A survey of Braille transcribers in 40 states found Braille production systems rely on volunteers and hence Braille transcription is not considered a bona fide career. The majority cited low funding and resources as obstacles to change. Issues of certification, training, availability, and definition are discussed, along with recommendations.…

Emergent literacy can be viewed as skills that are precursors to later reading and writing (Sulzby & Teale, 1991) or can be more broadly conceptualized as literacy acquisition that occurs along a developmental continuum. Because children with disabilities, such as visual impairments, can be at risk for later reading difficulties, it is critical…

THIS STUDY WAS DESIGNED AS A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF USING PROGRAMED LEARNING MATERIALS WITH BLIND STUDENTS. FOUR TYPES OF STIMULUS-REPONSE MODES FOR PROGRAMED INSTRUCTION WERE DEVELOPED--AUDIO STIMULUS-AUDIO RESPONSE, AUDIO STIMULUS-BRAILLE RESPONSE, BRAILLE STIMULUS-AUDIO RESPONSE, BRAILLE STIMULUS-BRAILLE…

The proceedings include papers on computer translated braille (grade 2, display devices, recent developments), the new braille translation program and research at the American Printing House for the Blind, the braille electric typewriter, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology braille embosser, the braille reader, and braille transmission for…

The proceedings include workshop reports on the Nemeth Code for beginners, elementary mathematics, advanced mathematics, teachers of Nemeth, foreign language, braille music, Library of Congress, parents of blind students, 20 questions in braille translating, textbook format, proofreading one's own work, recording, thermoform, proofreading,…

To develop and test materials to be used in a later 2-year study to compare six approaches in teaching braille reading, materials in grade 1 and grade 2, braille, and phonemic braille media (both analytic and synthetic approaches), 39 subjects from six residential schools were evaluated. Special books were embossed in grade 1 and phonemic braille,…

The author describes several teaching aids and techniques to help blind and partially sighted students understand electronics, specifically devices (with availability) he has found effective in preparing a blind student for a ham radio license: an audital multimeter, raised line drawings, Opticon, braille texts, and Speech Pulse Calculator. (MF)

Midway through this century, Braille was placed within the reach of blind persons throughout the world when Unesco began the major task of adapting Braille to accommodate all languages and dialects. Invented in France between 1825 and 1829, Braille's role as the key to the cultural emancipation of the blind had previously been limited to countries…

Illustrated instructions are provided for constructing 32 teaching aids. To be used with blind and visually limited children, the aids are designed to assist the child in exploration, discrimination, and recognition; spatial orientation and association of tactual symbology; likenesses and differences in tactual group symbols; word association and…

This collection of readings is intended to provide teachers of children who are blind or visually impaired with guidelines and strategies for teaching the reading and writing of braille. The eight chapters are: (1) "Braille as the Primary Literacy Medium: General Guidelines and Strategies" (Diane P. Wormsley); (2) "Fostering Emergent Literacy"…

These guidelines address the need for valid and reliable measures to aid in making decisions on teaching of braille and/or print to students with moderate to severe vision losses. After an introductory section, section 1 presents basic principles organized into the following categories: (1) learning media, (2) students who use the learning media,…

The proceedings of the 1980 Institute for Public School Personnel Serving Visually Impaired Students in Michigan contains the transcripts of 11 presentations. The introduction lists objectives of the institute including providing participants with information on the role of the Michigan School for the Blind, new instructional materials and…

Title II, Section 504 of the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) requires community colleges to provide access to print and computer-based information for students with visual impairments. In response, the Chancellor's Office of the California Community College system prepared a budget change proposal (BCP) for the…

Recommendations are made for tentative regulations for the operation of an Educational Materials Coordinating Unit in the area of handproduced educational materials for the visually handicapped. General administrative recommendations for all media are provided in addition to recommendations by the braille, large type, and tape recording groups.…

Guidelines for a program of instruction with individual teaching for retarded blind children are provided. Areas covered are living skills, handwork, learning through music, reading readiness, recognition of the braille alphabet, mathematics, science, social studies, self expression and creativity, recreation, and suggested poetry and songs. Five…