Supporting Students with Vision Impairments in Ministry

The first time I learned about CVI (Cortical Visual Impairment) was while working as an assistant in a separate public day school. I was in a kindergarten classroom with students who had multiple disabilities—each one had a CVI along with another diagnosis. It was a learning curve for me, and one that has stuck with me ever since.

If CVI is unfamiliar to you, here’s a quick explanation:
Cortical Visual Impairment is a neurological visual impairment, meaning the brain has difficulty processing what the eyes see. It’s different from other types of vision loss because the challenge isn’t with the eyes themselves, but with the brain’s ability to interpret visual information. Many students with cerebral palsy also have a CVI, often caused by a brain injury before or shortly after birth.

Over the past few years, I’ve worked with several students with CVI and other vision impairments. Here are three practical ways to support students with CVI in your ministry:

✅ Provide large print versions of storybooks, visuals, and lesson materials.
🎨 Use high-contrast colors (like black and white or bold color combinations) for visual schedules and printed materials.
🔴 Add a thick red outline around important visuals to help students focus their attention.

To make things easier, our curriculum includes an adapted book in each lesson that’s designed with large print and high-contrast visuals to support students with vision impairments. 🙌

Here is what Danielle says about our curriculum:

"My son is profoundly deaf, a wheelchair user, and has cortical vision impairment. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been an easy way for him to access the Bible curriculum our church uses. However, the resources at The Adapted Way have been incredibly helpful. Thanks to these resources, the classroom volunteers and other children are able to present the story visually using familiar pictures that are also part of his AAC device at school. It has been such a joy to see him fully included and supported in the classroom at church. I am deeply grateful for this curriculum and pray it will continue to deepen his unique way of understanding the Gospel."

📥 Want to see it for yourself? You can download a free sample lesson here: [click here]

Thanks for all you do to make your ministry more inclusive!