Part of a series on special educaton procedures in Florida, the manual presents information for teachers of visually impaired students regarding the use of electronic communication devices. Each of four types of devices is profiled: closed circuit television (CCTV), compressed speech devices, typewriter attachments for the Optacon (a device that…

The resource book is designed to help in delivering materials and services to visually handicapped students. A flow chart describes a materials delivery system, and separate sections address information (such as acquisition, production, duplication, materials needed, and alternatives) for braille, large print, and tape. Other considerations…

This paper discusses the education of people with blindness in China and India prior to the establishment of formal schools for the blind. Key people who advanced the education of people with blindness are highlighted, such as missionary teacher Mary Gutzlaff, who integrated Chinese orphan girls with blindness into her school at Macau. One of the…

Discusses the growing ethnic and cultural diversity of the student population and the challenges this presents in teaching English Braille. The need to first address the student's competence in spoken English before teaching Braille is stressed. Using grade one Braille for teaching ethnically diverse students is recommended. (CR)

Reviews the literature on teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to, and research on the acquisition of first and second language by, students with visual impairments and sighted students. The need for close cooperation between vision teachers and ESL teachers is discussed. (Author/CR)

Analysis of completed surveys from 230 teachers of blind and visually impaired learners found that preservice training programs emphasizing the methodology of teaching Braille and the development of tactual perception tended to produce teachers who have positive attitudes toward Braille and feel competent in teaching Braille to children. (DB)

This article describes major issues in teaching Braille to students with acquired visual disability and presents results of a survey of 22 teachers of students with visual impairments in Texas. The survey addressed demographic characteristics, instructional schedules, materials, and instructional methods. Results have implications for development…

A survey of teachers of the visually impaired and adults with albinism or parents of children with albinism (total responses=144) found no use of Braille by the adults or children with albinism, awareness of the condition by almost all teachers, support for mainstreaming by all, and specific teaching suggestions from teachers. (DB)

Suggests resources for school librarians who need materials for visually impaired or blind students. Highlights include the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Louis Database of Accessible Materials for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired; Braille books; large print books, audio books; assistive technology; and…

This report describes activities and recommendations of the Texas Commission on Braille Textbook Production, which monitors the acquisition Commission on Braille Textbook Production. The primary purpose of the commission is to monitor the expeditious acquisition of publisher computerized files in the form of textbook diskettes which are needed for…

Three short articles about tactile illustrating are presented for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. Some transcribers have been making tactile maps with water areas textured and land masses smooth; the first article reports on the confusion these "reversed maps" cause braille readers and gives additional tips…

The final volume (the fifth in the series and the fourth curriculum guide) in Project Teach 'n' Reach, a program designed to teach nondisabled students about disabilities, focuses on physical disabilities. Information on goals, performance objectives, and activity procedures are presented for topics dealing with physical and health impairments,…

Designed for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped, this document consists of three short articles about literary braille. The first article discusses the changes in the official literary braille code which became effective on October 1, 1980. The second article describes problems commonly encountered by students and…

This historical study describes the development of braille and non-braille devices designed to aid the blind in arithmetic computations. Several such devices are described and evaluated. The author concludes that documentation of the development of arithmetic devices is unavailable, especially about the nature of 17th and 18th century devices…

The article presents a two-phase process for use by multidisciplinary teams making decisions on the reading medium for students with visual impairments. The first phase is a diagnostic teaching phase to guide initial decision making. The second phase, continued evaluation, leads to ongoing adjustment of the selected medium or media. (Author/DB)