Initial research is reported on development of a tangible graphics (a display with raised symbols for reading by hand rather than by eye) system and its evaluation by 20 blind adults. Results suggested that tangible graphs are a viable source of spatial information for blind readers. (Author/MC)

Investigates the development of lateralization of cerebral function for touch and assesses whether deaf children's lateralization pattern for this sensory system shows any deviations from that of normal children. Three groups of right-handed subjects voluntarily participated in a unimodal haptic matching task: hearing adults, hearing children, and…

The article describes the development, evaluation, and testing of a kit which includes tools and information for facilitating the construction of readable tactile graphic displays for communicating information to the blind. (Author/SW)

Using plastic letters and capitalizing on tactile cues can help reading disabled students sort out perceptual confusions. Three case studies depict the tactile approach's value in teaching reading and spelling as well as in promoting generalization. (CL)

Responsivity to graded tactile stimuli was examined in human newborns in successive epochs of active and quiet sleep. Heart rate and behavior were both used as response indices. (Author/SS)

Explores the possibility of multimodal bivariate thematic maps by utilizing auditory and haptic (sense of touch) displays. Measured completion time of tasks and the recall (retention) rate in two experiments, and findings confirmed the possibility of using auditory and haptic displays in geographic information systems (GIS). (Author/LRW)

Forty adults with adventitious blindness were administered 12 different Braille discrimination tests representing combinations of standard or enlarged Braille and various amounts of horizontal and vertical spacing. Findings indicated that the most favorable discrimination conditions occurred with standard-sized Braille, with three spaces between…

Describes the ways in which our own view of the world effects the way that we interpret information. Contends that we need to know the difference between perceptions and illusions. Discusses the world of illusions; haptic senses; adaptive adjustments; and visual illusions. (ZWH)

This study evaluated performance of blind (n=17) and sighted adults on a haptic numerosity task of braille symbols in which symbol size was varied. Although blind subjects performed better than seeing subjects, the rate of learning and patterns of errors were similar, except that blind subjects did better with standard than with enlarged symbols.…

Mental mapping of spaces is essential for the development of efficient orientation and mobility skills. Most of the information required for mental mapping is gathered through the visual channel. Blind people lack this crucial information, facing in consequence difficulties in mapping as well as navigating spaces. The work reported here is based…

The results of an empirical investigation into how visually-impaired people sense their surroundings show that a range of environmental features can be identified using sound, touch and smell. The information gained is relevant to the design of tactile maps, to ensure that an area is represented in a way that is meaningful to the map users.…

In children, concepts develop in a spiral, with the child at the center. A positive self-concept begins within a responsive caregiving environment. Concepts build upon one another. The more ideas and memories that a child has about the way the world and relationships work, the easier it is to develop further ideas. Once a child realizes, for…

This paper summarizes the results of a review of the empirical literature (1990-2005) focusing on use of assistive technology as a self-management tool for persons with intellectual disabilities. Forty investigations were identified which provided information on assistive technology to assist persons with disabilities to initiate and complete…