The present study was aimed at the problem of assessment of children diagnosed with primary deficiency and severe learning difficulties, that tend to get low scores in standardized assessment procedures. It was questioned the practice of attribution of bad results to the organic aspects of the deficiency, leading to bad prognoses. Based on Vygotsky's concept of zone of proximal development, six children were observed along their interactions at the weekly meetings of psycho-educational groups. They were selected due to their low IQs in Verbal WISC test or because they could not be submitted to this kind of assessment. It was possible to identify growing capacities in the children, some times representing the initial steps of acquisition. It was discussed the fact that standardized assessment procedures do not constitute the better setting for the identification of capacities that are in process of acquisition, in the case of children with this profile.
zone of proximal development; visual impairment; learning difficulties; assessment in context; special education
