Participant observation and semistructured interviews with a classroom teacher, a full-time assistant, and the parents of a three-year-old boy with a visual impairment in an inclusive preschool are analyzed. Findings indicate the adults provided natural supports to the student and the student was able to use adaptive strategies to complete tasks…

A survey of 89 children and adolescents (ages 6 through 16) with visual impairments found that only 34% knew the name of their visual impairment and 14% knew how they acquired their visual impairment. The need for information materials geared to children and for an open environment in which children can ask questions is emphasized. (CR)

A study of the conversational patterns of two young children with blindness and two children with normal vision and their mothers found that average lengths of speaking turns of sighted children and their mothers were comparable, but blind children's turns were shorter than their mothers' turns. Mothers of blind children asked more knowledge…

In order to shed light on the needs of children with cortical visual impairments, normal visual development of infants is described. Infant preferences for motion, faces, and black-and-white patterns are explained. Colors useful in stimulating vision development and the time needed for exposure to visual stimuli are discussed. (CR)

A survey of 42 Irish and Belgian blind and partially sighted students (ages 12 to 18) and interviews with 6 Irish and Belgian mathematics teachers found that few of the students took higher-level mathematics examinations, due primarily to mathematical-access difficulties. A computer-based system providing both menu and command (keyboard and voice)…

A survey of 69 faculty members from 32 universities offering preparation programs for teachers, orientation and mobility specialists, rehabilitation teachers, and doctoral-level leadership personnel serving people with visual impairments raises concerns about the future viability of such programs, in light of state budget cuts, faculty recruitment…

Comparison of two strategies--manual guidance only and manual guidance plus verbal prompts--with 6 students (ages 9 to 19) whose multiple disabilities included total blindness and severe mental retardation found that prompting methods that require shifting verbal information to the performance of a manual task may interfere with the learning of…

Two levels of education (high school or less, or training beyond high school) and nine content scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 were used to predict employment-related outcomes of 109 blind adults. Education, anger, cynicism, obsessiveness, and family problems were significant predictors of employability. Self-esteem,…

A review of literature on orientation and mobility (O&M) training for preschool children with visual impairments finds that these services have expanded rapidly despite lack of a well-documented and thorough research base beyond the demonstrated value of basic O&M instruction in early intervention. The review addresses the need for services,…

The use of sleep scheduling and a daytime routine for the treatment of circadian rhythm disorder was found helpful in decreasing a blind 2-year old's nighttime wake periods and daytime sleepiness. (DB)

This article traces the development of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, examines types of CCTVs available today, discusses the influence of digital and computer technology in improving CCTVs, and speculates on video magnification technology of the future. (Author/CR)

A 1994 survey of the satisfaction of 502 workers with blindness, employed in industries affiliated with the National Industries for the Blind, found that 61% were satisfied with their current placements. Satisfaction was lower for those with higher levels of education and those employed more than five years. (Author/CR)

Fifty adults (ages 28-86) with macular degeneration were given the Low Vision Reading Comprehension Assessment (LVRCA) to test its reliability and validity in evaluating the reading comprehension of those with vision impairments. The LVRCA was found to take only nine minutes to administer and was a valid and reliable tool. (CR)

A study compared 10 visually impaired and 10 sighted girls on a discontinuous incremental treadmill test and found no significant difference between the peak oxygen intake of the 2 groups. The results indicate that visually impaired children can attain aerobic fitness levels similar to those of sighted children. (Author/CR)

The interaction behaviors in free play of 31 mothers of children (ages 15-61 months) with visual impairments were compared to those of mothers of children with mild developmental delays. Results found that mothers of children with visual impairments were more physically involved, used more controlling strategies, and spoke more than the other…