What is a key characteristic associated with visual impairment?

A key characteristic associated with visual impairment is the ability to process the world visually in a way that may be limited or altered. Individuals with visual impairments may retain some level of vision, but this does not always meet the normative standards of visual acuity. Instead of perceiving the world clearly, they might experience challenges such as blurred vision, difficulty with distance, or issues distinguishing colors.

This characteristic highlights how individuals with visual impairments might still rely on visual input to some degree, yet their processing is different from individuals without such impairments. Understanding visual processing in this context is crucial for developing appropriate educational and support strategies that utilize the strengths and adaptations of these individuals.

The other options misrepresent the nature of visual impairment. Vision being perfect does not align with any aspect of visual impairment, while the inability to use any senses overlooks that many individuals with visual impairments still engage with their environment using other senses. Lastly, the concept of complete blindness from birth is just one possible scenario, but visual impairments can vary widely in severity and manifestation.