in their education and providing appropriate education, development of nation level curriculum appropriate to students with multiple disabilities, implementation of research on their communication skills, instruction strategies, and career education, strengthening of orientation training for students with multiple disabilities, and training of related-specialists.
Key words : Visual Impairments, early identification, assessment, students with multiple disabilities with visual impairments