Learning Media Assessment (LMA)

The learning media assessment is another key assessment conducted by the teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI). It is 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 used to explore the environment, braille may be recommended for reading and writing. Your child’s TVI combines functional vision and learning media assessments into one process.

After reviewing your child’s records, the TVI observes your child in a variety of activities. For each activity that the teacher observes, it will noted which sense (touch, vision, or hearing) your child uses primarily and secondary.

Your child’s educational team can use the information from the assessment to decide the best learning medium. The method or methods to perform essential tasks such as reading and writing and otherwise obtain information—for your child. These might include

  • Regular print
  • Regular print with low-vision devices
  • Large print
  • Braille
  • Audio materials to supplement one of the other methods

Services in Place Already

If your child is already reading and writing, the TVI will also examine your child’s literacy activities—the way in which they read and write—as part of the learning media assessment as well as the materials, or literacy media, that are used each day. In addition, the teacher may also assess your child’s reading speed, the degree of fatigue experienced when reading, and how well they understand what is being read. Based on this information, the teacher can make recommendations, such as whether your child would benefit from learning braille or from learning how to use a particular low-vision device.

It’s important that you receive a copy of your child’s learning media assessment report for your records. If you don’t agree with the teacher’s conclusions or recommended changes in the way your child learns reading and writing skills, you can talk to the teacher about other approaches and discuss it with other members of the educational team.