This article highlights ideas, adaptations, and strategies that have been effective for educators teaching students with visual impairments. Strategies are shared for teaching the concepts of left and right, using alphaboxes for teaching the alphabet, using CDs for Braille reinforcement activities, and using a lawn compass to teach orientation.…

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…

Tangible tools needed by the instructor of orientation and mobility techniques for people with visual impairments include cane repair tools, a tape measure, a stopwatch, labeling materials, raised-line drawing equipment, a bicycle, compass and map, mace, and evaluation tools. (DB)

This article describes the physiological mechanisms involved in three-dimensional depth perception and presents a variety of distance and depth cues and strategies for detecting and estimating curbs and steps for individuals with impaired vision. (Author/DB)

This collection of innovative ideas for rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments or blindness describes procedures for making a custom desk for a low vision learner, teaching orientation and mobility to blind individuals with multiple disabilities, and teaching music notation using cuisenaire rods. The paper makes a request for…

This regular column offers suggestions useful in the education or rehabilitation of individuals with visual impairments. The suggestions involve making instructional audiotapes that students can use at their own pace to learn math, vocabulary, capitalization, and other topics; making tactual maps; and using a special art tape to make tactile lines…

This article discusses comprehensive staff development plans for providers of services to individuals with visual impairments. It addresses how staff development can be planned, the purposes of staff development, how staff development differs from staff training, and options for delivering staff development (such as distance education). (JDD)

This article shows the usefulness of understanding visual behaviors in the diagnosis of various types of visual impairments that are due to ocular and cortical disorders. Behaviors discussed include nystagmus, ocular motor dyspraxia, head position, close viewing, field loss adaptations, mannerisms, photophobia, and abnormal color perception. (JDD)

Describes common vision problems in young children such as myopia, strabismus, and amblyopia. Presents suggestions for helping children with vision problems in the early childhood classroom and in outdoor activities. Lists related resources and children's books. (KB)

This article discusses the potential negligence-based liability risks that orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists often face when assisting students with visual impairments with independent travel in uncontrolled environments. It also presents strategies that may minimize the risks of O&M training for both students and specialists. (Contains…

Describes how a braillewriter can be used as a calculation tool for students with visual impairments who are learning mathematics. Provides strategies for teaching students to use the braillewriter in the addition and subtraction of whole numbers and numbers with decimals, multiplication, division, and fractions. (CR)

Guidelines for teaching orientation and mobility skills to visually impaired children with additional disabilities focus on basic needs including the need to feel safe, the need for control, the need to be in contact with the physical environment, the need for some type of independent movement, and the need for meaningful mobility. (DB)

Looks at vision problems in the areas of visual acuity, visual skills efficiency, and visual perceptual-motor development, and points out symptoms of each that children might exhibit. Suggests things teachers might do to help. (FL)

The article identifies the range of educational supports required for full services to visually impaired students entering school, describes key characteristics of young blind children, and presents guidelines for assessing school-age blind children for purposes of program selection. (Author/CL)

The article outlines advantages and limitations of five types of access to microcomputer technology for visually impaired students: electronic braille, paper braille, Optacon, synthetic speech, and enlarged print. Additional considerations in access decisions are noted. (CL)