In 2009, approximately 3% of higher education students reported having some kind of visual impairment, and 90% of four-year, public colleges had resources to help students with disabilities obtain academic success. As of the 2011-12 academic year, 11% of all undergraduates nationwide had some type of disability.

Living with a visual impairment does not mean you have to put your life on hold. If you have dreams of earning a college degree, that opportunity is available to you. Through mobile phone applications, computer software and student services and groups, individuals with a visual impairment can make the transition to college life as smoothly as other students.

Below, we have compiled a collection of resources designed to help visually impaired students transition into higher education and achieve success in the college classroom once enrolled. Along with a look at who to talk to on campus and what services and tools students can access, we provide a list of scholarships specifically for students with visual impairments.

What Are Visual Impairments? A visual impairment is a functional limitation in the eyes. For a variety of reasons, the eyes do not always work as they should. While certain impairments are treatable, the following conditions cannot be fixed with corrective lenses. Blindness is classified as total blindness if the student demonstrates a visual acuity of 20/400 or worse, with a visual field of less than 10 degrees. A student may be classified as legally blind if they cannot read any of the letters on the 20/100 line of a clinical visual exam. In a 2002 American Council on Education survey, 1.1% of first-year college students reported being blind or partially sighted. Blind students typically depend on assistive technology to follow visual assignments and presentations in the classroom. They have also reported facing social challenges, stemming from an inability to see and read social cues.

is classified as if the student demonstrates a visual acuity of 20/400 or worse, with a visual field of less than 10 degrees. A student may be classified as if they cannot read any of the letters on the 20/100 line of a clinical visual exam. In a 2002 American Council on Education survey, 1.1% of first-year college students reported being blind or partially sighted. Blind students typically depend on assistive technology to follow visual assignments and presentations in the classroom. They have also reported facing social challenges, stemming from an inability to see and read social cues. Common visual impairments include low vision and light sensitivity issues. A student who is visually impaired has visual acuity of 20/70 or worse, even with correction. According to the same survey mentioned above, 13.3% of students with a disability reported partial sight issues or blindness. Vision impairments may prevent students from seeing instructional materials and visual presentations in class.

include low vision and light sensitivity issues. A student who is visually impaired has visual acuity of 20/70 or worse, even with correction. According to the same survey mentioned above, 13.3% of students with a disability reported partial sight issues or blindness. Vision impairments may prevent students from seeing instructional materials and visual presentations in class. Other health conditions affecting student vision may include degenerative loss of vision or low or limited vision resulting from an accident or medical condition, such as diabetes. Additionally, computer strain syndrome is increasingly common today among students who must view screen-delivered content for extended periods of time.

Succeeding in College While college-bound students with visual impairments face their share of challenges, modern technology has made school more accessible than ever before. Applications and computer software allow students to attend classes, but it is also important that visually impaired students create a social support system on campus. When visiting the schools you are considering, request a meeting with a student services representative about available resources for visually impaired students. Be sure to ask about any special devices they have for students with disabilities, such as Braille readers or voice-recognition computer systems. Some schools also offer special staffing and other accommodations for students with visual disabilities, including priority seating and testing arrangements, note-taking services and recorded audio lectures. Adjusting academically and socially can be challenging for any freshman student, and visually impaired students are no exception. While meeting with student services, ask about available transition services, such as counseling and teaching aides, to help you ease into campus life. Get involved in the student community: College students with visual impairments should not feel isolated from other students or excluded from school activities. Today, there are a variety of on-campus clubs, organizations, sororities and fraternities that welcome participants with visual disabilities. Visually impaired students can be advocates within the student government for others with similar conditions and can join Greek life organizations that support charities for the blind. Do not hesitate to reach out to your peers to learn about additional support opportunities. Take full advantage of the resources available to you: Use resources that may help you supplement effective learning practices in the classroom. Large-print textbooks and front-row seats, for example, can help students make the most of their time in class. Be assertive about your requests for special accommodations when you need them to enhance your learning experience: only you know what learning tools are right for you. Know your legal rights as a student with a disability: The law protects the rights of students with visual and other disabilities. Be sure to know your rights when you get to campus. Section 504 provides equal benefits, opportunities and services to students with disabilities on college campuses and other federally funded academic and corporate institutions. Known as The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, it is among the first pieces of disability rights legislation in the U.S. and is overseen by the Office of Civil Rights in the USDE. Every student who is a "qualified individual with a disability" according to Section 504 must be provided with appropriate accommodations, including equal access to classrooms. While schools not receiving federal funding may be exempt from upholding Section 504, they still likely adhere to an alternate form of legislation that protects disability rights.

provides equal benefits, opportunities and services to students with disabilities on college campuses and other federally funded academic and corporate institutions. Known as The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, it is among the first pieces of disability rights legislation in the U.S. and is overseen by the Office of Civil Rights in the USDE. Every student who is a "qualified individual with a disability" according to Section 504 must be provided with appropriate accommodations, including equal access to classrooms. While schools not receiving federal funding may be exempt from upholding Section 504, they still likely adhere to an alternate form of legislation that protects disability rights. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects students at both public and private academic institutions under Title II and Title III legislation; ADA is governed by the U.S. Department of Justice, as opposed to a branch of the federal education system. Students with disabilities are protected against discrimination in services, programs and activities provided by public institutions via Title II, while students at private schools are afforded the same protection through Title III provisions. Title III also requires all eligible institutions to administer education in an environment accessible for all students.

protects students at both public and private academic institutions under Title II and Title III legislation; ADA is governed by the U.S. Department of Justice, as opposed to a branch of the federal education system. Students with disabilities are protected against discrimination in services, programs and activities provided by public institutions via Title II, while students at private schools are afforded the same protection through Title III provisions. Title III also requires all eligible institutions to administer education in an environment accessible for all students. The Assistive Technology Act protects students with disabilities. Through the Tech Act, state-run institutions may be eligible for grants to help them purchase assistive technologies and devices for students with disabilities, including wheelchairs, voice-amplifying learning systems and other software. Keep in mind that larger schools can generally provide more resources, more courses and a larger support network for visually impaired students. However, that doesn't make a larger campus the obvious choice; smaller schools have lower class sizes and a personalized educational experience, which is alluring as well.