Nystagmus in a School Setting

How does nystagmus affect schoolwork?

Reading and Text: The constant eye movement makes it challenging to scan lines of text. Students may lose their place, skip lines, or read at a slower pace.
Board-to-Book Copying: Looking back and forth from a classroom whiteboard to a desk requires the eyes to adjust (convergence/divergence). Because this is exhausting, students often fall behind when copying notes.
Visual Fatigue: The continuous extra effort required to process stable images can lead to severe eye strain and mental fatigue. Vision and focusing ability often degrade throughout the day, especially when the student is stressed or tired.
Depth and Distance: Compromised depth perception can affect mobility, making activities like physical education or navigating crowded hallways more challenging.
Social Interactions: Because maintaining steady eye contact or reading facial expressions is difficult, students might be mistakenly perceived as shy, inattentive, or aloof.

To learn more about what nystagmus is check out the What is Nystagmus page.

IEPs and 504s

Individual Education Plans (or IEPs) are created by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act in order to provide services for students with disabilities. These services include: Individualized Education Programs (IEP); Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE); Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); Appropriate Evaluation; Parent and Teacher Participation; Procedural Safeguards.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 established and expanded civil rights for people with disabilities. • It provides children and adults with disabilities reasonable accommodations in education, employment and other settings.

Students with nystagmus do not automatically qualify for special education services under an IEP. In order to be eligible, a student must have a disability (nystagmus qualifies as a disability) and, as a result of that disability, need special education in order to make progress in school. Students with nystagmus always qualify for a 504 Plan.

To understand more about the differences, watch Nystagmus in a School Setting with Evelyn.

Accomodations at School

Students with nystagmus often need accommodations at school to succeed to their full potential. An accomodation is something that will help the student learn the same material and meet the same expectations as their classmates.

Accommodation needs vary from student to student and day to day. Some common accommodations that we see students using are:

Large print (small print can cause eye fatigue which makes the nystagmus worse)
Copies of overhead presentations
Sit in front of room (best side for null point)
Have own copy of materials can not share with a classmate
Extra time on test and assignments
Visit the classroom the day before school starts
Technology (magnifiers, larger screen on laptops, etc…)
Copy of class notes from the teacher or another student.
No scantron (bubble) tests
Separate space with better lighting for test taking
Ability to move seats as needed

Our Tips for Living with Nystagmus article features a curated list of conference videos where individuals with nystagmus share their own real-world strategies – from practical workarounds to creative adaptations that make everyday tasks easier.

Visual aids and technology

Technology is constantly improving – and that’s good news for people with nystagmus. Helpful tools include:

Handheld or digital magnifiers
High-contrast or enlarged font settings
Tinted glasses or filters to reduce glare
Screen readers or text-to-speech apps
Smartphone accessibility settings like Zoom, VoiceOver, and bold text

Mental health

Living with a visual impairment can sometimes lead to feelings of frustration, isolation, or anxiety—especially in environments where few people understand the condition. As a child, it can become very frustrating to be different than your peers.

It’s important to consider the internal thoughts that a child might be experiencing with nystagmus. To reassure your child, try to do some of the following:

Reassure them there are others like them living with this same condition.
Encourage them to ask for help and advocate on their own behalf in the classroom.
Connect them with other kids and teens who have eye conditions.

Check out the Inspirational section to read personal stories of teens and adults living with nystagmus.

Connect with others living with nystagmus

The American Nystagmus Network is here to help you connect with people who understand what you’re going through. Whether you’re a parent, an adult with nystagmus, or a healthcare provider, there’s a place for you in our community.