In order to fight against proposed federal budget cuts, blind persons and their advocates must have access to timely and authoritative information, refine their working knowledge of the legislative process, understand the role of coalitions, and be able to make legislators understand how proposed changes in law affect blind people. (Author/CL)

The article examines shortcomings in existing objective measures of mobility for blind persons in the light of evaluative experiences and demonstrates improvements in reliability, together with a new technique for tracking pavement position. It refutes the idea that it is not possible to measure improvement in performance objectively. (Author/CL)

Provides teachers with an understanding of how sighted children develop concepts about print and how blind children develop concepts about braille. Prereading activities designed to extend young children's concepts about print are adapted for blind children. (HTH)

This article addresses the unique assessment needs of young blind children and discourages dependence on standardized tests for this population. Principles of one assessment approach (involving observation; clinical examination of mobility, language, play, socioemotional development, and academic skills; and interviews with mother and social…

This article proposes the teaching of long cane mobility skills to blind preschool-age children. Traditional arguments against early cane use are refuted and possible advantages of early use identified. Strategies and techniques for cane introduction are specified. (DB)

The article suggests abandoning a subject area approach to the rehabilitation of blind persons and proposes a generic approach that would teach transferable problem-solving techniques. Nine possible curriculum components include auditory interpretation of the environment, spatial concepts, tactile identification, and identification of materials.…

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…

This article examines special problems in assessing young blind children resulting from their great heterogeneity. Case studies are offered to illustrate the irresponsibility of applying standardized tests developed for sighted populations to blind children who have very different experiential backgrounds. Positive principles for assessment of the…

The 23 papers were written by staff and consultants of the Arts in Special Education Project of Pennsylvania, a program to provide assistance to educators in the development of appropriate quality arts programing for handicapped students. After two overview papers, the papers are grouped by category--art, dance, drama, and music. Papers have the…