Materials are suggested for facilitating braille reading readiness of blind children. Four critical areas are addressed and materials offered for each: auditory discrimination, tactual discrimination, language development, and concept development. (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)

The article describes a model for conceptualizing the psychology of adjustment to visual loss. The aim of the model is to establish definitions and guidelines within which techniques for working with the blind may be used. (Author)

The notion of mediating the environment is examined and related to the unique developmental mode of young blind children. Emphasis is placed on the use of systematic conceptualization of development and mediation in relation to each other. Stages of mediation are identified, and three types of mediation are presented and illustrated. (Author/CL)

The article describes application for visually impaired persons of widely used Electronic Travel Aids--the Lindsay Russell Pathsounder, the Mowat Sensor, the Sonicguide, and the C-5 Laser Cane. In addition, a research review provides insight into the issues affecting future use of the devices. (Author/CL)

The author draws a parallel between the psychological stages of adjustment a newly blinded individual goes through and the stages of adjustment experienced by the parents of a blind child. (Author/SB)

Tips are offered for use in an encounter with a dog guide and its blind owner. Tips include approaching the person from the right side, not taking hold of the dog guide's harness, not offering food to the dog guide, and not petting the dog guide without the owner's permission. (JDD)

Career awareness is defined and emphasized as a fundamental need of blind and visually impaired persons. (Author/CL)

Four stages in the development of tactual perception are described (awareness of tactual quality, shape conception and recognition, graphic representation, and symbology systems). Educational applications for blind infants and children are given for each stage. (CL)

The paper examines the applications of microcomputers to recreation programing for blind persons. The accessibility of microcomputers to this population is discussed, and the advantages as well as disadvantages of speech synthesis equipment are noted. Information is presented on the modification of hardware for Radio Shack and Apple computers.…

The operating manual for the Digicassette (or Portable Braille Recorder--PBR), an electronic braille reading and writing machine and an audiotape recorder which is compact and easy to carry around, is presented. Following a preface and an introduction are sections which address the following topics: orientation to parts and functions of the…

The author asserts that parents must reevaluate current social taboos against physical contact and generate naturalistic experiences to aid the visually impaired child in the identification of gender differences, anatomical functioning, and interpersonal skills associated with expressing one's sexuality. Specific, age-appropriate intervention…

An overview of vocational assessment cites problems such as using "trait" oriented approaches rather than more specific "real-work" task techniques for visually impaired and blind employment candidates. However, with more properly aligned technology geared to the particular needs of handicapped persons, recent trends are emerging, and suggestions…

Implications of career education for blind and visually impaired students focus on providing general employability skills and fusing the career development process and the teaching/learning process into the curriculum. (Author/CL)

The author discusses ways in which miniatures and schematic drawings can help blind persons deal with information provided by sonicguide. (CL)