Special education has changed over the years since its inception due to advocacy, litigation, legislation, trends, and research investigations. While it can be somewhat controversial depending on the disability the child might have or professionals involved in the process of instructing and planning his/her future education, it is a field that has…

Students who are visually impaired but receive adequate support at an early stage have a greater chance of progressing in their academics and future careers. In this research article, the author identified various practice guidelines that can help students with visual impairments achieve a successful transition into the world of work. To discuss…

Spina bifida (SB) refers to a subgroup of congenital defects where the neural tube fails to fuse, often resulting in a protruding spinal cord. This is often due to a defect or absence of vertebral arches resulting from a failure of the mesoderm to organize over the region of the defect. SB occurs during gestation between the third and sixth week…

The transition to life after high school for students with disabilities and the vital role that school counselors have in assisting the students and their families to achieve success are discussed. As there may be unique requirements for these students in making this transition, it is important that school counselors are acquainted with particular…

Notes that, as the population ages, the number of adults with visual impairments grows proportionately. Explores the population of visually impaired adults and discusses suggestions for counselor education relevant to preparing counselors to meet the needs of adults with visual handicaps. (Author/NB)

This article presents information on macular degeneration for professionals helping persons with this disease adjust to their visual loss. It covers types of macular degeneration, the etiology of the disease, and its treatment. Also considered are psychosocial problems and other difficulties that persons with age-related macular degeneration face.…

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 article discusses factors related to individuals with sudden blindness, focusing on the visually impaired client's readiness for rehabilitation, the reactions of family members and friends, and personality variables. Two cases illustrate the adjustment process and eventual rehabilitation. (DB)

This reference circular lists organizations that provide a variety of direct services to blind and visually impaired persons, including advocacy and employment programs, assistive devices, and publications offered in special format. Many of the organizations also offer guidance to families of blind and visually impaired persons and training for…

This manual reviews the use of work samples in the vocational assessment of blind and visually impaired persons and suggests improvements in their use. The information in the manual was gathered through a literature review, a national survey of vocational evaluators in rehabilitation facilities and schools for the blind, and ideas developed by the…

This article outlines the need for employment counseling for college graduates with visual impairments and suggests counseling techniques. Techniques involve assessing the student's career development needs, formulating a collaborative plan of skills development, acquiring training to overcome noted deficits in social or professional skills, and…

A placement counselor offers his personal guidelines for a vocational placement process to serve blind individuals. Guidelines address the counselor's value system; the functional limitations of visual impairment and adaptive options; and the role of the employing agency in enhancing counselors' motivation for placement. A model placement policy…

The manual is intended to assist community agencies to fully integrate young women with physical or sensory disabilities in community programs and activities provided for nondisabled youth. It provides six training modules, two designed to help staff members examine their attitudes about working with disabled young women and four focusing on…

This manual was developed to provide as complete a list as possible of vocational evaluation measures currently used by college professionals that can be appropriately used with hearing-, sight-, or motor-impaired college students, as well as with normal students. Specific modifications and/or adaptations are described. The major criterion used in…

This monograph considers aspects of the visually impaired student's transition from high school to college and his successful adjustment at college, reports on a forum of experts addressing these issues, and summarizes results of surveys of successful students and college administrators. The first chapter is on making plans to attend college and…