Describes an eight-dot computer Braille notation, COBRA, with integrated mathematical and scientific notation that achieves immediate print-Braille compatibility through one-to-one representation of letters and other characters. Text can be entered from the Braille or the Qwerty Keyboard and can be viewed simultaneously on the Braille display and…

Autism, a lifelong neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, occurs in about one out of every thousand individuals. This disorder can occur at or before birth and the symptoms are usually manifested during the first 3 to 5 years of life. Males are four times as likely to have the disorder, but it affects females more…

It may seem that deaf-blindness refers to a total inability to see or hear. However, in reality deaf-blindness is a condition in which the combination of hearing and visual losses in children cause "such severe communication and other develop mental and educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in special education programs solely for…

The paper reports on a program to change behaviors of six blind multihandicapped adolescents with severe behavior disorders at the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind. Examples are drawn of the program's effects on a 17 year old male, Joe. Program principles include reduction of stressful situations for the students, expansion of…

Based on experiences with her own blind child, the author offers suggestions to other parents and teachers on activities to do with young visually impaired children that will help promote early developmental learning in braille reading. Also included are implications for design and production of appropriate preschool books and materials. (Author)

As part of a state residential center's 16-week training program to assist blind adults, aged 16-65, in acquiring employability skills, clients receive hands-on training in mastering the IBM Memory 100 Audio Unit typewriter. Training includes assessing prerequisite secretarial skills, using self-instructional materials, and evaluating performance.…

The synopsis describes development by the Mississippi Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Agency of a data processing system to improve service delivery for clients and enhance the cost-effectiveness of agency resources. (Author/MC)

Describes several ways in which microcomputers have been adapted to needs of the handicapped. One system consists of a Dynatyper (solenoid driven array of plastic plungers sitting above typewriter keyboard), Braillewriter, and Apple II microcomputer which produces hard-copy braille. (JN)

Reports the activities of IFLA's Round Table of Libraries for the Blind to develop library services, including the production of audiomaterials in standardized formats to facilitate copying for exchange or borrowing. Current projects are concerned with copyright, formats, postal regulation and custom law, international relations, bibliographic…

The article describes a program at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in which students have an opportunity for practical experience in 25 on-campus or 8 off-campus work stations. Benefits to the employer and employee are discussed. (CL)

This article explores issues related to the use of supported employment and time-related transitional employment for blind and visually impaired persons. It defines the concepts; describes the characteristics that distinguish these services from others; and discusses the need for these services from ecological, philosophical, fiscal, and learning…

The article suggests the use of non-expert sighted volunteers to teach the reading and writing of Moon Script, a tactual system of raised-line characters similar to the Roman alphabet, to visually impaired people. Experimental courses with both blind and sighted volunteers are described. (DB)

The educational needs of blind youth in developing countries are beginning to be met with training programs offered by such agencies as Helen Keller International of the United States, the Christoffel Blindenmission of West Germany, and the Royal Commonwealth Society of the Blind of the United Kingdom. (Author/DB)

A counselor blind from birth describes personal difficulties in fully understanding the experience of clients who are adventitiously blind. Congenitally blind counselors are urged to recognize that adaptive methods cannot compensate for the panoramic view of the environment provided by vision and that recently blinded individuals need to deal with…

Explores the braille production and distribution activities of the National Library Service (NLS) for the blind and physically handicapped. Discussion covers how titles are chosen for production in Braille, how a book is produced, responsibilities and activities of the Production Control Section of the NLS, and how patrons can find out if a title…