After receiving word that a former client had recently passed away, the author reflects on the special time she had spent with her. The client's name was "Beckie"--the author's first set of contacts with her were quite ordinary. As the rehabilitation teacher (RT) serving that territory for the Maine Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the…

Cooperative learning is an instructional method designed to teach students to work together in small, structured, heterogeneous teams to achieve a common goal. The Performer and Coach Earn Rewards (PACER) system is a new way to incorporate cooperative learning in the gymnasium. It consists of six components that help teachers to introduce new…

Physicist James Trefil once describes the universe as "The Spongy Universe," comparing large-scale cosmic structures to the structure of a sponge. The NASA Genesis education module "Cosmic Chemistry: Cosmogony" features the "Spongy Universe" activity in which pairs of students observe a household sponge, making…

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…

A 3 year project to develop a beginning braille reading series was undertaken, beginning with research reviews on concept development, tactual perception, braille reading, and general reading. Analysis of vocabulary lists and specifications followed, culminating in development of the readiness, preprimer, and primer readers with accompanying…

Many interpretive nature trails have been established for the visually impaired in recent years. The objectives of the investigation were to (a) identify what has been done in the past in the way of nature trail design for the visually impaired, (b) compare this with what professional workers for the visually impaired consider important in the…

The Networking Project for Disabled Women and Girls seeks to increase physically and sensory disabled adolescent girls' social, sexual, educational, and vocational aspirations and options through role models of successful disabled women in the community. (CL)

The author describes the value to visually impaired and multiply handicapped students of a good typewriting curriculum. She discusses hand and finger exercises and notes benefits to students from focusing on the hands as well as on the rudiments and total communicative value of typing. (CL)

The authors describe behavior modification treatment procedures applied by direct-care staff in a residential school to conrol severe aggression and self-injury in two developmentally disabled, visually handicapped students. Techniques included positive practice overcorrection, verbal command, and response immobilization. (Author/CL)

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.

The author draws from her experience to cite factors needed for successful integration of children with hearing and visual impairments. She suggests that planning must take into account the physical setup, commitment of staff, school organization, and parents' involvement. (CL)

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)

Summarizes some recent developments in information technology which can improve information access for the disabled, including the application of telephone services, adaptive and assistive aids, and computerized information systems. Twenty-two references are cited. (FM)

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 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)