The article is an invited presentation given by Dr. Cary A. Supalo to the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois annual state convention that was held in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, October 28, 2011. The remarks were slightly modified for the "Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities."

The number of visually impaired people is increasing year by year. Although attention has been given to the needs of people with disabilities, most of the discussion has focused on social welfare, while talk about assistive technology for people with disabilities is rare. The blind need training courses for reconstruction and rehabilitation.…

This conference presentation examines concept development for congenitally blind students. It presents current research on best-practice for teaching this population. Examples of strategies to reinforce understanding of body concepts, spatial awareness, and positional language, while promoting mirroring, self regulation, and purposeful movement to…

This paper updates the efforts to educate blind students in higher education in the digital age and describes how to support the development of mental models in learning through tactile learning and 3D-printing technology. It cites research documenting a drop in Braille literacy along with the growth in use of digital technologies by blind…

Eighty sighted male Ss participated in a study to determine the effect of the size of the braille cell on the rate of learning the names for braille symbols of letters of the alphabet (A-J and K-T). Study size (standard or large braille), test size (standard or large braille) and item set (A-J or K-T) were manipulated in a study-test procedure…

The study assessed the extent to which the presence of gaze direction affected sighted raters' perceived evaluation of the competence levels of elementary-aged visually impaired children. Sighted individuals (N=160) were randomly assigned to view one of four randomized videotapes of two visually impaired children without gaze direction…

Three groups of visually impaired children--10 with rubella, 7 with retrolental fibroplasia (RLF), and 9 with blindness other than rubella or RLF--were observed for stereotypic behaviors. Ss were observed in four different environmental settings: classroom/instruction; mealtime activity/breakfast, lunch, or supper; physical education/movement…

Reviewed are chromosomal anomalies affecting one's eyes. Brief descriptions are given of the genetic etiology of bilateral retinoblastoma (malignant tumors), aniridia (absence of the iris), cataracts, congenital glaucoma, Reginitis Pigmentosa (progressive deterioration of the visual cells), Choroidermia (degeneration of the vascular coat of the…

Results are presented of a statewide survey of visually impaired children and youth (birth to age 21) who were receiving or could qualify to receive special educational or other services in Mississippi. Questionnaires were completed on visually impaired students from four programs: public schools, private schools, state schools for the blind, and…

The paper examines theoretical issues regarding the symptomatology of echolalia in the language of visually impaired children. Literature on echolalia is reviewed from a variety of perspectives and clinical work and research with visual impairment and with autism is discussed. Problems of definition are cited, and explanations for occurrence of…

The study investigated the listening ability of 13 visually impaired college students. Ss were pretested on a listening skills test and then exposed to each of three modes of speech presentation (normal speech, accelerated speech, and compressed speech) in a counterbalance order. It was postulated that a differential effect in performance would…

The importance of visual orientation and mobility skill training for visually impaired students is emphasized, and suggestions are made for the vision teacher to involve the classroom teacher in providing a meaningful classroom environment for the mainstreamed student. Among strategies listed are keeping recognizable order to the location of…

Aspects of monitoring and evaluating programs for visually handicapped students are examined. The certification/accreditation program evaluation design is considered in terms of advantages and disadvantages. Roles of governmental (state and federal) and voluntary agencies are discussed. The functions of the National Accreditation Council of…

The paper offers suggestions to improve today's climate for technological aids for the blind, describes some currently available aids and some future possibilities from research, and addresses the question of programed implementation. (Author/SBH)

The paper summarizes results from an analysis of 276 Japanese literary works which include the handicapped. Works dealing with the blind and haiku written by a poet with cerebral palsy are described. (CL)