This article presents an overview of significant issues pertaining to the psychoeducational assessment of visually impaired children. These issues include: incidence and definition of visual impairment, screening for visual problems, variables affecting vision, effects of visual handicaps on psychological development, pre-assessment preparation, testing conditions, use and adaptation of tests, and interpretation of results.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adkins, P.G. and Ainsa, T.D. (1979) 'An Earlv Stimulation Program for Visually Handicapped Infants and Toddlers', Education of the Visually Handicapped10:75-79.
2.
Adrian. R.J. , Miller, L.R. and De L'Aune, W.R. (1982) 'Personality Assessment of Early Visually Impaired Persons Using the CPI and the MMPI', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness76:172-178.
3.
Alford, D.W. , Moore, M.W. and Simon, J.L. (1979) 'A Preliminary Assessment of the Validity and Usefulness of the WRAT with Visually Handicapped Residential School Students', Education of the Visually Handicapped11: 102-108.
4.
American Foundation for the Blind (1984) Low Vision Questions and Answers: Definitions, Aids, Services. New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
5.
American Psychological Association (1985) Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing. Washington, DC: Author.
6.
Barraga, N. (1983) Visual Handicaps and Learning. Austin, TX: Exceptional Resources.
7.
Barraga, N.C. and Collins, M.E. (1979) 'Development of Efficiency in Visual Functioning: Rationale for a Comprehensive Program', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness73:121-126.
8.
Bauman, M.K. (1975) 'Guided Vocational Choice', New Outlook for the Blind69:354-360.
9.
Bauman, M.K. and Kropf, C.A. (1979) 'Psychological Tests used with Blind and Visually Handicapped Persons', School Psychology Digest8:257-270.
10.
Beery, K.E. (1982) Revised Adminstration, Scoring and Teaching Manual for the Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. Cleveland, OH: Modern Curriculum Press.
11.
Bender, L. (1938) A Visual Motor Gestalt Test and its Clinical Use. New York: American Orthopsychiatric Association.
12.
Bender, L. (1946) Instructions for the Use of Visual Motor Gestalt Test. New York: American Orthopsychiatric Association.
13.
Brigance, A. (1977) Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Basic Skills. North Billerica, MA: Curriculum Associates.
14.
Brigance, A. (1978) Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Early Development. North Billerica, MA: Curriculum Associates.
15.
Brigance, A. (1980) Brigance Diagnostic Inventory of Essential Skills. North Billerica, MA: Curriculum Associates.
Chase, J.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).
18.
Chase, J.B. (1977b) 'Psychological Implications of Visual and Related Impairments', in J. Gratsky et al. (eds) Individualized Program Planning for the Visually Impaired and Multihandicapped, pp. 91-104. Blackwood, NJ: Potential Publishers.
19.
Chase, J.B. (1985) 'Assessment of Developmentally Delayed Children'. School Psychology Reuiew14:150-154.
20.
Chase, J.B. (1986a) 'Application of Assessment Techniques to the Totally Blind', in P.J. Lazarus and S.S. Strichart (eds) Psychoeducational Evaluation of Children and Adolescents with Low-incidence Handica's, pp. 75-102. New York: Grune & Stratton.
21.
Chase, J.B. (1986b) 'Psychoeducational Assessment of Visually-impaired Learners', in P.J. Lazarus and S.S. Strichart (eds) Psychoeducational Evaluation of Children and Adolescents with Low-incidence Handicaps, pp. 41-74. New York: Grune & Stratton.
22.
Chase, J.B. and Rapaport, I.N. (1968) 'A Verbal Adaptation of the Draw-a-Person Techniques for Use with Blind Subjects', International Journal for the Education of the Blind18: 113-115.
23.
Collins-Moore, M.S. and Osborn, K.N. (1984) 'Assessing the Visually Handicapped Child', in S.J. Weaver (ed.) Testing Children: A Reference Guide for Effective Clinical and Psychoeducational Assessments, pp. 137-160. Kansas City: Test Corporation of America.
24.
Cook-Clampert, D. (1981) 'The Development of Self-Concept in Blind Children', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness75:233-238.
25.
Davis, C.J. (1980) Manual, Perkins-Binet Tests of Intelligence for the Blind. Watertown, MA: Perkins School for the Blind.
26.
