Free library service is a component of the foundations of democracy, citizenship, economic and social development, scholarship and education, in progressive societies. The evolution of libraries for people who are blind or vision impaired is briefly discussed and an innovative project, a talking book and daily newspaper delivery system that…

The Americans With Disabilities Act (1990) can be interpreted as civil rights legislation for disabled people. Equal opportunity, equal environmental accessibility, and equal education opportunities are presumed to be byproducts of this legislation. Geography must face questions about how to achieve these goals. In the profession where…

A 3-year study involving 15 teachers and 15 students with visual impairments (grades K-4) evaluated the impact of the Mountbatten Brailler when used in a literacy instruction project. Teachers reported students were more motivated to write when they used the Mountbatten Brailler than when using the Perkins Brailler. (Contains 3 references.) (CR)

Electronic travel devices are used to transform information about the environment that would normally be perceived through the visual sense into a form that can be perceived by people who are blind or have low vision through another sense (Blasch, Long, & Griffin-Shirley, 1989). They are divided into two broad categories: primary devices and…

This article details the qualitative results of focus groups with adults who are visually impaired and received assistive technology (AT) training (n=55) and with AT trainers (n=48). Participants described the state of AT training at the beginning of the 21st century from their perspectives as students and teachers. (Contains 4 references.)…

This article describes a strategy for using Braille Lite, a portable notetaking device in which synthetic speech and Braille are combined, to learn foreign languages independently. Instructions are provided for connecting Braille Lite to a printer, creating the proper file, inputting a foreign language, and installing ASCII tables. (Contains 3…

A study involving 147 Missouri school districts serving students with visual impairments found that 77% who were identified as print readers, Braille readers, or print and Braille readers were reading at or above grade level. Of the 127 who were Braille readers, 57 were reported to perform grade-level activities. (Contains 4 references.) (CR)

This article discusses the underemployment of individuals with visual impairments and technological barriers to employment. It then presents an overview of legislation, public and private rehabilitation agency programs, and federal agency programs that have an impact on the distribution and use of assistive technology to individuals with…

This study sought to determine the effects of using a talking pedometer on walking behavior and the value placed on walking by 22 children who are visually impaired or deaf-blind. The results revealed that the children were motivated to set challenging goals for increasing daily activity levels through the feedback provided by the talking…

The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide libraries for the blind and those who work in them with a broad overview of matters to be considered in planning and implementing an integrated digital library system. The Guidelines are not intended to provide technical solutions. Given the pace of technological change, solutions can only be developed…

Purpose: We investigate whether psychological control, conceptually framed within the life-span theory of control by Heckhausen and Schulz, drives assistive device use in visually impaired elders. In particular, we expect the two primary control modes differentiated in the life-span theory of control (i.e., selective primary and compensatory…

To a visually impaired individual the physical world presents many challenges. For a person with impaired sight, way finding through a complex environment is fraught with dangers, both actual and imagined. The current generation of mobility aids have the possibility of addressing a broad range of physical issues through technological solutions.…

This document updates "Accommodations: Assisting Students with Disabilities. A Guide for Educators," published by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) in 2003. This document is written to assist school district personnel and parents when making decisions about the use of accommodations by students with disabilities in instructional…

Students with multiple disabilities, such as severe to profound mental retardation combined with motor and visual impairment, are usually unable to engage in constructive activity or play a positive role in their daily context. Microswitches are technical tools that may help them improve their status by allowing them to control environmental…

This reference circular lists instructional materials, supplies, and equipment currently available for learning braille, and cites sources about braille literacy. The resources given are intended to assist sighted individuals who are interested in learning braille or want to transcribe print materials into braille; instructors who teach braille;…