Submitted by Janelle Parker, NC Teacher
May is Better Speech and Hearing Month, a time to look more closely at how speech therapy for students with visual impairments supports communication in school.
Imagine trying to follow a movie when you can hear every word, but the screen is dark.
You hear the conversation, but you miss the expressions, gestures, and actions that make it make sense.
That is often what communication feels like for students with visual impairments.
I worked with a pre teen boy who spent most of his time with a group of girls who quietly helped him.
They gathered his materials, guided him through the day, and filled in what he missed without anyone noticing.
From the outside, he looked like he was doing fine.
When Support Disappears
Then PE changed.
He was expected to manage the locker room on his own.
He began avoiding it.
From the outside, it looked like behavior.
But the issue was communication.
He could find the locker room.
He did not know how to:
- keep track of materials
- understand what others were doing
- ask for help
One day he stood holding one shoe, knowing he was late, but not knowing what to say.
More Than Speech Sounds
Speech therapy is often misunderstood for students with visual impairments.
A student may speak clearly and still need support.
Speech therapy may include:
- social communication
- vocabulary
- conversation skills
- understanding information without visual cues
Learning Without Visual Cues
Many students learn communication by watching others.
Students with visual impairments may miss:
- gestures
- facial expressions
- interactions across a room
An SLP helps make these concepts more explicit through explanation, modeling, and practice.
Building Vocabulary
Students may know words without fully understanding them.
Speech therapy connects language to experience through:
- real objects
- movement
- touch
- detailed description
This helps students use language more accurately and meaningfully.
Social Communication
Many social skills are learned through observation.
Students with visual impairments may need direct instruction in:
- taking turns
- understanding tone
- recognizing intent
- starting and ending conversations
Without support, students may appear disengaged when the issue is access.
Understanding the Unspoken
Communication includes more than words.
Students may need instruction in:
- tone of voice
- emotion
- body language
They may hear everything but still miss meaning.
Communication and Independence
Speech therapy supports independence.
Students may need help:
- asking for help
- understanding directions
- using precise language
In the locker room, the challenge was not finding the space.
It was knowing how to ask for support in the moment.
What This Means for School Teams
Speech therapy goals should reflect real communication needs.
Teams should consider:
- Can the student ask for help independently?
- Can they interpret social situations?
- Can they communicate clearly in different settings?
A Better Understanding
Speech therapy for students with visual impairments supports communication, independence, and participation.
Better Speech and Hearing Month is a reminder that communication depends on more than speech. When teams understand that, they can create more effective goals and supports. To explore additional accessibility topics and classroom strategies, visit the other articles on the Equalize Services blog.