The article claims that (1) categorical services are essential to fully help the blind and visually impaired population maintain what progress has been made; and (2) that the rehabilitation system cannot disregard the fact that the unique needs of the visually impaired require the services of specialized professionals. (Author/DB)

Public attitudes toward blindness are shaped by limited contacts with visually impaired people and unrealistic portrayals of blind people in the media. Proactive efforts including national and local public education programs are needed to change stereotyped thinking, humanize blindness, and lead to greater opportunities for fuller participation in…

Rehabilitation teaching involves instructing blind/visually impaired persons in homemaking and daily living skills, an area likely to increase as an aging population develops vision problems. Academic requirements for certification have some overlap with home economics, making it a potential career option for home economics graduates. (SK)

This article traces the historical development of two movements to improve the mobility of people with visual impairments--environmental modifications to increase accessibility, and orientation and mobility training. It also notes how changes in attitudes, effected to a large degree by the introduction of dog guides, have led to greater acceptance…

This summary of a seminar meeting on consumer concerns in services for people with blindness and visual impairments addresses the future of services, an ideal model of the blindness system, goals of rehabilitation services, a mission statement, differential evaluation of system criteria, and strategies to implement goals. (DB)

Some speculations, often based on mutually incompatible theories, are reviewed about how blindness can affect the development of language and meaning. Issues covered include preverbal and verbal behaviors, the concept of verbalism, and language as a compensator. (10 references) (Author/LB)

This discussion of theoretical perspectives on disability's economic aspects urges development of better measures of productive activity by persons with blindness in paid and unpaid work; considers other personal characteristics that may account for dependence, such as old age or illness; and suggests that some costs are created by social…

Designed primarily to enable blind students to more easily use the Open University's Student Computer Services, a project was implemented to generate computer programs (in BASIC) for a limited configuration microcomputer with synthetic speech as the only output program. Three techniques can be identified with synthetic speech generation:…

An analysis of legal and factual bases for designing an appropriate program for sensorily impaired children, consistent with P.L. 94-142, The Education For All Handicapped Children Act, asserts that state schools for the deaf and blind must continue to exist. (CL)

Blasts the supreme court of Washington State for its inappropriate treatment of Larry Witters, a legally blind student denied state vocational rehabilitation funds because his intended Bible studies program supposedly violated the First Amendment's establishment clause. Even a United States Supreme Court reversal failed to end Witter's…

The article suggests that Belcastro rods, which retain the basic properties of Cuisenaire rods but allow instant identification by touch, may be useful in teaching mathematical concepts to blind children. Drawings illustrate use of the rods in teaching such concepts as addition and subtraction. (Author/DB)

In this point/counterpoint feature, S. Melrose contends that complex graphical user interfaces (GUIs) threaten the independence and equal employment of individuals with blindness. D. Wakefield then points out that access to the Windows software program for blind computer users is extremely unpredictable, and J. Gill describes a major European…

Two cases are reported to illustrate the ways in which standardized tests fail blind children. Other assessment devices are recommended to allow a child to demonstrate how he or she makes sense of the world, such as observational techniques, interviews, structured teaching, exploration, and play. (Author/JDD)

This report looks at demographic concepts related to persons with blindness or visual impairment, such as population changes and employment changes. A "New Demographics" is proposed which would consider the entire individual, the variety of social groups, and limitations in the social environment rather than the disability. (DB)

This article discusses ethical and legal issues faced by orientation and mobility (O&M) professionals, associated with informing clients with visual impairments about risks both during O&M instruction and after training. The article evaluates arguments against the disclosure of risks, and describes a computerized method of assessing risks.…