The Joint Action Committee of Organizations of and Serving the Visually Handicapped is a coalition of 24 California consumer, parent, and professional organizations; agencies; and product distributors. This article highlights coalition accomplishments in the areas of information dissemination, public policy influence, and public education and…

The article discusses the cooperative relationship between the Council of Agency Administrators, which comprises 17 not-for-profit New York State agencies, and the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped. The role of each organization is examined and hopes for future collaborative efforts are outlined. (Author/JDD)

The paper describes rehabilitation services provided by the Royal National Institute for the Blind (United Kingdom), focusing specifically on its Employment Rehabilitation Centers. Current vocational rehabilitation policy of the Institute is described, and a study in progress to determine the Institute's role in future programs is discussed.…

Rehabilitation agencies for visually impaired persons can provide a setting where the rights, needs, and expectations of the Visually Handicapped Consumer can be satisfied. (Author/MH)

The article identifies federal agencies which have been major sources of data for organizations providing services to blind and visually impaired persons, describes recent and possible changes in data collection and reporting, and cites organizations that watch the changing status of federal disability statistics. (MC)

This article describes organizations providing services for blind and visually impaired people, with special emphasis on programs for developing countries. Included are United Nations agencies, nongovernmental organizations concerned with blindness, governmental development agencies, professional associations, and international organizations…

Administrators of agencies serving the blind have the responsibility for their staffs serve multiply handicapped clients. Administrators set the tone of the agency. On a practical level, they can use personnel practices, staff development resources, and case management techniques to ensure implementation of sound, individualized service to…

The article describes the recently formed Joint Action Committee of Organizations Of and Serving the Visually Handicapped, made up of groups that united to fight budget cuts in California. The harmful effects of recent legislation on visually handicapped people and on professionals in the blindness system are described. (Author)

Professionalization of rehabilitation services is discussed, based on questionnaires completed by state agency directors. The criteria of a profession are considered, and the problems of funding adequate training, whether in the universities or by the agencies themselves, are noted. (Author/CL)

A survey of 38 administrators of rehabilitation centers serving blind and visually impaired persons revealed opinions about the major causes of family problems (such as overprotection and financial problems), suggested means of ameliorating these problems, and decribed other types of family services offered by their agencies. (Author/CL)

To make the best use of a governing board of schools or agencies serving handicapped students, staff should define the role of the board, recruit members who can contribute to a balanced board, provide orientation and training, and make them feel a part of the total operation. (Author)

This survey of 249 state and private agencies and schools for blind and visually impaired persons found that 149 offered recreation services. The survey addressed the recreation personnel's employment status, educational background and continuing education experiences, professional affiliation, and interest in networking with other recreation…

Since it is the visually handicapped consumer who makes possible the existence of specialized social and educational institutions for the blind, he or she must be free to exercise certain rights. (Author)

The article discusses the difficulties and delights of the transition from being a service provider to being an administrator. The author points out the different responsibilities, tasks, skills, and feelings she experienced in learning how to be an agency director at a facility for the visually impaired. (Author)

The article is intended to help rehabilitation agency directors and board members understand functional fund accounting and a good financial management information system. The author stresses the advantages of a regular audit done by certified public accountants. (Author)