Deno, S.L. (1986) 'Formative Evaluation of Individual Student Programs: A New Role for School Psychologists', School Psychology Review15:358-374.
27.
Dobree, J.H. and Boulter, E. (1982) Blindness and Visual Handicap: The Facts. New York: Oxford University Press.
28.
Efron, M. and DuBoff, B.R. (1975) A Vision Guide for Teachers of Deaf-blind Children. Winston-Salem, NC: Special Education Instructional Materials Development Center (Div. for Exceptional Children, Dept. of Public Instruction, Raleigh, NC).
29.
Erchul, W.P. and Turner, B.D. (in press) 'Visually Impaired Children II: Intervention Strategies', School Psychology International8(4).
30.
Forcade, M.C. , Matey, C.M. and Barnett, D.W. (1979) 'Procedural Guidelines for Low Incidence Assessment', School Psychology Review8:248-256.
31.
Foulke, E. (1972) 'The Personality of the Blind: A Non-valid Concept', New Outlook for the Blind66:33-37, 42-42.
32.
Froyd, H.E. (1973) 'Counseling Families of Severely Handicapped Children', New Outlook for the Blind67:251-257.
33.
Genshaft, J.L. , Dare, N.L., and O'Malley, P.L. (1980) 'Assessing the Visually Impaired Child: A School Psychology View', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness74: 344-350.
34.
Gilbert, J.C. and Rubin, E.J. (1965) 'Evaluating the Intellect of Blind Children', New Outlook for the Blind59:238-240.
35.
Gleason, D. (1984) 'Auditory Assessment of Visually Impaired Pre-schoolers: A Team Effort', Education of the Visually Handicapped16:102-113.
36.
Goldman, F.H. and Duda, D. (1980) 'Psychological Assessment of the Visually Impaired Child', in R.K. Mulliken and M. Evans (eds) Assessment of Children with Low-incidence Handicaps, pp. 52-57. Stratford, CT: National Association of School Psychologists.
37.
Griffin, H.C. (1980) 'Motor Development in Congenitally Blind Children', Education of the Visually Handicapped12:106-111.
38.
Griffin, P.M. and Sanford, A.R. (1977) Learning Accomplishment Profile for Infants. Winston-Salem, NC: Kaplan Press.
39.
Gutterman, J.E. , Ward, M. and Genshaft, J. (1985) 'Correlation of Scores of Low Vision Children on the Perkins-Binet Tests of Intelligence for the Blind, the WISC-R and the WRAT', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness79:55-58.
40.
Halliday, C. (1971) The Visually Impaired Child: Growth, Learning, DevelopmentInfancy to School Age. Louisville, KY: American Printing House for the Blind.
41.
Hampshire, B. (1977) 'Language and Cognitive Development in the Blind Child', Education of the Visually Handicapped9:97-101.
42.
Harley, R. (1984) Visual Impairment in the Schools. Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
McIntire, J.C. (1985) 'The Future Role of Residential Schools for Visually Impaired Students', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness79:161-164.
47.
Monbeck, M.E. and Mulholland, M.E. (1975) 'Introduction to Assessment and the Blind', New Outlook for the Blind69:337-339.
48.
Morris, O.F. (1981) 'Teacher Assessment of Visual Functioning', Education of the Visually Handicapped13:42-50.
49.
Morse, J.L. (1975) 'Answering the Questions of the Psychologist Assessing the Visually Handicapped Child', New Outlook for the Blind69:350-353.
50.
Nelson, L.B. , Rubin, S.E., Wagner, R.S. and Breton, M.E. (1984) 'Developmental Aspects in the Assessment of Visual Function in Young Children', Pediatrics73:375-381.
51.
Newland, T.E. (1979) 'The Blind Learning Aptitude Test', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness14:134-139.
52.
Ozias, D.K. (1975) 'Achievement Assessment of the Visually Handicapped', Education of the Visually Handicapped7:76-84.
53.
Parsons, S. (1986) 'Function of Play in Low Vision Children (Part 1): A Review of the Research and Literature', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness80:627-630.
54.
Reynell, J. and Zinkin, D. (1975) 'New Procedures for the Developmental Assessment of Young Children with Severe Visual Handicaps', Child: Care, Health and Development1:61-69.
55.
