This review examines electronic braille input-output devices which have a braille keyboard for data entry and/or a braille display. Four braille notetakers and two braille computer systems are evaluated, commenting on their keyboards, ease of use, documentation, and analysis of speech and/or the braille display. (JDD)

This Braille publication discusses federal student aid programs for postsecondary education and how to apply for them. It outlines sources for finding out about student aid and presents general information about federal student aid, including eligibility in terms of need and dependency status, the application process, deadlines, and important…

This Braille publication discusses federal student aid programs for postsecondary education and how to apply for them. It begins by outlining sources for finding out about student aid and offers tips for choosing schools carefully. The guide presents general information about federal student aid, including eligibility in terms of need and…

This directory lists National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped libraries and machine-lending agencies alphabetically by state. Each entry includes address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail address, World Wide Web site, area served, librarian name, hours, book collection, special collections, assistive devices, special…

Causes of differential item difficulty for blind students taking the braille edition of the Scholastic Aptitude Test's mathematical section were studied. Data for 261 blind students were compared with data for 8,015 non-handicapped students. Results show an association between selected item categories and differential item functioning. (TJH)

The article presents a two-phase process for use by multidisciplinary teams making decisions on the reading medium for students with visual impairments. The first phase is a diagnostic teaching phase to guide initial decision making. The second phase, continued evaluation, leads to ongoing adjustment of the selected medium or media. (Author/DB)

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)

Describes an education professor's efforts to equalize opportunities for a blind student teacher in her reading instruction class. The class was better for sighted students because of the blind student's presence and the modifications made to accommodate her lack of sight. Accommodation challenges are even greater for elementary teachers with…

Describes services available through the National Library Service (NLS), a division of the Library of Congress that provides books on cassette, disc, or in braille for students with learning disabilities and/or visual impairments. The history of the NLS is described, and cooperation with regional libraries is explained. (LRW)

This article describes the whole-language philosophy of teaching reading and writing and its application to teaching braille reading to blind children. It suggests activities that are effective for enhancing the development of early reading behaviors in children who use braille and that integrate the critical components of literacy learning with…

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…

Suggests guidelines for creating World Wide Web sites that accommodate those using speech or braille aids. Hypertext Markup Language coding should provide (1) one-column format rather than side-by-side columns; (2) stand-alone hyperlinks; (3) "ALT=" attributes for image displays; (4) text alternatives to images or image maps as links or…

A survey found a wide range of capabilities regarding the production of textbooks and instructional materials for students with visual impairments in 42 states. Shortages of qualified Braille transcribers and inadequate funding were cited as barriers to developing better services. The most effective model was a centralized production center.…

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…

This report describes activities of the talking-book program of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) of the Library of Congress, with emphasis on activities conducted in cooperation with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) library program. First, the overall NLS program in the U.S. which…