White Cane Awareness Month was created to teach the public that the long cane is a tool for maintaining independence and dignity and a symbol of freedom, not of pity or helplessness. Public relations materials were developed, including a demonstration for television stations on use of the long cane and a quiz to distribute at information booths.…

Examines all aspects of National Library Service (NLS) recorded texts, including the early history of the medium, production techniques, and bibliographic tools used to locate specific titles. Titles produced by Recording for the Blind are considered and compared with NLS titles. (Author/LRW)

Various denotations and connotations of the word "blindness" are examined and the inference is drawn that they constitute a psychosocial burden that perpetuates prejudice. The analysis leads on to a hypothesis in which a more progressive terminology could lead to reduction of this burden.

Although members of the general public have often heard of the terms "genetic engineering" and, more recently, genomics, they typically have little to no knowledge about these topics, and in some cases are confused about basic concepts in these areas. There is currently a need for teaching models to explain concepts behind genomics.…

The paper describes the growth in services of Recording for the Blind, an organization supplying blind and other print-handicapped persons with free, taped educational books in cassette form. Increased acquisition at all age levels and expansion of computer capabilities to create an online subject catalog to the materials are noted. Details of…

Religious attitudes about blindness such as viewing blindness as a punishment for sins or viewing blind persons as helpless present extremely difficult attitudinal barriers. The article explores the relationship between religion, religious attitudes, and blindness and describes a seminar training program for ministerial students. (Author/CB)

The large majority of the 300 blind and partially sighted students in British Columbia public schools are enrolled in regular day schools. Students are supported by a system in which textbooks and other materials are translated to braille, specialist teachers assist regular class teachers, and special equipment is made available.

A three-day teaching unit increased positive responses of 27 fifth-grade sighted students about visual impairments. Lessons included a discussion of the nature and causes of visual impairment, the use of sighted guide techniques, and a presentation by a blind teacher. (CL)

The article describes the development, evaluation, and testing of a kit which includes tools and information for facilitating the construction of readable tactile graphic displays for communicating information to the blind. (Author/SW)

The article describes a behavioral consultation model developed in a residential treatment program for visually impaired children with maladaptive behavior. Two case studies illustrate the application of behavior modification techniques. The article concludes with suggestions for overcoming the resistance of staff members to using behavior…

The article describes a four-day workshop on recent technological developments in the field of blindness hosted by Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind in Little Rock. The main objective of the program was to increase rehabilitation counselors' awareness of how technological aids could be used to enhance their clients' vocational opportunities.…

While glaucoma generally strikes those over 35 years of age, awareness of glaucoma should be promoted in junior and senior high school and college by incorporating information into a unit on eye health or chronic diseases. (MJB)

The computer assisted instruction (CAI) center at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is described in terms of scheduling; monitoring of student progress in mathematics, language, and reading; comparing student achievement; and funding. (CL)

Discusses two special programs for the blind and physically handicapped of the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County (Tennessee): The WPLN Talking Library and Library Services for the Deaf. (Author)

The article describes how a 60-hour training program helped 32 blind persons use biofeedback techniques to improve blood flow to arms, hands, legs, and feet (especially important for diabetics), and to reduce anxiety through relaxation. (Author)