Assessment procedures can be used to establish a baseline of strengths and weaknesses for young visually handicapped students, to record changes in students' performance, and to identify teaching steps. Selecting suitable assessment procedures requires consideration of their format, wording of the items, subscales, developmental range, reliability…

Provides background on the holdings, services, and layout of the mediatheque (multimedia library) at the Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie (originally the Museum of Science, Technology, and Industry) in Paris. The library's online public access catalog and use of the catalog by children and the visually handicapped are described. (four…

The article describes how culture, poverty, religion, and geography interact and impact on the development of education for blind and visually impaired people in Latin America. (Author)

The range in levels of services for visually impaired children in the South Pacific (New Zealand, Solomon Islands, Western Samoa) is discussed from several viewpoints. (Author/DB)

A course in non-visual art offered as part of a general education requirement has both blind and blindfolded students exploring aspects of art, primarily tactile and auditory, usually de-emphasized in art education. (MSE)

The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, in conjunction with Saint John Ambulance, developed a first aid training program for individuals with visual impairments in Victoria, Australia. This paper describes preparation of the program, participants, instructors, funding and costs, program objectives, and program evaluation. (JDD)

An off-campus training program for rehabilitation teachers of the visually impaired in rural areas was cosponsored by Dominican College and the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. A unique feature of the program was the use of on-site rehabilitation teachers as adjunct faculty. (Author/JDD)

This paper describes adaptations of five games for use with visually impaired (both partially sighted and blind) young people in India. The games include kabaddi, kho-kho, volleyball, throwball, and table tennis. (DB)

This article reviews the history and use of tactual maps by blind and visually impaired travelers. It discusses textual patterns, symbols, and graphics; differences between conventional geographic-cartographic maps and strip maps used as navigational aids; and current advances, including disposable, quick-to-produce, and easy-to-update strip maps.…

Advantages and disadvantages are presented for various voice indexing systems for accessing recorded material for visually impaired people. The Van Schyndel Voice Indexing System, which allows a spoken index to be recorded at regular recording speed, is described, focusing on operation procedures and components of the original and…

This article describes the Rehabilitation Teachers Division of Migdal Or, an Israeli rehabilitation agency. It discusses the division's history, structure, features, and adaptations from other programs to the needs and cultures of blind and visually impaired people in Israel. (Author/JDD)

The paper describes rehabilitation services provided by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (United Kingdom), focusing specifically on its Employment Rehabilitation Centers. Current vocational rehabilitation policy of the Institute is described, and a study in progress to determine the Institute's role in future programs is discussed.…

A profile is presented of the gender, age, and diagnoses of individuals with visual impairments in Finland. Services provided, current legislative measures, rehabilitation courses, and orientation and mobility training are also described. (JDD)

Discusses the benefits of individuals with visual impairments using a ball-bearing, rolling-tipped cane for traveling. Major benefits include reduced fatigue, increased durability and sensitivity, more stability, better sound cues, and greater safety. A method for assessing cane congruence is also discussed. (CR)

Describes the Braille Transcription Center Project, a model demonstration project funded by the U.S. Department of Education that produces postsecondary instructional materials in Braille. The project has links throughout a large statewide university system and provides faculty development on reasonable accommodations for students unable to read…