Describes current child-count systems that count students with visual impairments and additional disabilities in only one disability area. This results in an undercount of the incidence of visual impairment. Discusses the need for children to be initially counted by the disability of the lowest incidence. (CR)

The author, born with a severe visual impairment, addresses the tendency of adolescents with visual impairments to try to hide the disability and "pass" as unimpaired with their peers. It is suggested that these adolescents be helped to find a comfortable balance between taking excessive risks and allowing visual impairment or blindness to be an…

The article reviews the literature on growth and development, home environmental measures, and their interrelationships with children who are visually impaired. Noted are measures which can aid parents and educators in determining the form that early intervention strategies should take. (Author/DB)

To assess changes in visual-motor function with age, 20 visually impaired infants and toddlers were followed, longitudinally, with the Bayley Mental Scale of Infant Development (BMSID). The BMSID was seen to be an appropriate tool for evaluating such children and especially effective as part of a longitudinal process. (Author/DB)

The study assessed variations in the indoor and outdoor locomotor mobility of 22 low-vision adults, under normal and reduced illumination. Subjects' visual fields and contrast sensitivities accounted for 39 percent of the variation in mobility performance, whereas their visual acuities were not related to mobility performance. (Author/JDD)

Tangible tools needed by the instructor of orientation and mobility techniques for people with visual impairments include cane repair tools, a tape measure, a stopwatch, labeling materials, raised-line drawing equipment, a bicycle, compass and map, mace, and evaluation tools. (DB)

This article describes the physiological mechanisms involved in three-dimensional depth perception and presents a variety of distance and depth cues and strategies for detecting and estimating curbs and steps for individuals with impaired vision. (Author/DB)

This collection of innovative ideas for rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments or blindness describes procedures for making a custom desk for a low vision learner, teaching orientation and mobility to blind individuals with multiple disabilities, and teaching music notation using cuisenaire rods. The paper makes a request for…

This regular column offers suggestions useful in the education or rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments. The suggestions involve making instructional audiotapes that students can use at their own pace to learn math, vocabulary, capitalization, and other topics; making tactual maps; and using a special art tape to make tactile lines…

Issues related to promoting orientation and mobility training for individuals with visual impairments and diabetes are discussed, including effects of insulin, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, the timing of training, complications to the feet, and fluctuations in vision. Major lifestyle changes required by diabetes are stressed. (Author/SW)

Examination of the number, content, and intensity of fears of 42 visually impaired children, aged 5-18, found more fears of potentially physically dangerous situations than of psychologically harmful ones and little difference between the number of mild and severe fears. Counselors' estimations of children's fears generally disagreed with the…

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)

This article explores problems blind and visually impaired workers have in achieving upward mobility in work environment. It presents findings of American Foundation for the Blind's Task Force on Upward Mobility which present recommendations for rehabilitation and educational professionals, employers, and consumers. Rehabilitation counselors are…

This paper describes adaptations of five games for use with visually impaired (both partially sighted and blind) young people in India. The games include kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, throwball, and table tennis. (DB)

Two factors are discussed that should influence the planning and development of rehabilitation services for visually impaired people: social perceptions/expectations (media influence, leisure, health, quality of life, and equality of opportunity) and external environmental influences (demographic, economic, social, political, and physical).…