One of the foundational principles of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) system is accessibility for students -- multi-tiered resources and strategies that ensure equitable and valid access for students to instructional and assessment content. This Guide includes 54 accessibility strategies that can be used by teachers,…

The authors explore the educational implications of research indicating that braille words and letters form a mutually beneficial partnership. Instructional applications are considered, and the authors suggest that practice in character recognition in word contexts will enhance reading skill. (Author/CL)

The author provides step-by-step instructions for using the Cranmer Modified Perkins Brailler, Apple Microcomputer, and Versa Braille. (CL)

A number of problems related to integration of the visually impaired child into the regular class are discussed, particularly with regard to necessary curriculum adaptations. Several braille reading, writing, and mathematical notation materials designed to aid itinerant teachers in overcoming these problems are described. (Author/SBH)

Blind adults with language deficiencies often can learn enough braille to be able to use it for self-communication. Although the manuals of instruction commonly available are not adequate for everyone, individualized plans for teaching braille can be adapted to meet specific needs. Such plans should have a strong readiness program to teach proper…

Three short articles about foreign language braille are presented for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. Because dictionaries of languages other than English rarely show syllable division, the articles provide guidelines to the syllabication of Spanish, French, and German. The guidelines give specific rules concerning…

Discusses teaching methods and instructional aids developed to integrate blind students into a private class for elementary-school-aged piano students. Instructional aids incorporate auditory and tactile stimuli to teach music notation skills. Commercial games, like Bingo, were modified with Braille symbols to teach rhythm concepts. (AM)

Introduces programs that assist blind students such as Tactile Access to Education for Visually Impaired Students (TAEVIS). Reports on two blind students who successfully completed physics courses and their learning strategies. Discusses the accessibility of visual aids. (YDS)

Designed for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped, this document presents three short articles about literary braille. The first article discusses common pitfalls that occur on trial manuscripts, such as misformed characters, missing and added dots, incorrect title pages, and incorrect word divisions. The second article…

Three short articles about music braille are presented for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. The first article focuses on common in-accord-related errors in braille music and provides a definition of and information about accidentals and in-accords and doubling and in-accords. The second article deals with the rules…

Guidelines for working with remedial braille readers in the areas of attitude/motivation, mechanical skills, decoding skills, and comprehension are provided. Lists of suggestions are presented in each of the areas. (PHR)

Advocates teaching Braille to sighted children as a strategy for raising awareness and promoting a positive view of blindness. Explains what Braille is, and outlines a classroom lesson that can be used in the primary grades to teach about the use of Braille. Promotes the view that blindness is a characteristic rather than a handicap. (DR)

Three articles about mathematics and science braille are provided for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. The first article discusses common problems such as setting braille writers incorrectly, duplicating transcribed materials unnecessarily, and incorrectly transcribing from typescript. The second article provides a…

Three short articles about foreign language braille are presented for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. Because dictionaries of languages other than English rarely show syllable division, the first article provides guidelines to the syllabication of Latin. The guidelines give specific rules concerning the division of…

Three short articles about music braille are presented for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. The first article discusses new rules and signs added to the braille music code with the publication of the 1980 American Addendum. Examples illustrate key signatures, time signatures, accumulating arpeggio, doubling, and chant…