A study involving 60 blind children (in grades k-2) was conducted to validate the hypothesized order of a series of tactual discrimination tasks and to determine the grade level(s) at which most "normal blind" children successfully perform simple tactual discrimination tasks presented on the Optacon. (SBH)

A study was initiated with 60 blind children (kindergarten through grade 2) in order to validate the order of a sequence of tactual discrimination tasks leading to the use of braille and the Optacon. Ss were tested with tasks designed for the readiness level (discrimination of large solid geometric shapes, flat puzzle pieces, embossed dot…

A hypothesized hierarchy of tasks in the development of tactual discrimination (an essential skill for reading) was tested in 60 blind primary level children. For five braille and five Optacon (optical to tactile converter) sequences, Ss were asked to identify the different stimulus from the four presented. Scalogram analysis was used to examine…

Provided in the second of two articles is further evidence of the validity of the author's sequence of tactual discrimination tasks for partial development of Optacon use readiness in young blind children. (IM)