Ninety-nine adolescents with blindness or visual impairments were interviewed about their vocational aims, marriage plans, and recreational activities. Career ambitions included the helping professions, commercial/industrial work, support services, and self-employment; over 50 percent were looking forward to marriage; and favorite hobbies were…

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)

Parents (n=52) of blind and partially sighted infants and preschoolers were surveyed concerning the frequency of occurrence and stability of the children's stereotyped behaviors. Stereotyped behaviors frequently observed in blind children proved to be stable, whereas other stereotyped behaviors were less stable. Age of child and frequency of…

As follow up to a study which compared forced-choice preferential looking (FPL) with pattern visual evoked potential (VEP), this study increased the VEP success rate and improved agreement between the FPL and VEP acuity estimates by using horizontal bar stimuli for young preverbal children (n=17) with nystagmus. (Author/DB)

A survey of the 12 major low vision clinics in Australia is reported, focusing on (1) patient characteristics; and (2) planning, organization, outreach, admission procedures, personnel, and services provided. Results showed that increased services were being provided to rural regions through satellite clinics or private optometric practices.…

Offers directions for 10 play activities that enable young children with visual impairments (blindness or low vision) to practice moving and orienting themselves properly in relation to others and their surroundings and to prepare them for social interactions with sighted children. (DB)

Israeli legally blind infants and children (N=182) between the ages of 6 months and 5 years were systematically assessed over a period of 13 years. Behavioral problems were documented in 49%. The most frequent disorders were anxiety disorders, oppositional disorder with or without attention deficit hyperactivity, and avoidant disorder with or…

Adults with blindness or visual impairments (N=85) and nondisabled adults (N=78) completed the Employment Access Questionnaire. Analysis found that people with and without visual impairments had similar attitudes toward the importance of training, career guidance, work expectations, and assistance, but the visually impaired group were…

This manual is intended for people who are preparing to work with older American Indians with visual impairments and who have limited or no training in this area. Emphasis is on basic orientation and mobility skills and daily living skills. Preliminary information covers the following: the eye, definitions, the visually impaired population, and…

This consensus statement on best practices for choosing low-vision devices is a product of a 10-member expert panel which brought together a variety of disciplines as well as consumers for the purpose of synthesizing available scientific information to improve services to people with low vision. After an introductory section, the remaining…

This digest provides basic information and resources on visual impairments. Legal and educational definitions are given for "legally blind,""partially sighted,""visually handicapped,""blind," and "low vision". Typical characteristics of individuals with visual impairments in the areas of cognitive…

The development and structure of the comprehensive Low Vision Service of the New York Association for the Blind are used as the basis for discussing both positive and negative features of agency-based low vision clinics for the partially sighted. (LH)

Compared was the performance of 30 nonhandicapped controls and 30 partially sighted British children (6-to 10-years-old) without other handicaps on tests of shape and letter recognition, visual perception and visuomotor skill, and spelling or reading accuracy or comprehension. (LH)

In order to provide needed optometric services to partially sighted individuals and to alleviate a critical manpower shortage, trained paraprofessional assistants should be part of the low vision clinic team. (Author/LH)

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)