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The advent of
mainstreaming has made it increasingly important for traditional
classroom teachers to be familiar with the research and practice of
instructing blind and visually impaired students. The following sites
have been selected to both augment training of the vision specialist as
well as introduce his/her colleagues to some of the best sources of
information on teaching blind and visually impaired students.
Informational Resources
Texas
School for the Blind and Visually Impaired
This is an excellent one-stop
location for information about teaching the blind or visually impaired
child.
Questions related to assessment, mobility, academic problems, and a
great deal more are covered here. Although the Texas School for the
Blind is a residential school, the information contained here is
generally applicable to the student who is being mainstreamed. Of
special interest are links to
Hadley
School for the Blind
Hadley has a long-established and
well-deserved reputation for providing free high-quality distance
learning courses for qualified students and adults. The classes range
from traditional academic subjects to courses that impart skills to
help with adjusting to vision loss.
The
ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education
ERIC is the acronym for the
Educational Resources Information Center. The ERIC Clearinghouse on
Disabilities and Gifted Education (ERIC EC) is part of the National
Library of Education, U.S. Department of Education. ERIC EC provides
information on the education of individuals with disabilities as well
as those who are gifted.
Hadley has a long-established and well-deserved reputation for
providing free high-quality distance learning courses for qualified
students and adults.
Tiresias: International
Information on Visual Disability
The Tiresias web site provides
in-depth information on assistive devices for people with visual
disabilities, current and future research, technical information,
disability organizations and agencies, sources of research, funding,
publications, standards and legislation. The site features a text only
option.
Resources for Parents
and Teachers of Blind and Visually Impaired Children
This is an outstanding annotated
list of resources of use to both parents and teachers alike.
National
Association for Visually Handicapped
Most
people who have vision loss retain residual vision throughout their
lives. Often the remaining sight is significant and substantial,
although altered or diminished. NAVH's purpose is to work with the
visually impaired so that those affected can live with as little
disruption as possible. NAVH stresses the importance of using eyesight
despite a visual impairment. This membership organization has links to
its store of low vision products, information on the psychological
effects of vision loss, a free newsletter, and information on the most
common types of vision loss.
V.
I. Guide Home Page, for Parents and Teachers of Blind and Visually
Impaired Children
This
site was developed by Betsy Walker, the parent of a blind child. It is
intended as a resource for teachers and parents of blind and visually
impaired children. Topics include: vision related services; special
education services; assistive technology; assistive products; as well
as information on medical, legal, entertainment, and research related
to blindness and vision loss. This is an excellent, well-organized
site.
Resources for Parents
& Teachers of Blind Kids
This
is an excellent site
with information on technology, toys, braille, home schooling, math,
and more.
Technology
Assistive
or
adaptive technology has exploded many barriers to education and
employment for visually impaired individuals. Students with visual
impairments can complete homework, do research, take tests, and read
books along with their sighted classmates thanks to advances in
technology. Adults with visual impairments can continue to work and
pursue a tremendous range of careers in mainstream society because of
the use of computers and other devices. A variety of information on
technology can be found in this web site section, which features
descriptions of adaptive equipment, offers tips on using technology
effectively, and gives technology specialists advice on making web
sites and computer applications accessible to people who are visually
impaired.
What Families Need to
Know
Currently,
nearly 94,000
children in the United States who are blind or visually impaired are
being helped by some form of special education. These students are an
extremely diverse group ranging from infants to young adults through
age 21. This page of The American Foundation for the Blind is an
excellent resource for both parents and teachers.
Organizations
for
Rehabilitation Professionals
Association
for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
(AER):
The
Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually
Impaired is one of the leading professional organizations for those
working in the field of rehabilitation. The site provides links to
conferences, online courses, degree programs, professional publications
and seminars, and much more. There is also a
general discussion list, AERNET.
Division on Visual
Impairments of the Council for Exceptional Children
The
organization
provides sample articles from its professional journal, educational
resources, and legislative information of interest to its members.
California
Association of Orientation and Mobility Specialists
CAOMS
is a non-profit statewide organization whose mission is to facilitate
professional growth and to support the role of Orientation and Mobility
(O&M) Specialists in the rehabilitation and education of
individuals who have visual impairments. Founded in 1966, CAOMS hosts
an annual statewide conference. Membership consists primarily of
credentialed O&M Specialists, students, and associates. The site
features a text only option.
AFB
Bookstore Items
The
American Foundation for the Blind provides a number of excellent
publications and teaching materials at its Web site. Of special
importance is The Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness which
contains refereed articles, commentary, calendar of professional
events, discussion of new techniques in the field, and much more.
Reading
Learning
Through
Listening
This site, hosted by
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic, is for educators in grades
K-12. Its purpose is to provide quick access to lessons and information
that focus on developing listening skills and meeting the needs of
diverse learners. The content on this site has either been written by
educators or reviewed by educators for its practicality and
applicability. Includes lesson plans
Large
print
Reviews
The purpose of
Large Print Reviews is to provide reviews of large print and audio
books, as well as reviews of low vision aids, such as magnifiers and
screen readers. In addition the authors hope to build a comprehensive
list of links to aid those who must deal with a visual impairment.
The
Blind Readers’ Page
This
site is a guide to sources of information in alternative formats
(braille, recorded cassettes, large print, e-texts, and web audio)
accessible by people with print disabilities--those with visual and
physical disabilities as well as dyslexia. It is also a guide to
information about blindness, visual impairment and other physical
disabilities, with a special collection of Wisconsin resources. There
are about 2,300 individual links, all evaluated, annotated and
organized by subject.
Medical
Information
Selected
Anomalies and Diseases of the Eye
This site is
a collection of links to information on eye diseases and anomalies for
the Teacher of the Visually disabled, who may need a rapid reference
for consultative and interpretive purposes. This is a web-based
reference work. Each page includes related websites for additional
information.
Medical Resources,
for parents
and teachers of blind and visually impaired children
This site features a
searchable
database of abstracts from articles in current and past issues of the
American Journal of Ophthalmology, including topics about the latest
advances in ophthalmic surgical techniques or recent research findings.
A one-time registration is required, but access is free. Browseable and
accessible.
Multiple
Disabilities and
Vision Loss
Teaching
Students
with Visual and Multiple Impairments
This site focuses
on instructional strategies and resources for the teacher of the
multiple impaired. Topics covered include social skills, nonverbal
cues, activities, assessment, and much more.
National Center
for Deaf-Blind
The Helen Keller
National
Center for Deaf-Blind Youths & Adults (HKNC) offers intensive and
comprehensive rehabilitation training to individuals who are
deaf-blind. The rehabilitation and personal adjustment training program
at HKNC's headquarters in Sands Point, New York provides evaluation and
training
in communication skills, adaptive technology, orientation and mobility,
independent living, work experience, and other support services. Field
Services include ten regional offices, and more than forty affiliated
programs, a national training team, technical assistance center, and
older adults program.
You may also want to consult Organizations Providing Assistance
Computers and Assistive
Technology
Legal and Governmental
Resources
Resources for Parents of Blind
and Visually Impaired Students
on this site for additional
information.
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