Using Maslow's (1973) Hierarchy of Basic Human Needs as an organizational scheme, this article offers an overview of interventions which are commonly used with visually impaired children. These strategies include: counselling parents to aid acceptance of their child, providing stimulation and enrichment to enhance psychological development, increasing visual efficiency, aiding orientation and mobility, decreasing undesirable behaviours, increasing social skills, fostering classroom acceptance, facilitating academic learning, and counselling the child to aid self-acceptance.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbangT.B. (1985) ‘Blindism: Likely Causes and Preventive Measures’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness79: 400–401.
2.
AdkinsP.G.AinsaT.D. (1979) ‘An Early Stimulation Program for Visually Handicapped Infants and Toddlers’, Education of the Visually Handicapped10: 75–9.
3.
AgostaJ.M.CloseD.W.HopsH.RuschF.R. (1980) ‘Treatment of Self-injurious Behavior through Overcorrection Procedures’, Journal of the Association for the Severely Handicapped5: 5–12.
4.
AlessiG.J.KayeJ.H. (1983) Behavior Assessment for School Psychologists.Kent, OH: National Association of School Psychologists.
5.
BarragaN. (1983) Visual Handicaps and Learning.Austin, TX: Exceptional Resources.
6.
BarragaN.C.CollinsM.E. (1979) ‘Development of Efficiency in Visual Functioning: Rationale for a Comprehensive Program’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness73: 121–6.
7.
BartonL.E.LaGrowS.J. (1985) ‘Reduction of Stereotypic Responding in Three Visually Impaired Children’, Education of the Visually Handicapped16: 145–51.
8.
BatscheG.M. (1984) Referral-oriented, Consultative Approach to Assessment/Decision-making.Kent, OH: National Association of School Psychologists.
9.
BaumanM.K. (1975) ‘Guided Vocational Choice’, New Outlook for the Blind69: 354–60.
10.
BellV.H. (1975) ‘An Educator's Approach to Assessing Pre-school Visually Handicapped Children’, Education of the Visually Handicapped7: 84–9.
11.
BrockmanM.P. (1985) ‘Best Practices in Assessment of Social Skills and Peer Interaction’, in ThomasA.GrimesJ. (eds) Best Practices in School Psychology, pp. 31–41. Kent, OH: National Association of School Psychologists.
12.
ChapmanE.K. (1978) Visually Handicapped Young People.Boston: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
13.
ChaseJ.B. (1977a) ‘Developmental Assessment of Handicapped Infants and Young Children: With Special Attention to the Visually Impaired’, AFB practice report, pp. 73–82 (published by American Foundation for the Blind).
14.
ChaseJ.B. (1977b) ‘Psychological Implications of Visual and Related Impairments’, in GratskyJ. (eds) Individualized Program Planning for the Visually Impaired and Multi-handicapped, pp. 91–104. Blackwood, NJ: Potential Publishers.
15.
ChaseJ.B. (1986a) ‘Application of Assessment Techniques to the Totally Blind’, in LazarusP.J.StrichartS. S. (eds) Psychoeducational Evaluation of Children and Adolescents with Low-incidence Handicaps, pp. 75–102. New York: Grune and Stratton.
16.
ChaseJ.B. (1986b) ‘Psychoeducational Assessment of Visually-impaired Learners’, in LazarusP.J.StrichartS.S. (eds) Psychoeducational Evaluation of Children and Adolescents with Low-incidence Handicaps, pp. 41–74. New York: Grune and Stratton.
17.
ChristianW.P.LuceS.C. (1985) ‘Behavioral Training for Developmentally Disabled Individuals’, School Psychology Review14: 177–81.
18.
CohenJ.J. (1985) ‘Best Practices in Planning Interventions for Elementary Students’, in ThomasA.GrimesJ. (eds) Best practices in school psychology, pp. 61–77. Kent, OH: National Association of School Psychologists.
19.
Collins-MooreM.S.OsbornK.N. (1984) ‘Assessing the Visually Handicapped Child’, in WeaverS.J. (ed.) Testing Children: A Reference Guide for Effective Clinical and Psychoeducational Assessments, pp. 137–60. Kansas City: Test Corporation of America.
20.
Cook-ClampertD. (1981) ‘The Development of Self-concept in Blind Children’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness75: 233–8.
21.
CornA.L.MartinezI. (1977) When you have a Visually Handicapped Child in your Classroom: Suggestions for Teachers.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
22.
