CODE OF ETHICS FOR TEACHERS OF STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Preamble
The educator's primary commitment is to the students served. Educators
are dedicated to help individuals attain maximum independence and to reach
their fullest potential. The educator recognizes and protects the rights
of students served. Educators pledge themselves to standards of acceptable
behavior in relation to the following commitments:
1. Commitment to the persons served.
2. Commitment to the community.
3. Commitment to the profession.
4. Commitment to colleagues, other professionals, and to professional
employment practices.
It is the duty of each certified educator to adhere to the spirit and
the letter of the code of ethics and to encourage their colleagues to
do the same. The following is a set of principles approved by the AER
International Board for the conduct of teachers of students with visual
impairments. These principles provide a guideline for ethical practice.
1. Commitment to Persons Served
The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments:
1.1 Believes in the dignity and uniqueness of each student served.
1.2 Provides high quality services and strives to become and remain proficient
in professional practice.
1.3 Takes all reasonable precautions to insure the safety and health of
the student served.
1.4 Protects the student served from conditions interfering with their
personal growth, including physical or emotional harassment or abuse.
1.5 Respects the confidentiality of all information pertaining to the
student and his or her family. The educator will not divulge confidential
information about any student and family to any individual not authorized
by the student or family to receive such information unless required to
do so by law or unless withholding such information would endanger the
safety of the student, the family or the public.
1.6 Before beginning services, obtains and evaluates relevant information
about the student served at the minimum or a higher level that what is
required by the right to education laws.
1.7 Respects the rights of the students and their families to participate
actively in decisionmaking relating to services they receive and fosters
involvement at the minimum or a higher level than what is required by
the right to education laws.
1.8 Seeks the support and involvement of the family and/or guardian in
promoting student's instructional goals and in advancing his or her continued
success.
1.9 Prepares objective and timely reports of services provided at a minimum
or higher level than is defined in the right to education laws.
1.10 Maintains responsibility for services to students referred to them
and provides ongoing supervision when any portion of the service is assigned
to interns or student teachers who are enrolled in supervised training
programs.
1.11 Recognizes those services beyond the scope of their professional
preparation and/or capabilities and refers to appropriate resources or
services.
1.12 Maintains an awareness of, and abides by the right-to-education laws,
policies, and other laws pertaining to their work with students and their
families.
1.13 Strives, at all times, to maintain the highest level of instruction,
including assessment, evaluation and instructional planning and to maintain
an instructional environment that is conducive to learning.
1.14 Secures the consent of the student, the family/guardian and/or the
school before allowing others to observe lessons, photograph, or tape
the student.
1.15 Endeavors to provide individuals involved with the student with sufficient
knowledge, instruction and experiences in their area of expertise to facilitate
realization of the student's educational goals.
1.16 Respects the worth, culture, and dignity of each individual, including
exhibiting courtesy and temperance in situations of conflict and adheres
to the principles of equal opportunity for all students with visual impairment
or blindness regardless of sex, race, religion, or national origin.
1.17 Acts as an advocate for children served, and empowers the family
and child with selfadvocacy.
2. Commitment to Community
The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment.
2.1 Educates the public about the capabilities of persons with visual
impairment or blindness, the benefit of appropriate services, and the
causes, implications and prevention of blindness or visual impairment.
2.2 Takes appropriate action to insure that students and their families are not exploited by public education activities, fund raising activities, or any other manner
2.3 Strives to develop a continuum of high quality
comprehensive community services.
3. Commitment to the Profession
The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment:
3.1 Strives to improve the quality of his or her services and the services
of other practitioners.
3.2 Interprets and uses the writings and
research of others with integrity.
3.3 Contributes to the growing body of knowledge, expertise and skills
of the profession, including conducting and reporting research
in an ethical
and professional manner.
3.4 Supports and participate in staff development activities, training,
and in state of provincial, regional and national conferences whenever
feasible.
3.5 Maintains the necessary skills and certification of those skills.
3.6 Facilitates and enhances team efforts by sharing specialized knowledge, resources, experience, concepts and skills and by contributing relevant information and abiding by team decisions made on behalf of, and with students and their families.
3.7 Accepts no gratuities or gifts of significant value over/above the predetermined salary, reimbursed expenses, or fee for services.
3.8 Engages in no activity which results in an actual or implied conflict of interest.
3.9 Exposes incompetence and illegal or unethical behavior.
4. Commitment to Colleagues, Fellow Professionals and the Professional
Employer
The Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment:
4.1 Shares knowledge, concepts and skills with colleagues.
4.2 Offers professional services to a student receiving services from
another practitioner of a similar discipline only by agreement with the
other practitioner, after that practitioner has terminated services, or
when quality services cannot be provided by the other practitioner.
4.3 Maintains professional relationships with colleagues, employers, the
student and the family.
4.4 Assumes no responsibilities that are better provided by other practitioners
who are available to the student served.
4.5 Conducts himself or herself with integrity in all professional actions
in accordance with recognized standards for personnel practice.
4.6 Responds factually when complying with a request to provide references
for a colleague.
4.7 Adheres to the policies and regulations of employers, except where
these require violation of ethical principles such as those contained
in this code.
4.8 Accepts no remuneration for a professional service from a person who
is entitled to such service through an agency or school at a lesser cost,
unless the student and family is fully informed of services available
and chooses not to avail themselves of them.
4.9 Charges fees for services, if such fees are permissible, that are
consistent with the
reasonable and customary rate of the particular geographic region within
which he or she is working.
4.10 Provides applicants seeking information about a position or a service
with an honest description.
Adopted by Divisions 3, 8, 12, and 13, July 1992
Approved by AER International Board, October, 1992
