Wales Council of the Blind

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Macular Degeneration eye condition

Loss of central vision due to damage to the macular. Most common in older people (AMD) but can occur in younger people.

Macular hole eye condition

A macular hole is a small defect in the retinal layer that develops at the centre of the macula. If the macula is damaged it is difficult to drive, watch TV, read or recognise faces.

Marfan syndrome eye condition

Marfan syndrome is an inherited disorder of the body’s connective tissue that leads to medical problems affecting the heart, eyes and skeleton, requiring treatment to prevent life-threatening complications.

Medical health

Of or pertaining to the practice of medicine. The medical model of Disability focuses on impairments rather than social and attitudinal barriers cf. Social Model of Disability.

Mental illness health

Serious mental illness includes diagnoses which typically involve psychosis (losing touch with reality or experiencing delusions) or high levels of care, and which may require hospital treatment. Two of the most common severe mental illnesses are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (or manic depression).

Microphthalmia eye condition

Microphthalmia literally means small eye. Children may be born with one or both eyes, small and underdeveloped. Some children may be blind, but others may have some residual sight or light perception.

Modifier technology

A modifier is a key that can be used in conjunction with a second key and modifies its behaviour. Assistive technology may have its own modifier key so that its keystrokes do not conflict with the keystrokes used by the operating system (e.g. Windows) or other programs.

Monocular vision eye condition

Blinding or removal of one eye due to accident, injury or disease.

MP3 technology

MP3 is a common music file format. It stands for for "Moving Picture Experts Group Phase 1, Audio Layer 3".

Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI) ALN

Pupils with MSI have a combination of visual and hearing difficulties. They are sometimes referred to as deafblind but may have some residual sight and/or hearing. Many also have additional disabilities but their complex needs mean it may be difficult to ascertain their intellectual abilities. Pupils with MSI have much greater difficulty accessing the curriculum and the environment than those with a single sensory impairment. They have difficulties in perception, communication and in the acquisition of information. Incidental learning is limited. The combination can result in high anxiety and multi-sensory deprivation. Pupils need teaching approaches that make good use of their residual hearing and vision, together with their other senses. They may need alternative means of communication.

Myopia eye condition

Myopia, also known as “being short sighted”, causes your vision to be blurry in the distance but clearer when looking at things up close.