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Unlike other vision impairments, CVI stems from an injury to the visual centers of the brain that affects how it communicates with the eyes. People with CVI usually have healthy eyesÌýbut have trouble processing and interpreting what the eye sees. Certain characteristics of CVI influence the design of materials very differently from materials designed for people with vision loss or blindness, with an emphasis onÌýmaximizing the effectiveness of visual cues to help the brain interpret what it is seeing. The characteristics of CVI can be reduced over time with enough support, training, and practice.

Characteristics of CVI and improving visual perception:

• Use strong or bright colors - an object consisting of one single color is easier to process than a multicolored image.Ìý
• MovementÌýand light helpÌýfocus and identify objects
• RemoveÌývisual clutter by simplifying images to one shape and removing complex backgrounds or placing images on a solid black or whiteÌýbackground.
• Familiar objects are easier to recognizeÌýand understand than trying to process continually new images

Guides for Creating Effective Graphics for CVI:

• and CVI projects by Diane Sheline for Paths to Literacy
• Ìýoffers video instruction for specific techniques and projects.
• from Paths to Literacy
• Watch aÌývideo onÌýadapting Ìýfrom Perkins School for the Blind

Watch Diane Sheline's video on Controlling the Sensory Environment:

Resources to learn more about CVI:

• - provides an overview of CVI plus tips and ideas for caregiversÌýand teachers
• - presentation given by TVI's at Douglas County School District, Colorado
• - presentation slides and by Leslie Edmonds, Sonoma County Office of Education

CVI Videos

Watch these videos for a fuller explanation of CVI.