A project is underway which is examining tactual, auditory, and visual approaches to giving visually impaired students access to microcomputers. A three-module student instructional program, a workshop for teachers in residential and day-school programs, and criteria for software evaluation have also been developed. (CL)

The Trace Center (University of Wisconsin) has assembled a registry of hardware/software programs and adaptations for the handicapped user. The registry contains information on augmentative devices for motoric, sensory, or cognitive skills; special inputs that provide access to standard software; and other programs with speech output. (CL)

Two studies of 300 elementary schools in 52 California school districts (all schools had computers for instructional use) found that two-thirds allowed learning handicapped (LH) students access, that only half provided computer instruction to LH students, but that the more microcomputers a school had the more access LH students had. (Author/DB)

The article reviews computer applications in special education (drill and practice, tutorial programs, simulations, gaming, discovery, and problem-solving programs) and suggests approaches for publishers and educators in providing improved services in the future. (CL)

The advantages of LOGO, a computer language, in the education of severely handicapped students are seen to include ease of programing and widespread use. Videotapes have been developed to help teachers use the approach. (CL)

Activities using Logo, a programing language, have been successful in helping severely physically disabled students as well as autistic children express themselves. (CL)

The article highlights trends in priority user needs and market information on microcomputer hardware/software for special education. Among trends noted are significant increases in microcomputer hardware inventories, and perceived needs for computer assisted instruction, administrative functions, and systematic planning for the use of technology…

Five different levels of instructional videodisc and microcomputer configurations are described and discussed in relation to needs and resources of the special education program. Principles of effective instruction should be applied to the development and utilization of videodisc technology.(Author/DB)

The article extends previous microcomputer software evaluation forms by providing an evaluation instrument based on research-based instructional techniques, providing a step-by-step approach for evaluating software, and adding a student evaluation component to the overall review. (Author/CL)

The reinforcing characteristics of bonus feedback were investigated, as 130 children from both regular and resource classrooms in grades two-four were taught time-telling using a microcomputer-controlled videodisc system. No significant differences were found among five feedback conditions used, indicating that bonus feedback had little positive…

Four 2nd-grade students completed addition problems on a computer, using video games as reinforcers. Two variable ratio schedules of reinforcement failed to increase student accuracy or the rate of correct responses. In a no-games reinforcement condition, students had more opportunities to respond and had a greater number of correct answers.…

Forty developmentally delayed and 40 non-delayed kindergarten children completed an alphabet matching task and a spelling task using 2 different computer input devices: a traditional computer keyboard and a touch-sensitive computer screen. The touch-sensitive screen generally improved the performance of both groups. (Author/JDD)

The article describes the capabilities and features of basic microcomputer systems and describes special education applications: computer assisted instruction, prosthesis, testing, communication, and enhancing personal relations. Problems such as the availability of authoring languages, high quality educational software, and computer safety are…

Results of a survey of 298 special education/teacher education programs indicated that: (1) the institutions were not utilizing available technology; (2) there was no relationship between systematic planning and success of new technology; (3) and the most common technology adopted was microcomputers used for computer-assisted instruction and word…

Over 100 resource rooms, mainstreamed classes, and special day classes for learning handicapped students were observed in a longitudinal study of Micro-Educational Environments (MEEs) and microcomputer use. Results from 1986 and changes from 1984 to 1986 cover hardware selection and location; student grouping; software; access; use time; and user,…