The World Health Organization and World Bank (2011) estimate that there are more than 1 billion people with disabilities in the world. To address this population's diverse needs, the United Nations drafted their Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2006. Article 24 (Education) of the CRPD requires ratifying countries to…

Having a disability can be one of the most marginalizing factors in a child's life. In education, finding ways to meet the learning needs of children with disabilities can be challenging, especially in schools, districts, regions, and countries with severely limited resources. Inclusive education--which fully engages all children in quality…

Learning disabilities are among the most common disabilities experienced in childhood and adulthood. Although identifying learning disabilities in a school setting is a complex process, it is particularly challenging in low- and middle-income countries that lack the appropriate resources, tools, and supports. This guide provides an introduction to…

There are plenty of products out there for making information accessible to all users, but how can administrators and managers determine which are the most practical and economical for their particular library? Mates, former director of the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled, strips away the technical jargon and introduces dozens…

Dr. Orfield's highly readable guide on vision development presents ground-breaking solutions to common learning problems and is supported by substantial data. This holistic common sense--that most people do not know--is not just about vision but also how vision is interrelated with learning. It teaches how to care for a child's vision as well as…

Those who compiled and updated the information in this guide invite readers to take a second look at its title. In previous editions, it was assumed that it's called "Those of Us Disabled" but this time it is not because it is meant to make the reader think about how the label of disability is used and misused. The last word of the title…

The manual, available in large print, in regular sized print, and in braille, is designed to help blind parents acquire parenting skills. The manual at hand, contains large print, and is based on interviews with 11 blind or severely visually impaired parents, 8 women and 3 men. The beginning section addresses the importance of attitude in child…

Differential reinforcement procedures were combined with momentary restraint conditions to reduce the stereotypic behaviors of three visually impaired, severely disabled students (7-10 years old). Procedures were carried out in a classroom setting by classroom staff. (Author/CL)

More than 60 different tactual maps were created on capsule paper to examine the effectiveness of this process. The medium's composition, steps necessary for map compilation and processing, equipment costs and operations, appropriate symbolization, and advantages and disadvantages of the process are discussed. (Author/CL)

Museums offer a range of programs for visually handicapped visitors. Professionals serving visually handicapped people are called upon to act as consultants, as are the visually handicapped themselves, to use their experience in advising museums on outreach programs, tours, and other services that will draw in the hesitant consumer. (Author/CL)

The rehabilitation of visually impaired persons can be conceptualized by a human systems approach. This paper explaines seven levels of human systems, related factors, and 10 assumptions that lead to high standards for rehabilitation workers and organizations. The concepts are applied to work with clients and use in rehabilitation agencies.…

The guide updates one section of a previously written manual on speech software for blind and visually impaired persons. The guide presents reviews of 14 specific commercially available software programs. Software is critiqued for IBM (Enhanced PC Talking Program, Soft Vert, Screen-Talk Pro, Artic Vision, Freedom 1, and Prompt-Writer), Apple…

Basic behavioral processes involved in motor control based on theories of motor control and learning are outlined using the teaching of two-point touch cane technique as an application of the theories. The authors assert the importance of repetition, practice, and sufficient learning time. (Author/CL)

The article discusses the increased demands for braille textbooks that match print versions in quality of format and graphics. One solution is to improve the quality of transcriptions produced by computer. The author reviews current limitations of computerized braille transcriptions and points out the existing potential for improvements.…

Six common visual dysfunctions are briefly explained and their relationships to reading noted: (1) ametropia, refractive error; (2) inaccurate saccades, the small jumping eye movements used in reading; (3) inefficient binocularity/fusion; (4) insufficient convergence/divergence; (5) heterophoria, imbalance in extra-ocular muscles; and (6)…