Eighty-eight children (either totally blind or with residual vision) estimated directions between landmarks in a large scale layout of objects. Children experienced the layout either directly by walking around it or indirectly by examining a tactile map. Use of tactile maps considerably facilitated the performance of the blind children. (Author/DB)

The National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution undertook a research project to determine what could be done to enable visually handicapped persons to benefit from the museum's resources. (Author)

The paper reviews the effects of absence of vision on perceptual functioning and considers ways in which a modified Optacon (which translates images into tactile presentations) can help visually impaired persons acquire critical cognitive and perceptual knowledge. Background research with the Tactile Vision Substitution System, a system for…

This directory, in its revised and updated form, documents the existence of 46 braille music collections in 27 countries. The purpose of the directory is not to list specific braille music editions but to establish preliminary data that will facilitate the future compilation of an international catalog. Entries in the directory are arranged…

The guide provides accreditation standards for programs which transcribe printed matter into alternate media for blind and visually handicapped persons. Presented in a self study format, the booklet touches upon six aspects of the production of reading materials (sample subtopics in parentheses): planning and organization (administration,…

The article reviews the literature and presents principles for teaching foreign language in schools for the blind. Among principles are that blindness need not obstruct the process of learning a foreign language, that the best learning environment is a monolingual one, and that tactile and recorded materials can be integrated. (DB)

The Tactile Diagrams Research Project at Loughborough University of Technology (England) developed 164 tactile diagrams for teaching 22 biological themes to blind students. Evaluation of the diagrams found most to be effective when properly introduced to students, and used with supporting text or tapes. (CB)

Explains the need to establish alternate communication devices between mothers and their blind infants. Mothers must demonstrate a natural ability to respond to auditory and manual cues, rather than visual cues. The importance of "tactual intimacy" is also stressed. (AS)

Reported were the research, design and production of a sophisticated, challenging tactual mobility map (of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Campus) for highly motivated and mobile blind users. (GW)

Described is a project in which art education graduate students in Perth, Australia, built a story mural for blind children. Using an Australian adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz," they created a mural with textures and objects that illustrated the story carried in print and braille. (SJL)

Two experiments compared single v double lines on tactile mobility maps using 12 blindfolded sighted Ss, 12 congenitally blind Ss, and 12 adventitiously blinded Ss (age range for all three groups, 7 to 72). (Author)

Early childhood instruction and the experiences that accompany can serve life-long lessons. Depriving children of education during this critical period in life can have significant consequences on cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical development. This article features one of the forerunners to special education, Michael Anagnostopoulos…