Two meetings of the International Federation of Library Associations Section of Libraries for the Blind (BLISTA) are summarized. The first was an expert meeting which was held in Marburg/Lahn, Federal Republic of Germany, in August 1983. Participants included 51 librarians and technical experts serving blind and physically disabled individuals in…

This article describes an innovative action research project based at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom that involved the professional development of teachers and instruction using specially developed Moon tactile code materials to teach literacy to pupils who are blind and who have additional disabilities. (Contains references.)…

Presented are seven papers given at a 1973 conference on European braille by the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind. Arne Husveg sees braille as a continuing indispensable aid and recommends legislation giving the blind the right to free instruction and materials. The use of special braille systems of mathematical, physical, and chemical…

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…

The monograph describes the development of verbal behavior over a 20-year period in two deaf Japanese children (5- and 7-years-old when first contacted by the author) with whom previous training attempts had failed. It is noted that prior training methods which had succeeded with Laura Bridgman and Helen Keller failed with these two children. A…

The booklet contains a brief description of recreation under the auspices of the All-Russia Society for the Blind in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and a number of photographs illustrating recreational activities. It is noted that approximately 24,000 blind persons participate in recreational activities located in club rooms near their…

Describes the Concepts About Print test (CAP), a test designed to examine young children's knowledge of written language. Discusses variations of the CAP for other languages, including Spanish, Walpiri (an Australian aboriginal language), and Braille. (MM)

A study of the reading competence of 25 visually impaired pupils in Sweden followed subjects from 1988 to 1991. Neither visual acuity, reading media, optical aids, nor reading distance were clearly related to reading competence. Rather, good readers were students who scored higher on verbal cognitive tests and had a greater interest in reading as…

This article describes the work of a group of professionals in the United Kingdom known as the VIEW Braille Literacy Committee, committed to the development of teaching braille. Members meet each school term and have had the support of the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) in realizing numerous projects aimed at improving access to…

Information sheets on resources, assistance, software, and hardware for visually handicapped (VH) students in England are collected in this document. The first information sheet, "Getting Help--What, Where, and Who," lists general sources of assistance, equipment, and books. The second information sheet, "Computer Hardware Used in…

Forty visually impaired college students and older people were surveyed concerning improvements in Norway's educational system. The survey focused on attendance at mainstreamed or special schools, counseling services, braille books and talking books, and the need for a personal reader. (Author/JDD)

This article provides information on special education topics on the international front. Topics range from a BrailleNote project in British Columbia, a Swedish program to help Romanian children with special needs, a visual resource room to help New Zealand students with visual impairments, and technology programs in European countries. (CR)

This article discusses technology available in Sweden for visually impaired and deaf-blind people. It describes systems for stop announcements on buses and trams, queuing systems in shops and banks, text telephones, synthetic speech or braille displays of newspapers and other information sources, and home computers. Ideas for the future are also…

Papers on libraries for the blind presented at the 1986 International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) conference include: (1) "Report on 'Study on the Tools to Improve the Availability of Library Materials for the Blind'" (Winnie Vitzansky, Denmark); (2) "Planning the Third Edition of 'The International Directory of…

RVIB (Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind) Library & Information Services is one of five business units of RVIB, an agency that has been providing services since 1866 to people in Victoria (Australia) who are blind or visually impaired. RVIB Library & Information Services offers four core services: (1) a public library service that…