Introduction: The purpose of this study was to gain information from parents in the United States about their children with albinism. The article focuses on information and services related to medical care and low vision care. Methods: An online questionnaire was used to collect data, and parents had opportunities to submit additional information.…

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to gain information from parents in the United States about their children with albinism. The first article (in this issue) focused on the data from this study that addressed medical and low vision care. This article focuses on information and services related to the education of children with albinism.…

The Occupational Schedule (OASIS-IS) was administered to 117 visually handicapped eighth to twelfth graders. As a group they showed positive though relatively undifferentiated occupational interests. Compared to normally sighted peers, Ss showed a preference for repetitive factory work. Findings suggested a broader outlook for occupational choices…

The Test of Practical Knowledge was used with 116 blind and visually impaired adolescents. Most of the demographic variables had little or no relationship to acquired practical knowledge. Furthermore, legally blind-visually impaired students had more difficulty in acquiring practical knowledge than did their totally blind peers. (Author/CL)

This article profiles the program delivery models, funding sources, and faculty demographics of 43 personnel preparation programs in 2002-03. It shows that there was an increase in the number of programs and fulltime faculty and a greater diversity of delivery models, although the number of tenure-track positions declined.

A matrix organizes skills into a curriculum for independence and includes the following components: travel, reading, writing, speaking, recreation, and planning; and resources, problem solving, self-advocacy, and social skills. The use of the matrix in promoting the independence of a visually handicapped learner is described. (CL)

A study of self-perceptions of 41 working-age visually impaired women found that they perceived themselves as having substantially more barriers to employment than their sighted counterparts, and that this could have a critical impact on their pursuit of work. (Author/CL)

This article suggests ways that families of children with visual impairments can promote the travel skills of their children. Topics covered include ways to share information during travel, involving children in travel, involving children with nondrivers, helping adolescents who will not drive gain increased independence, and supporting young…

A questionnaire containing a teacher-efficacy scale, a hypothetical case report, and questions about teacher background was completed by 116 certified teachers of students with visual impairments. The study found that a teacher's current job placement (whether in a local or special school) was the most distinctive teacher variable affecting the…

A study explored the internal consistency of items in a visual screening instrument developed by Project PAVE: Expectations for Visual Functioning (EVF). The test includes 20 items that evaluate a child's functional use of vision. A pilot test involving 129 teachers indicates the EFV is internally consistent. (Contains three references.) (CR)

A national agenda for the education of children and youth with visual impairments has been developed by eight national organizations. Agenda goals focus on referrals, parent participation, personnel preparation, provision of educational services, array of services, assessments, access to instructional materials, and the core curriculum. The…

This article is the second in a three-part series that provides data from interviews of 162 adult subjects aged 60 and older who stopped driving due to a visual impairment. Part Two describes the availability and use of different forms of transportation, ways subjects access transportation to carry out daily activities, subjects' experiences with…

A comprehensive program of instruction in the use of low vision is proposed, including definitions, a philosophy of low vision, theoretical constructs, a flow chart of professional and individual relationships and responsibilities, goals, curriculum, and an evaluation system. (Author/JDD)

This article reviews literature on the issue of whether it is preferable to teach students literacy skills using large print or using standard print with optical devices. Findings indicate reading standard print with optical devices is as effective a literacy medium as large print and, perhaps, a more effective one. (Contains references.) (CR)

A study investigated doctoral personnel preparation programs in visual impairments at 15 universities. Results indicate only nine of the programs had one or more doctoral students and that over the past five years, only four graduates obtained continuing full-time faculty positions, two in education and two in orientation and mobility. (Contains 7…