CzerwinskiM.H.TaitP.E. (1981) ‘Blind Children's Perceptions of Normal, Withdrawn, and Antisocial Behavior’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness75: 252–7.
23.
DobreeJ.H.BoulterE. (1982) Blindness and Visual Handicap: The Facts.New York: Oxford University Press.
24.
DonaldsonJ. (1980) ‘Changing Attitudes toward Handicapped Persons: A Review and Analysis of Research’, Exceptional Children46: 504–14.
25.
DurandV.M.CarrE.G. (1985) ‘Self-injurious Behavior: Motivating Conditions and Guidelines for Treatment’, School Psychology Review14: 171–6.
26.
EichelV.J. (1979) ‘A Taxonomy for Mannerisms of Blind Children’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness73: 167–78.
27.
FerrellK.A. (1984) Parenting Preschoolers: Suggestions for Raising Young Blind and Visually Impaired Children.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
28.
FerrellK.A. (1985) ‘Parents as Partners and Advocates’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness79: 203–4.
29.
FoulkeE. (1972) ‘The Personality of the Blind: A Non-valid Concept’, New Outlook for the Blind66: 33–7, 42.
30.
FroydH.E. (1973) ‘Counselling Families of Severely Visually Handicapped Children’, New Outlook for the Blind67: 251–7.
31.
GleasonD. (1984) ‘Auditory Assessment of Visually Impaired Preschoolers: A Team Effort’, Education of the Visually Handicapped16: 102–13.
32.
GreshamF.M. (1982) ‘Misguided Main-streaming: The Case for Social Skills Training with Handicapped Children’, Exceptional Children48: 422–33.
33.
GreshamF.M. (1985) ‘Best Practices in Social Skills Training’, in ThomasA.GrimesJ. (eds) Best Practices in School Psychology, pp. 181–92. Kent, OH: National Association of School Psychologists.
34.
GunterP.FoxJ.J.BradyM.P. (1984) ‘Social Skills Training of Handicapped Children in Less Restrictive Environments: Research Implications for Classroom Teachers’, The Pointer29: 8–10.
35.
HallidayC. (1971) The Visually Impaired Child: Growth, Learning, Development Infancy to School Age.Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.
36.
HampshireB. (1977) ‘Language and Cognitive Development in the Blind Child’, Education of the Visually Handicapped9: 97–101.
37.
HarleyR. (1984) Visual Impairment in the Schools.Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
38.
HarrellR.L.StraussF.A. (1986) ‘Approaches to Increasing Assertive Behavior and Communication Skills in Blind and Visually Impaired Persons’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness80: 794–8.
39.
HarrisS.L.FongP.L. (1985) ‘Developmental Disabilities: The Family and the School’, School Psychology Review14: 162–5.
40.
HayesC.S.WeinhouseE. (1978) ‘Application of Behavior Modification to Blind Children’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness72: 139–46.
41.
HoffmanB.A. (1959) ‘Observations and Work with Preschool Blind Children’, International Journal for the Education of the Blind8: 93–7.
42.
HoshmandL.T. (1975) ‘“Blindisms”: Some Observations and Propositions’, Education of the Visually Handicapped7: 56–60.
43.
IversonL. (1986) ‘A Look at Stereotypic Behaviours’, DVH Quarterly30: 25–8 (Division for the Visually Handicapped, Council for Exceptional Children).
44.
LongoJ.RotatoriA.F.KappermanG.HeinzeT. (1981) ‘Procedures used to Modify Self-injurious Behaviors in Visually Impaired, Mentally Retarded Individuals’, Education of the Visually Handicapped13: 77–83.
45.
MackC. (1984) ‘How Useful is Braille? Reports of Blind Adults’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness78: 311–13.
46.
ManasterA.KucharisS. (1972) ‘Experiential Methods in a Group Counseling Program with Blind Children’, New Outlook for the Blind66: 15–19, 25.
47.
MartinG.J.HobenM. (1977) Supporting Visually Impaired Students in the Mainstream.Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
48.
MaslowA.H. (1973) ‘A Theory of Human Motivation’, in LowryR.J. (ed.) Dominance, Self-esteem, Self-actualization: Germinal Papers of A. H. Maslow, pp. 153–73. Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole.
49.
McClannahanL.E.KrantzP.J. (1985) ‘Some Next Steps in Rights Protection for the Developmentally Disabled’, School Psychology Review14: 143–9.
50.
