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.…

This paper presents a summary of presentations and discussion from a World Health Organization meeting of experienced low vision practitioners. It outlines the magnitude of the problem; current status of low vision care; enhancement of the use of vision; and recommendations in definitions, identification, assessment, low vision centers, education,…

Brief articles report on eight programs, primarily developed by residential schools for individuals with blindness and visual impairments. The articles describe the Council of Schools for the Blind, the Michigan School for the Blind, precane mobility devices, drug education for teenagers, disability awareness, rural service delivery, parent/infant…

The Royal Blind Society of New South Wales sponsors a program called Sportskills Week in which individuals with visual impairments are provided opportunities to pursue goals common to the population as a whole. Sighted athletes who assist in the program take their expertise back to local communities to develop additional programs. (JDD)

Rehabilitation services for visually impaired adults in India are described, both historically and currently. The paper examines the magnitude of the problem, vocational training and placement, services for newly blind persons and for blind/visually handicapped women, rural rehabilitation projects, information access, legislation, professional…

The paper describes issues involved in a project to assist providers of services for the visually impaired to plan and initiate programs directed toward Nepal's low vision population. Discussed are demographic factors; organization of prevention, education, and rehabilitation programs; development of a systematic and coordinated national plan; and…

This article presents information on the complications of both Type I and Type II diabetes and the implications for the rehabilitation of persons with diabetes and visual impairment. Topics covered include retinopathy, cataracts, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic hand syndrome, neuropathy of the autonomic nervous…

This article describes the major components of rehabilitation services in Japan for people who are visually impaired from diabetes. These components include diabetes education and medical care, social welfare and rehabilitation services, nutrition and exercise, medication, monitoring of blood glucose, glycemic control, and the prevention of…

This article presents a model for efficient assessment of young children with visual impairments or multiple handicaps. The approach has team members simultaneously observe various aspects of a child's functioning to gain an understanding of the child as a whole. (Author/DB)

Proposes the following empowerment objectives be used for placing individuals with visual impairments in jobs: compensation and benefits package, proximity to community, ethics and respect for human dignity, self-fulfilling opportunities, physical and emotional safety, sense of belonging, and opportunities for personal improvement and upward…

Discussion of efforts in Canada to support print disabled users focuses on the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Library's national network (VISUNET: CANADA) that supports the premise of a virtual library. Describes international collaborative efforts among libraries to better serve print disabled users. (LRW)

Provides an overview of this issue which gives a global account of the history and development of online learning. Highlights include programs at Nova Southeastern University; Simon Fraser University; United Kingdom's Open University; University of Twente (Netherlands); and an online learning environment for the visually disabled. (LRW)

This article offers a theoretical framework of a meaningful art education for blind people. Existing literature focuses on the interaction between the artwork and the blind person. This text describes this aesthetic encounter which is complex due to tactile sensations, individual differences of the non-sighted viewer and specific features of the…

In 2001, the California School for the Blind (CSB) was faced with a dilemma. The dropoff point for the day buses had to be changed. The new route to the only logical location for this change sent the buses through a driveway where residential students crossed to travel between the school and the dormitories. Some staff members wanted to eliminate…

Having lived through the Great Depression and World War II, older adults now face the challenge of vision loss in record numbers. Depression is closely associated with functional loss and social isolation in late-life vision loss. The principles of assisting those who are aging will also benefit those who are aging with a visual impairment. They…