Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness

A symposium based on a Workshop on Confidentiality sponsored in June 1972 by the National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped (NAC). Contributions include an introduction explaining the background of the Workshop; a paper entitled “Confidentiality Policies and Practices in Residential Schools for the Blind,” by Samuel J. Cole, reviewing the findings of a NAC study of the current situation; “Confidentiality and the Law,” excerpts from a study of legal issues and precedents regarding the confidentiality of students’ records by Charles Lister; “Confidentiality and the School Counselor,” a paper by Carl J. Davis discussing the responsibilities of school personnel in protecting confidentiality; a short report on the discussion of four small workshops, including excerpts from a Russell Sage Foundation publication of guidelines on pupil records; and a summary of the issues raised during the Workshop by Geraldine T. Scholl, Ph.D.

Alternatives to the present complex of service agencies for blind persons will help to change stereotypes about blind persons and provide better services. The main kind of alternative is the integration of blind persons into the community and the services provided there by schools, hospitals, churches, counseling, treatment, and rehabilitation centers, etc. The role of specialists would then be supplementary to other professionals. Since there has been little progress in this area in Australia, its workers for the blind have an opportunity to assume a leadership role in finding the most suitable and effective alternatives.

A macro-solution is a comprehensive system of public and private agencies in which the services needed by a specific group of children are coordinated in such a way that all such children receive services in the most efficient and least redundant way. Proper coordination of existing agencies and centralized planning and evaluation are the keys. Using the examples of the national system of centers for deaf blind children in the United States and the programs for the education of the deaf in Denmark, a macro-solution for the provision of services to all exceptional children in the United States is proposed. Specific suggestions include a state coordinator for all services, a central registry, coordination of funding, and centralized certification of personnel. A case history illustrating the inefficiency of the present system is provided.

After a brief assessment of the educational job market, the role of agencies for the blind in publicizing the abilities of blind workers to combat stereotypes and negative attitudes is discussed. Specific suggestions for the blind applicant for a teaching position are offered, including obtaining a personal interview, filing application forms and other pertinent data, and preparing for and conducting the interview.

A special forum for individuals to respond in detail to material published in the New Outlook for the Blind, or elsewhere, to present new ideas, or to raise issues which relate to the specialized field of work with blind and visually handicapped persons. Contributions should be 350-1,000 words in length.