For a kindergarten child with visual impairment being evaluated, what is the most important initial step the educational diagnostician should take?

• A. Collaborating with the certified teacher of the visually impaired (CTVI) about the child
• B. Administering the full battery of cognitive tests
• C. Scheduling a speech-language evaluation
• D. Performing a hearing screening

Answer: (A)

When a child with visual impairment is being evaluated, the first and most important move is to collaborate with the certified teacher of the visually impaired. The CTVI has essential expertise about how the child accesses information, what learning media they use (braille, large print, print with optical aids, or tactile materials), and what accommodations or assistive technologies are necessary during testing. By partnering with the CTVI early, you ensure the evaluation plans use accessible formats, appropriate tools, and valid measures that reflect the child’s true abilities and needs. This foundation guides subsequent testing decisions, helps interpret results accurately, and informs effective supports and IEP goals. Other assessments, like cognitive testing or hearing screenings, are important too, but they should be planned with the CTVI’s input to avoid invalid results due to inaccessible materials or inappropriate testing conditions.