Learning Media Assessment

The Learning Media Assessment (LMA) is conducted by a teacher of students with visual impairments (TVI) and is conducted to determine if specific visual, tactual, and/or auditory learning media are appropriate for a learner. As stated in the Individuals With Disabilities Act (IDEA) § 300.324, the IEP team will need to provide for instruction in Braille and the use of Braille unless the IEP team determines after an evaluation that instruction in Braille or the use of Braille is not appropriate for the child. The learner’s learning media and tools will need to be continuously assessed, as their needs may change. The TVI will consider many factors when completing the LMA including; print size, readability of materials, environment, functional vision, reading level of student, and availability of materials.

The LMA is a tool to that can be used to determine and monitor the child’s reading and writing skills over time.

• Path to Literacy overview of LMA
  Read information about the framework for selecting appropriate literacy media for a student who is visually impaired. LMA presentations are available through a login.

• Texas State School for the Blind overview of LMA
  Read information about what literacy means for students with visual impairments, characteristics of a print and/or braille reader, and factors to consider when determining needs.

Preview the following tools available to assist in completing a LMA:

• FVLMA Kit: Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessment
  The FVLMA kit provides a framework for assessing a student’s visual functioning needs and determining needs for adapting educational material.

• Basic Reading Inventory, Student Word Lists, Passages, and Early Literacy Assessments
  This tool is an informal reading inventory that helps determine a student's instructional, independent, and frustration reading levels and listening levels based on speed, accuracy, and comprehension. This tool helps determine the most effective literacy modalities for students with visual impairments.

• A “How To” Guide for Completing Functional Vision, Learning Media and ECC Evaluations
  This publication supports TVIs and COMS in making informed and deliberate decisions, guiding instruction and identifying strategies for intervention.

• NewT Kit
  The NewT Kit provides all of the tools and activities necessary for providing a FVA and LMA.

To learn more about this topic, and earn professional development credit, log in to your OCALI ID account and watch the Learning Media Assessment: An Introduction webinar!