Analysis of questionnaires completed by parents of 91 young blind children and 74 matched sighted children indicated that sighted children engaged in more complex levels of play at an earlier age; blind children interacted less frequently with other children than did sighted children; blind children preferred tactile-auditory games and toys; and…

The effects of a shared teacher-child play intervention on the amount and type of targeted play behaviors of young children with blindness were evaluated. Nondirective strategies (following the child's lead to make indirect play suggestions, modeling appropriate play activities, and participating as a play partner) resulted in improved play…

The use of mobile telephones by 25 itinerant teachers in Texas was evaluated. Factors considered included time management, costs, changes in use of various types of telephones, and feelings of security. With one outgoing call per day, teachers saved enough time to accumulate the equivalent of one week's service each year to their students.…

This study analyzed scores of 469 British adult clients with recent loss of sight on the Nottingham Adjustment Scale using LISREL structural modeling techniques. Results supported a theoretical model of the self in terms of two latent factors--internal self-worth and self as agent. Implications for rehabilitation and intervention with cognitive…

This literature review found that 23 of the 27 works examined emphasized the impact of society or a combination of societal and personal factors, rather than solely the personal experience of blindness, on emotional and psychological reactions to adventitious blindness. Implications for rehabilitation services are noted. (Author/DB)

A survey of the attitudes toward people with visual impairments in rehabilitation agencies or health care centers in the Netherlands received 263 responses from the general public and rehabilitation workers. Analysis supported the usefulness of distinguishing between the emotional and cognitive components of attitudes. Implications for public and…

This article describes the development and implementation of an innovative program of information centers in Israel that is designed to identify newly blind persons and to give them first-hand information about available services, as well as to stimulate an awareness of rehabilitation services among medical personnel. (Author/DB)

A study of 1,663 teachers of students with blindness or visual impairments addressed their perceived competence in reading and teaching braille, attitudes toward braille, and preservice training in braille. Most teachers were confident in their braille abilities, strongly supported use of braille with students, and were dissatisfied with their own…

This study evaluated the gains in capacity and mode of performance made by 57 elderly blind persons who were clients of an independent living services program in Mississippi. It was found that the gains in capacity were significant in all areas and the gains in mode of performance were significant for 41 of the 47 skill areas that were assessed.…

This article reviews 66 studies which used applied behavior analysis to change the behaviors of students with visual disabilities. It documents the participants, targeted behaviors, procedures used, outcomes, and follow-up. The article offers recommendations for future researchers on the selection of subjects, target behaviors, appropriate…

This article discusses the impact of technology on the formation of skills and the career advancement of persons who are blind or visually impaired. It concludes that dependence on technology (computerization and automation) and the mechanistic aspects of jobs may trap blind and visually impaired workers in occupations with narrow career paths…

This study compared the performance on perspective-taking tasks of 8 congenitally blind children (mean age 13.5 years), using either haptic exploration or a vibrotactile prosthetic device, with the performance of 4 children having low vision using their limited visual abilities. The vibrotactile device improved perspective-taking performance…

This study compared the batting swing of two skilled congenitally blind beep baseball players to a perfect kinetic-link model for the batting skill. It found that the subjects used a modified batting technique and that there was an inverse relationship between the subjects' performances and the kinetic-link model. (Author)

A telephone survey of 147 participants, ages 27 to 96, in a low-vision service program of an urban vision rehabilitation agency found that most respondents continued to use their devices every day for months after low-vision services were completed, and three-fourths reported that the services had a positive impact on their everyday functioning.…

Comparison by 40 users of 2 technologies--Verbal Landmark and Talking Signs--that provide speech messages to hand-held receivers for blind travelers found that, on all measures, the Talking Signs system proved superior to the Verbal Landmark system. This was attributed to Verbal Landmark's more cognitively demanding technology. (DB)