Transition from secondary education to adulthood represents a period during which adolescents with disabilities face multiple responsibilities and changing roles that include establishing independence, attending postsecondary education or training, developing social networks, choosing a career, participating in their communities, and managing…

The report describes Louisiana's effort to survey local education agencies and special schools for information on sensory impaired students (preschool through secondary levels) within the state. Information on demographic factors, educational program descriptions, hearing and vision status, and other educationally significant handicaps was…

This article discusses comprehensive staff development plans for providers of services to individuals with visual impairments. It addresses how staff development can be planned, the purposes of staff development, how staff development differs from staff training, and options for delivering staff development (such as distance education). (JDD)

The Christoffel-Blindenmission helps support 26 schools, centers, and rehabilitation programs for individuals with visual impairments in South America. This article discusses the organization's limited use of foreign specialists to discourage overdependency on the agency and to encourage local personnel to establish their own programs. (Author/JDD)

Understanding the criteria and process for determining a student's eligibility for special education services is critical for any educator in an inclusive school environment. Based on the current reauthorization of IDEA 2004, this timely resource offers teachers and administrators an overview of each eligible disability and clear, specific…

This resource paper is intended for students who are blind or visually impaired, and who wish to pursue education or vocational training beyond high school. Family members, Disability Support Services (DSS) providers, administrators, faculty, and staff will also benefit from the discussion. The paper examines the characteristics of blindness and…

This article describes a successful four-year student recruitment effort initiated by Florida State University's teacher preparation program in visual disabilities. The article discusses a survey to determine the target population, use of current students to attract new ones, harnessing of campus resources, and obtaining funds for recruitment…

The report describes the sixth year in which a survey has been conducted on sensory impaired students in Texas. The survey resulted in information on student demographics and on performance on the Stanford Achievement Test for Hearing Impaired Students (SAT-HI). Demographic data revealed that hearing aids were widely used; that 43% of students in…

The advantages and disadvantages of placing outside staff to represent international aid agencies in developing countries' service programs for blind persons are explored. Alternative models are offered, and sustainability through empowerment is presented as an approach to ensure long-term benefits from the services offered by the international…

Nongovernment organizations providing services to visually handicapped persons in developing nations should direct increased efforts toward project evaluation, monitoring, documentation, and dissemination, to ensure that innovative, flexible strategies direct self-help information to the "grassroots" level in forms that are familiar,…

The report describes the second year of a survey of sensory impaired children in Nebraska. It is explained that results have been used to improve administrative planning and cost efficient delivery of services. Demographic and assessment information was collected and analyzed on 888 sensory impaired children (birth to 21) via questionnaires…

A survey of recipients of 51 technical assistance projects addressing needs of children with sensory impairments in 18 states and territories resulted in identification of desired individual, programmatic, and systemwide changes in provision of technical assistance services. (Author/DB)

This paper is intended for entering college students who are blind or visually impaired, administrators, faculty and staff, family members, and counselors. First, characteristics of people with blindness and visual impairments are briefly summarized. Services such as translation of texts into braille or audiotaping, readers or assistants, and…

To meet the needs of visually-impaired candidates, Educational Testing Service (ETS) has traditionally provided tests in three special formats: large-print, Braille, and cassette. Certain ETS programs permit the use of the candidate's reader or the use of amanuensis, that is, someone who records answers for the candidate. The primary goal of…

Developed as part of a project to encourage state-wide collaborative agreements between education and rehabilitation agencies involved in the transition of blind and visually handicapped students (ages 16-25) from school into the work force, the report describes 18 programs diverse in location, design, funding, philosophy, and administration that…