This article discusses the lack of preparation teachers of students with visual impairments have in the Nemeth Code (the Braille code for mathematics). It then describes a Windows-based tutorial for sighted persons to learn the Nemeth Code, a tutorial for teachers with blindness, and how to access the tutorials. (Contains 10 references.) (CR)

This article provides information on special education topics on the international front. Topics range from a BrailleNote project in British Columbia, a Swedish program to help Romanian children with special needs, a visual resource room to help New Zealand students with visual impairments, and technology programs in European countries. (CR)

This document presents reports of three projects to identify and analyze the appropriate use of instruction in Braille, optical devices, and other technologies as they relate to literacy and employment of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The first project examined the choice of reading medium of 68 individuals (blind or visually…

This paper examines the goal of providing transparent computer access to people with disabilities, especially those with visual impairments. First, four basic strategies to provide this population with access to technology are identified: (1) building features into the computer, operating system, or application programs; (2) using adaptive…

The reading process and the history of teaching reading to Braille, print, and aural readers are reviewed. Variables in effective reading instruction programs for visually impaired children include teaching methods, assessment methods, qualities and competencies of teachers, other deficits of visually impaired students that exacerbate reading…

This literature review examines and integrates research addressing visual handicap and giftedness and provides suggestions for the identification and education of gifted students with visual handicaps. The review addresses definitions of visual handicap and giftedness, characteristics of the gifted visually handicapped child, the problem of…

This brief paper summarizes data from a survey of state education agencies (SEAs) on changes related to Braille instruction since the passage of the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Major findings from analyses of the 44 responding agencies include the following: (1) 25 SEAs have counts of the number of…

This report is a compilation of information collected from a searchable database on the testing accommodations that are most often allowed for students with disabilities in state policies. These ten accommodations include: (1) Braille edition of the test; (2) computer/machine response; (3) dictate response to a scribe; (4) extended time; (5)…