In this Special Issue on Transition and Employment of the "Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness" ("JVIB"), three practice contributions provide eloquent examples of how young people and older adults have learned to recognize their own changing work abilities and opportunities, thanks in part to support from…

Have you ever imagined yourself as a movie producer who could tell the stories of the remarkable successes in the field of visual impairment and blindness? With the right buildup music and the careful selection of a popular actor or a promising young ingenue (ideally, someone with a visual impairment), any one of these real-life stories could be a…

Introduction: The study presented here examined the learning outcomes of graduate students in visual impairment who were enrolled in an assistive technology course in three university programs. Methods: The students' perceptions of learning were evaluated using pre- and posttests administered during the course. A follow-up questionnaire was…

This article reports the results of data from 114 writing samples of 39 children who read braille and who were included in the Alphabetic Braille and Contracted Braille (ABC) Study between 2002 and 2005. Writing characteristics, miscues, and composition characteristics are analyzed, and two case studies are included. (Contains 1 box and 2 tables.)

Children's perceptions of learning to read and write braille were measured using an open ended 10-item questionnaire. The data were evaluated by amount of time, level of contractedness, and level of achievement. No differences were found with respect to time or the introduction of contractions. Differences were apparent between the high- and…

The Alphabetic Braille and Contracted Braille Study found no difference between high and low achievers in the development of literacy skills on such measures as age, etiology of visual impairment, family attitudes and behaviors regarding literacy activities, class size, and time spent with a teacher of students with visual impairments. Some…

This mixed-design investigation examined the social experiences of beginning braille readers who were initially taught contracted or alphabetic braille in literacy activities as part of the ABC Braille Study. No differences in the quality or quantity of social experiences were found between the two groups over time. (Contains 4 tables.)

This survey examined the experiences of parents of individuals with visual impairments who acquired professional credentials in the field of visual impairment. The participants reported on such topics as the advantages and disadvantages of being a parent-professional, the types of support they seek, and advice to others who are balancing both…

This study compared the test scores and time required by high school students who are blind, sighted, or have low vision to complete tests administered in written and oral formats. The quantitative results showed that the blind students performed better on multiple-choice tests in braille and needed more time while taking tests in braille. The…

This article describes an experimental system for administering multiple-choice math tests to students who are visually impaired or have other print disabilities. Using a new audio-tactile computer peripheral device called the Talking Tactile Tablet, a preliminary version of a self-voicing test was created for eight participants. (Contains…

Fourteen teachers of students with visual impairments who were visually impaired themselves were either interviewed in a focus group or observed in their itinerant or resource room settings. Issues of transportation, access to information, assessment, and instructional responsibilities were addressed. Participants reported that while barriers to…

A study investigated effects of regular instruction and practice with prescription reading glasses with three adolescents with low vision. Two students demonstrated no advantage in reading large print and one student experienced a decreased reading rate using standard print and reading glasses. Students preferred reading standard print with…

A study investigated whether 18 teachers of students with visual impairments were incorporating the expanded core curriculum into the direct services provided to students. Teachers spent the majority of their instructional time on academics, teaching communication skills, and tutoring, with the bulk of instructional time dedicated to academic…

The study examined question frequencies and types in language samples from 36 sighted and visually impaired children (4-10 years old). Results demonstrated significant differences between blind/sighted and low vision/sighted groups in the ratio of questions asked. Comparison of question types indicated some minor distinctions of type of usage by…