Introduction: Recent trends in training teachers of students who are blind or have low vision (i.e., those who are visually impaired) have shifted away from traditional hand-over-hand guidance and toward a hand-under-hand approach. However, a search for peer-reviewed studies that address the effects of the use of hand-under-hand versus…

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a promising tool to produce assistive technology. For instance, individuals with deafblindness (concurrent vision and hearing loss) could benefit from tactile AM-based products as touch may be their main gateway to access information. This study thus aimed to synthesize evidence on the…

The difficulties faced by teachers at a Special Public School in teaching Balinese script literacy to visually impaired children have resulted in low literacy skills in Balinese script among these students. In order to maximize Balinese script learning, appropriate learning media tailored to the characteristics of visually impaired children are…

Programming can be challenging to learn, and for visually impaired (VI) learners, there are numerous additional barriers to the learning process. Many modern programming environments are inaccessible to VI learners, being difficult or impossible to interface with using a screen reader. A review of the literature has identified a number of…

A review of the literature from 1965 to 2008 on tactile maps and models in orientation and mobility yielded four pre-experimental and three experimental articles. The articles were analyzed via best-evidence synthesis--a combined narrative and statistical approach--allowing for recommendations for the most effective use of tactile maps and models.…

A series of studies on tangible pictures and their application to blind persons are reviewed and possible explanations for the suggestion of depth offered by outline drawings are discussed. Findings from ancient cave and rock art, together with drawings made by blind children and adults suggest that outline drawings contain some elements that are…

Discusses the use of the Moon system, an English embossed reading method, with visually handicapped individuals. Reports advantages of the system, such as its roman character familiarity for those once able to see and the availability of Moon books and materials. Concludes that the Moon system is an important alternative to braille. (PHR)

Introduces new technologies that provide instant translation of print materials in three general categories: optical to tactile conversion of print, optical to braille conversion, and optical to speech. Talking books, voice indexing, new braille technologies, print to braille, and optical print enlargement are highlighted. A list of sources is…

The article reviews the literature and presents principles for teaching foreign language in schools for the blind. Among principles are that blindness need not obstruct the process of learning a foreign language, that the best learning environment is a monolingual one, and that tactile and recorded materials can be integrated. (DB)

The authors examine the state of the art in the use of texture in tactual maps and graphics for visually handicapped persons. (Author/CL)

This article reviews the literature on the role of first-hand experiences, language, reading aloud, and scribbling on the preliteracy development of normal and visually impaired children. It describes a specific program developed by the American Printing House for the Blind which includes a handbook and 27 tactile-visual read-aloud story books.…

Presents a historical overview of education research on children with visual impairments, examining four areas: low vision perception and efficiency; tactual perception and efficiency; reading and writing in the visual medium; and reading and writing in the tactual medium. Current research issues in educating learners with visual impairments are…