Learning Media Assessment (LMA)
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The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) conducts the Learning Media Assessment (LMA). The results are used to determine which senses your child uses most to get information from the environment. Additionally, decisions can be made about which method or methods your child should use for learning and literacy. If the sense of touch is primary and is efficiently used to explore the environment, braille may be recommended for reading and writing.
Observing Sensory Learning Channels
After reviewing your child’s records, the TVI observes your child in various activities. For each activity that the teacher observes, it will be noted which sense (touch, vision, or hearing) your child uses primarily and secondarily.
Additionally, your TVI needs to observe the efficiency with which your child is using their primary and secondary sensory channels. The TVI will seek to determine answers to the following questions:
- Does the child gain the needed information in the time given with these channels?
- Does the child use and adjust their primary and secondary sensory channel depending on the learning activity?
School is not limited to reading, writing, and math. Day-to-day activities include group work, practicing social skills, using iPad apps, accessing information from the board and classroom learning posters, participating in hands-on activities, labs, and more. Education also includes special areas such as music, physical education, art classes, foreign languages, and other electives. Your child’s TVI will collect information on how your child is accessing information across their education and address how they can efficiently access the information.
The IEP team, including you and the TVI, need to discuss how your child accesses their education and the types of technology to consider. Options may range from low-tech to high-tech tools for near or distance vision. Additional factors to consider include your child’s fine motor skills, the device’s portability, and their auditory abilities.
What Does an LMA Determine?
If your child is already reading and writing, the TVI will also examine your child’s literacy activities. This includes how they read and write and access their learning environment. The TVI will also evaluate the materials or literacy media used daily as part of the learning media assessment. In addition, the teacher may also assess your child’s reading speed and the degree of fatigue experienced when reading. The TVI also includes an assessment of their comprehension of the text.
Your child’s educational team can use the information from the assessment to decide the best learning mediums. The method or methods used to perform essential tasks such as reading and writing and otherwise obtaining information may include:
- Regular print with low-vision devices
Other strategies may be recommended if vision is inefficient in accessing your child’s education.
How Do You Assess A Child?
Your child’s TVI combines functional vision and learning media assessments into one process.
Reading
Assessing reading involves the child reading various text sizes aloud. The TVI notes errors such as substitutions, reversals, omissions, and adding words. This is timed to determine the child’s reading rate using fonts of various sizes.
Similarly, a child’s silent reading will be timed, and a reading rate will be determined. Comprehension questions are also asked to determine the child’s understanding of what they read.
Listening
A child will listen via the TVI and an audiobook to determine their understanding through their sense of hearing.
Writing
A child will be assessed for their need for adapted writing materials and the type of adapted materials needed. A child will write sentences and copy materials using various-sized pencils, pens, and lined paper. The TVI records your child’s writing speed, accuracy, copying skills, and other observations, such as head tilt, fatigue, and handwriting quality. It is important to assess writing skills like copying from paper to paper (near vision) and from the board to paper (distance vision) to capture your child’s full abilities.
Additional Considerations to Discuss
It’s important to receive a copy of your child’s Learning Media Assessment report for your records. Consider your child’s visual diagnosis or other medical needs and why they may need assistive technology or braille to access their education.
- Will your child’s vision decrease, and braille should be considered?
- Does your child get tired or have migraines or other factors that may impact learning with technology?
- Does your child have pre-braille and fine motor skills needed for braille learners?
If you disagree with the teacher’s conclusions or recommended changes to how your child learns reading and writing skills, you can discuss alternative approaches with the teacher and the rest of your child’s educational team.