The Yuan T. Lee Foundation Science Education for All (YTLF) has implemented a science camp for students with visual impairments in central Taiwan since 2009. The implementation of the camp serves as an informal science education practice model that informs curriculum design and development, personnel preparation and organization, as well as…

This work showcases specific adaptations used to make cybersecurity accessible to high school students with visual impairments and blindness (VIB). The rapidly growing field of cybersecurity demands a diverse workforce; however, barriers exist which can deter students with disabilities from studying cybersecurity, let alone pursuing a career in…

Introduction: Children with visual impairments (that is, those who have low vision or blindness) often demonstrate lower levels of perceived and actual motor competence and physical activity compared to peers who are sighted. The purpose of this study was to assess the way in which seven-day sports camps specially designed for children with visual…

Introduction: The current work probes the effectiveness of multimodal touch screen tablet electronic devices in conveying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics graphics via vibrations and sounds to individuals who are visually impaired (i.e., blind or low vision) and compares it with similar graphics presented in an embossed format.…

Students with disabilities have significantly lower graduation rates in four-year postsecondary institutions than students without disabilities. Although there are many barriers associated with persistence and graduation, for students with vision loss, additional accessibility challenges exist. This paper describes a pilot study that examined the…

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine students' self-efficacy level prior to participation and after participation in an inquiry-based science camp to determine if self-efficacy levels changed as a result of participation. A validated instrument, the 30 item Morgan-Jinks Student Self-Efficacy Scale (MJSES) (Jinks & Morgan, 1996) was…

Hands-on science enrichment experiences can be limited for students with blindness or low vision (BLV). This manuscript describes recent hands-on summer enrichment programs held for BLV students. Also presented are innovative technologies that were developed to provide spoken quantitative feedback for BLV students engaged in hands-on science…

Students with blindness or low vision are often discouraged from full participation in laboratory science classes due to the inadequacy of current methodological approaches and the lack of sophisticated adaptive technologies. Consequently, these students rarely go on to pursue advanced studies and employment in the sciences. In response to his own…

The Texas School for the Blind offers a six-week summer Talented and Gifted program for approximately 15 secondary students, featuring critical thinking and problem solving, mentorship, counseling, creative dramatics, outdoor risk-taking activities, and independent living. Another program for 150 elementary and secondary students focuses on…

The authors describe how the University of Leeds has successfully met the challenge of providing a summer school for blind students by offering subjects (art, history, and human biology) normally considered inappropriate for blind students. (Author/BP)

Described are the effects of using experiential methods, or sensory experience, in a summer group therapy program with seven blind adolescents. The group therapy objective is increased personal and social adjustment by the blind students. (CB)

Described is a 1-month residential summer program for blind and partially-seeing high school students to provide pre-college preparation and experience on an actual campus. (LH)

This article describes the establishment of Individual Development through Employment, Assessment, and Learning (IDEAL), a summer transition program for adolescents with blindness or visual impairments in Pennsylvania. The program emphasizes independence, work exploration, and social skills development. Data from participants, parents, and staff…

A 9-week summer college preparatory program for the visually impaired provided counseling and training in academics, mobility, and skill and vocational areas. To determine its effectiveness, tests were administered to its 27 participants and to 18 controls. Results indicated that self concept was a significant variable in discriminating between…