Robinson, G.A. (1985) 'Best Practices in Assessment of Visually Handicapped Students', in A. Thomas and J. Grimes (eds) Best Practices in School Psychology, pp.369-379. Kent, OH: National Association of School Psychologists.
56.
Rogers, S.J. (1986) 'Assessment of Infants and Pre-schoolers with Low-incidence Handicaps', in P.J. Lazarus and S.S. Strichart (eds) Psychoeducational Evalutation of Children and Adolescents with Lowincidence Handicaps, pp. 17-39. New York: Grune & Stratton.
57.
Rouse, M.W. and Ryan, J.B. (1984) 'Teacher's Guide to Vision Problems', The Reading Teacher38:306-317.
58.
Salvia, J. and Ysseldyke, J.E. (1985) Assessment in Special and Remedial Education, 3rd edn.Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
59.
Sayegh, F.N. , Arafat, N.I.T. and Ashoury, I.M. (1986) 'Causes of Blindness at Jordan University Hospital', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness80:539-541.
60.
Schnittjer, C.J. and Hirshoren, A. (1981) 'Factors of Problem Behavior in Visually Impaired Children', Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology9:517-522.
61.
Scholl, G.T. (1985) 'Visual Impairments', in G. Scholl (ed.) The School Psychologist and the Exceptional Child, pp. 203-218. Reston, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.
62.
Scholl, G.T. and Schnur, R. (1975) 'Measures of Psychological, Vocational and Educational Functioning in the Blind and Visually Handicapped: Introductory Remarks', New Outlook for the Blind69:365-370.
Simeonsson, R.J. , Huntington, G.S. and Parse, S.A. (1980) 'Assessment of Children with Severe Handicaps: Multiple ProblemsMultivariate Goals', Journal of the Association for the Severely Handicapped5:55-72.
65.
Smits, B.W.G.M. and Mommers, M.J.C. (1976) 'Differences between Blind and Sighted Children on WISC Verbal Subtests', New Outlook for the Blind70:240-246.
66.
Spungin, S.J. and Swallow, R. (1975) 'Psychoeducational Assessment: Role of Psychologist to Teacher of the Visually Handicapped', Education of the Visually Handicapped7:67-76.
67.
Streitfeld, J.W. and Avery, C.D. (1968) 'The WAIS and HIS Tests as Predictors of Academic Achievement in a Residential School for the Blind', International Journal for the Education of the Blind18:73-77.
68.
Strichart, S.S. and Lazarus, P.J. (1986) 'Lowincidence Assessment: Influences and Issues', in P.J. Lazarus and S.S. Strichart (eds) Psychoeducational Evaluation of Children and Adolescents with LowIncidence Handicaps, pp.1-15. New York: Grune & Stratton.
69.
Swallow, R. (1977) 'Assessment for Visually Handicapped Children and Youth', AFB Practice Report, pp. 1-66 (American Foundation for the Blind).
70.
Swallow, R. (1981) 'F'ifty Assessment Instruments Commonly Used with Blind and Partially Seeing Individuals'. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness75:65-72.
71.
Tillman, M.H. (1967a) 'The Performance of Blind and Sighted Children on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children: Study I', International Journal for the Education of the Blind16:65-74.
72.
Tillman, M.H. (1967b) 'The Performance of Blind and Sighted Children on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children: Study II', International Journal for the Education of the Blind16:106-112.
73.
Turner, B.D. and Erchul, W.P. (1986, April) Considerat. ons in Assessment of the Visually Handicapped, paper presented at the meeting of the National Association of School Psychologists, Hollywood, FL.
74.
Vander Kolk, C.J. (1977) 'Intelligence Testing for Visually Impaired Persons', Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness71:158-163.
75.
Warren, D.H. (1978) 'Cognitive Development, Assessment and the I.E.P.', DVH Newsletter22(1):7-12 (Div. for the Visually Handicapped, Council for Exceptional Children).
76.
Warren, D.H. (1984) Blindness and Early Childhood Development, 2nd edn.New York: American Foundation for the Blind.
77.
Wechsler, D. (1967) Manual for the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. New York: Psychological Corporation.
78.
Wechsler, D. (1974) Manual for the WechslerIntelligence Scale for Cnildren-Revised. New York: Psychological Corporation.
79.
Williams, M. (1956) 'An Intelligence Test for Blind and Partially Sighted Children', Bulletin of the British Psychological Society30:32-32.