MillerW.H. (1985) ‘The Role of Residential Schools for the Blind in Educating Visually Impaired Students’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness79: 160.
51.
MooreS. (1984) ‘The Need for Programs and Services for Visually Handicapped Infants’Education of the Visually Handicapped16: 48–57.
52.
MorrisO.F. (1981) ‘Teacher Assessment of Visual Functioning’, Education of the Visually Handicapped13: 42–50.
53.
NelsonL.B.RubinS.E.WagnerR.S.BretonM.E. (1984) ‘Developmental Aspects in the Assessment of Visual Function in Young Children’, Pediatrics73: 375–81.
54.
O'BrienR. (1973) ‘The Integrated Resource Room for Visually Impaired Children’, New Outlook for the Blind67: 363–8.
55.
OlsonM. (1986) ‘Stereotypic Mannerisms of Visually Handicapped Children’, DVH Quarterly30: 14–19 (Division for the Visually Handicapped, Council for Exceptional Children).
56.
ParsonsS. (1986a) ‘Function of Play in Low Vision Children (Part 1): A Review of the Research and Literature’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness80: 627–30.
57.
ParsonsS. (1986b) ‘Function of Play in Low Vision Children (Part 2): Emerging Patterns of Behaviour’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness80: 777–84.
58.
PorterJ.HolzbergB.C. (1979) ‘The Changing Role of the School Psychologist in the Age of PL 94–142: From Conducting Testing to Enhancing Instruction’, Education of the Visually Handicapped10: 71–4.
59.
PowersM.D. (1985) ‘Behavioral Assessment and the Planning and Evaluation of Interventions for Developmentally Disabled Children’, School Psychology Review14: 155–61.
60.
RhyneJ.M. (1981) Curriculum for Teaching the Visually Impaired.Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
RouseM.W.RyanJ.B. (1984) ‘Teacher's Guide to Vision Problems’, The Reading Teacher38: 306–17.
63.
SalviaJ.YsseldykeJ.E. (1985) Assessment in Special and Remedial Education, 3rd edn.Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
64.
SchnittjerC.J.HirshorenA. (1981) ‘Factors of Problem Behavior in Visually Impaired Children’, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology9: 517–22.
65.
SchollG.T. (1987) ‘Appropriate Education for Visually Handicapped Students’, Teaching Exceptional Children19: 32–6 (Council for Exceptional Children).
66.
ScottE.P. (1982) Your Visually Impaired Student: A Guide for Teachers.Baltimore, MD: University Park Press.
67.
SemmellM.I.CheneyC.O. (1979) ‘Social Acceptance and Self-concept of Handicapped Pupils in Mainstreamed Environments’, Education Unlimited1: 65–8.
68.
SilbermanR.K. (1981) ‘Assessment and Evaluation of Visually Handicapped Students’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness75: 109–14.
69.
SkrticT.M.ClarkF.L.WhiteW.J. (1982) ‘Modification of Attitudes of Regular Education Preservice Teachers toward Visually Impaired Students’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness76: 49–52.
70.
SmithT.E.C.JacobsonW.SmithB.L. (1982) ‘Orientation and Mobility Services in the Public Schools: A Follow-up’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness76: 179–81.
71.
SwallowR. (1977) ‘Assessment for Visually Handicapped Children and Youth’, AFB Practice Report, pp. 1–66 (published by American Foundation for the Blind).
72.
TurnerB.D.ErchulW.P. (1987) ‘Visually Impaired Children I: Psychoeducational Assessment Issues’, School Psychology International8: 105–15.
73.
Van HasseltV.B.SimonJ.MastantuonoA.K. (1982) ‘Social Skills Training for Blind Children and Adolescents’, Education of the Visually Handicapped14: 34–40.
74.
Van HasseltV.B.HersenM.MoorL.E.SimonJ. (1986) Assessment and Treatment of Families with Visually Handicapped Children: A Project Description. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness80: 633–5.
75.
WarrenD.H. (1978) ‘Cognitive Development, Assessment and the I.E.P’, DVH Newsletter22 (1): 7–12 (Division for the Visually Handicapped, Council for Exceptional Children).
76.
WarrenD.H. (1984) Blindness and Early Childhood Development, 2nd edn.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
77.
WelshR.L. (1978) ‘The Use of Group Strategies with the Visually Impaired: A Review’, Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness72: 131–8.
78.
YeadonA.GraysonD.MulhollandM.E.WursterM.V. (1979) Living with Impaired Vision: An Introduction.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.