The conference report contains background information on organizing the April, 1979, New York, conference on educational issues of students with visual impairments; results of a preliminary needs assessment questionnaire; texts of 12 conference presentations; the conference evaluation results; and the program. The needs assessment questionnaire…

A project was developed which successfully taught individuals with visual impairments to read commercial large-print books, with either their own reading spectacles or with lower levels of magnification than usually prescribed. Over the course of the project, print sizes were systematically reduced and healthy reading habits were re-taught. (JDD)

This article describes a model project for delivering comprehensive vision care and educational support services to children who are deaf-blind. It characterizes 170 children served by the project, including the conditions that caused their deaf-blindness, other medical conditions, and visual conditions, and discusses intervention strategies that…

This article reviews the structure, development, function, and assessment of the visual system and then considers: common eye problems of young children with visual impairment; impacts of severe impairment on child development; and the roles of early intervention professionals, ophthalmologists, and pediatricians in working with these children and…

The visual acuity of 8 children, aged 2-7, with low vision and multiple handicaps was effectively tested using the Teller Acuity Cards and a preferential-looking procedure with operant modification. This inexpensive procedure was found to be suitable for at-home testing by itinerant vision specialists in developing countries or rural areas. (DB)

America's public education system still holds the best promise to provide educational access to all children. However, public education has come under fire within the past two decades for not serving all student needs. Therefore, increasing demands are being placed on public schools to reform in order to improve achievement. Critical to the…

This article gives an overview of a three-year qualitative study following the transition pathways of one blind and four partially sighted young people in Wales, beginning with the transition from compulsory to post-compulsory education at the age of 16. The study highlighted the inequity in provision for young people who remain in school sixth…

No matter how well teachers are prepared to teach, no matter what accountability measures are put in place, no matter what governing structures are established for schools, educational progress will be profoundly limited if students are not "motivated and able to learn". Health-related problems play a major role in limiting the motivation and…

A low vision clinic is using Fresnel press-on prism lenses to aid veterans with extremely restricted visual fields. (Author/SB)

Intended for the specialist in low vision rehabilitation, the manual provides information on low vision evaluation, low vision aids, and perceptual learning. A large section of the document is devoted to illustrations and information on (including use, cost, and source) 15 near and 8 distance vision aids such as the Coil Hi-Power Reader, hand…

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)

The paper describes a software system which uses microcomputers to aid in the assessment of functional vision in visually impaired students. The software also aims to be visually stimulating and to develop hand-eye coordination, visual memory, and cognitive abilities. (DB)

This article considers the visual rehabilitation of patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries. Characteristics, symptoms, and associated neuromotor difficulties of posttrauma vision syndrome are listed, as are common posture and gait adaptations. A neuro-optometric rehabilitative and orientation/mobility evaluation is recommended, as is…

A fly-only group (N=16) of Navy replacement pilots undergoing fleet readiness training in the SH-3 helicopter was compared with groups pre-trained on Device 2F64C with: (1) visual only (N=13); (2) no visual/no motion (N=14); and (3) one visual plus motion group (N=19). Groups were compared for their SH-3 helicopter performance in the transition…