We examined whether individuals who are VI (visually impaired; people with low vision or totally blind) choose their romantic partners differently than those who are sighted. The theoretical framework that informed our inquiry is Social Exchange Theory. Fifty-five participants who are VI and fifty-one participants who are sighted were administered…

Introduction: The Israel Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services subsidizes computer-based assistive devices for individuals with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) to assist these individuals in their interactions with computers and thus to enhance their independence and quality of life. The aim of this…

This pilot study compared the development of two groups of adolescents--those whose parents were blind and those whose parents were sighted. It found that there were no essential differences between the groups. Moreover, the friendship relationships, feelings toward parents, and some essential characteristics of the adolescents' emotional state…

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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)

Ethnographic observations focusing on the stigma of handicap among Israeli adults who were blinded in childhood indicated that their sighted parents were more patronizing toward them than toward their siblings and that these parents attempted to channel them into less-than-optimal occupations and marriages. (Author/CB)

Israeli programs that have been used to teach children to read Hebrew braille are described, and a reading scheme called "Secrets and Surprises" is presented. The method uses an eclectic approach, emphasizes comprehension and the communicative element of reading, and offers a variety of presentation modes to meet individual students'…

The paper contrasts the traditional model of referral for rehabilitation services for blind and visually impaired persons in Israel with a new model--the rehabilitation information station, which links administrative, social, medical, and functional rehabilitation and results in faster receipt of services and increased ophthalmologists' awareness…

This article describes the development and implementation of an innovative program of information centers in Israel that is designed to identify newly blind persons and to give them first-hand information about available services, as well as to stimulate an awareness of rehabilitation services among medical personnel. (Author/DB)

Israeli legally blind infants and children (N=182) between the ages of 6 months and 5 years were systematically assessed over a period of 13 years. Behavioral problems were documented in 49%. The most frequent disorders were anxiety disorders, oppositional disorder with or without attention deficit hyperactivity, and avoidant disorder with or…

The ability to explore unknown spaces independently, safely and efficiently is a combined product of motor, sensory, and cognitive skills. Normal exercise of this ability directly affects an individual?s quality of life. Mental mapping of spaces and of the possible paths for navigating these spaces is essential for the development of efficient…

Describes, through the experiences and development of a young Ethiopian boy with congenital blindness, some of the cultural differences between Ethiopians living in Israel and Israelis, the complexity of cultural transition, and the importance of respecting and learning from different child-rearing practices and values. (Author/CR)

The article describes various models of educating blind and visually impaired students in Israel, including residential schools, resource rooms, itinerant teachers, and joint and individual initiatives. Noted are the policy of encouraging mainstreaming and the autonomy of special educators in program planning. (Author/DB)

The first volume of the 29th annual conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education contains plenary lecture and research forum papers as listed below. Short oral communications papers, poster presentations, brief summaries of discussion groups, and working sessions are also included in the volume. The plenary…