title: [Utilization of optical devices and equipments by students with visual impairment].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To verify perceptions and conduct of students with visual impairment regarding devices and equipment utilized in schooling process.
  
  
  METHODS
  A transversal descriptive study on a population of 12-year-old or older students in schooling process, affected by congenital or acquired visual impairment, inserted in the government teaching system of Campinas during the year 2000. An interview quiz, created based on an exploratory study was applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A group of 26 students, 46% of them with low vision and 53.8% affected by blindness was obtained. Most of the students were from fundamental teaching courses (65.4%), studying in schools with classrooms provided with devices (73.1%). Among the resources used in reading and writing activities, 94.1% of the students reported they used the Braille system and 81.8% reported that the reading subject was dictated by a colleague. Most of the students with low vision wore glasses (91.7%), and 33.3% utilized a magnifying glass as optical devices. Among the non-optical devices, the most common were the environmental ones, getting closer to the blackboard (75.0%) and to the window (66.7%) for better lighting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It became evident that students with low vision eye-sight made use of devices meant for bearers of blindness, such as applying the Braille system. A reduced number of low vision students making use of optical and non-optical devices applicable to their problems were observed, indicating a probable unawareness of their visual potential and the appropriate devices to improve efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. rcietto@fcm.unicamp.br
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Ietto
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Montilha
authors.forename: Edméa Rita
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Temporini
authors.forename: Maria Inês Rubo de Souza
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.forename: Maria Elisabete Rodrigues Freire
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gasparetto
authors.forename: Newton
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kara-José
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010465:Perception; D011932:Reading; D012574:Schools; D012682:Sensory Aids / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation