A counselor blind from birth describes personal difficulties in fully understanding the experience of clients who are adventitiously blind. Congenitally blind counselors are urged to recognize that adaptive methods cannot compensate for the panoramic view of the environment provided by vision and that recently blinded individuals need to deal with…

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)

Imagery and visualization, both voluntary and involuntary, can be used therapeutically in the adaptation processes of congenitally and adventitiously blind persons. Imagery and visualization can help clients make psychosocial changes necessary to improve mental attitudes and to return to the mainstream. (Author/JDD)

Usher syndrome, Type I, requires multiple adaptations throughout the life cycle because each stage of life has tasks and losses associated with deafness and progressive retinitis pigmentosa. This article examines the issues raised at each stage, using clinical vignettes from persons who have this condition and their families. (Author/DB)

The initial role of the low-vision teacher involves helping patients psychologically adjust to their situation and assessing patients' readiness for rehabilitation. Then training can begin to effectively use remaining vision, to determine fixation angles for reading text, and to function both with and without optical and other aids. (JDD)

This article discusses the psychological processes that may underpin successful travel and adjustment of newly visually impaired young adults. A survey of 71 subjects identified the following 5 clusters of feelings: self-efficacy, vigilance, role acceptance, disorientation, and cognitive effort. (Author/DB)

This paper provides information for helping children with closed-head injuries (CHI) successfully return to school. It explains how to identify deficits in CHI students, initiate the return to school, involve the speech-language pathologist, and establish effective networks between the rehabilitation setting and the educational setting. Helpful…

Discussion and case vignettes demonstrate defence processes in coping with illness and disability. Differences in the coping process between adolescents physically disabled from birth and those disabled through accident or illness are addressed. Dangers and prospects of lengthy rehabilitation processes are discussed, as are adjustments necessary…

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 document reports a comprehensive followup study to describe postservice life status of former vocational rehabilitation clients and to develop an empirical index of postservice adjustment to spinal cord injury. Significant findings, conclusions, and implications are found at the beginning. The introduction section summarizes followup studies…

Intended for individuals losing their sight and for families of these individuals, this guide presents methods of performing basic tasks of daily living, addresses common feelings and fears, and offers suggestions for additional help. An introductory chapter outlines how to use the guide. Subsequent chapters address the following topics: (1)…