The report is a legislative needs assessment for persons who are blind and visually impaired in Mississippi. The first chapter presents an overview of the project. Chapter 2 summarizes federal legislation concerning persons who are blind and visually impaired. Chapter 3 reviews the methodology used to analyze state legislation and provides a brief…

The paper examines applications and research on the use of bar code technology to aid mentally retarded, physically handicapped, visually impaired, and other handicapped persons in independently gaining information from a variety of sources. Bar code reader technology is compared to alternative information systems such as Braille, pictorial…

The report describes field testing of an open collge project designed to adapt a collge-level media course for 19 homebound visually impaired, hearing impaired, and orthopedically disabled students. Student recruitment procedures and problems are described, as are staffing patterns of the project. Adaptation of the course, "The Art of Being…

The article discusses recommended adaptive behavior scales for use with hearing impaired, visually impaired, and multihandicapped sensory impaired individuals. Assessment instruments developed and used in the National Independent Living Skills Project, which have applicability across sensory impaired populations, are also described. (Author/JW)

Seventy-five visually handicapped individuals, aged 9-22, were evaluated on the Child Behavior Checklist, School Behavior Checklist, Behavior Problem Checklist (BPC), and Revised BPC. Total scores from all four measures correlated well with each other; total scores and subfactors also correlated with such psychopathologic behaviors as aggression,…

This report describes a special Virginia task force study of barriers faced by persons with sensory disabilities in emergency and law enforcement situations. Surveys were conducted of three populations: deaf and hard of hearing; blind and visually disabled; and PSAPs (public safety answering points--centers which answer 911 calls). The overriding…

To assist in implementing the requirements of Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Ammendments, 1986, practical information is provided about 15 appropriate assessment instruments for use with visually handicapped children, ages birth through 5. Descriptive analyses of selected assessment instruments include the title, author(s),…

The article recommends assessment techniques and teaching strategies in the area of reading and language arts for the visually impaired student with learning disabilities. Appropriate reading and language tests are cited. Reading approaches, practical strategies for teaching reading comprehension and spelling, and suggestions for organizing the…

Web sites today should meet Web accessibility guidelines to comply with a host of regulations and guidelines for people with disabilities. Recent estimates state that 20% of the U.S. population has a disability and that 10% of the on-line population is disabled. Our aging population also experiences similar issues. This session will help you…

Four articles are presented concerning program justification, student recruitment, and quality course offerings. Hosler and Harris discuss factors related to program justification and student recruitment. Goddard and Raabe share teaching implications of P.L. 94-142, and Duff and Syck examine instructional strategies in accounting. (CT)

A sex education program for an adolescent who is mentally retarded or blind must emphasize concrete teaching, visual compensators, resource persons, repetition of content, and opportunities for social learning. Nurses and special educators can serve as consultants to health educators in planning a sex education program. (JN)

In 1998, the Visually Impaired Personnel Preparation Program was established in Texas to train 100 teachers of students with visual impairments and 50 orientation and mobility specialists. By May 2000, 194 students had enrolled. Course work was delivered at outreach sites and through online courses, interactive television, and on campuses.…

Students with vision impairments in Singapore are educated in segregated settings from an early age. On completing primary school these students continue their education in mainstream secondary school settings. This transition requires considerable adjustment on the part of students with vision impairments. The present research explored the social…

An evaluation of the TRIO/Special Services program at the University of Minnesota, General College, is presented. Descriptions are provided of program operations, services offered, the program participants, and student eligibility. Program effectiveness is also assessed in terms of student outcomes, and individual program services are examined as…

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 12-week psychoeducational group therapy program in improving mood and glycemic control in 48 adults with diabetes and visual impairments. Participants made statistically significant gains in glycemic control. There was a significant positive relationship between control and improvement in depression, but…