Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness

In order to give teachers and mobility specialists a more realistic and empathic understanding of visual loss, instructors at Boston College included in their courses a period of wearing goggles that simulated various visual impairments. Near vision activities were provided for students in each of four different settings: classroom, science laboratory, kitchen, and workshop.

Offers practical advice and information to people who are becoming blind, who have recently become blind, and for others who know or work with blind persons. Based on the author's experience as he himself lost his sight and, as a professional sociologist, gained invaluable help from his knowledge of research.

Outlines procedures for implementing a community based orientation and mobility program within a vocational rehabilitation agency. Discusses advantages and disadvantages of such programs compared with orientation and mobility training offered at residential facilities. Data are given on two community based programs, showing a high rate of successful rehabilitation.

The proportion of older people in the United States population is growing at a faster rate than is the population in general. Since some 50 percent of blind persons are over age 60, there will be almost 300,000 elderly blind persons by the year 2000. The cooperation of several agencies will be necessary to supply services to help older blind persons to remain as competent and independent as possible. A cooperative program of the Rhode Island Association for the Blind and the Rhode Island Division of the Aging is described.

Provides state by state information on the degrees and courses required for certification as a teacher of visually handicapped children. Only four states and the District of Columbia do not require special certification, 42 states require at least a bachelor's degree, and three states require a master's degree.

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 that relate to the specialized field of work with blind and visually handicapped persons. Contributions should be 350–1000 words in length.

A report of significant new additions to the M. C. Migel Memorial Library of the American Foundation for the Blind, prepared by Elaine M. Siegel, librarian. These materials may be borrowed from the library.

A classified listing of books, articles, directories, pamphlets, and other material of interest to the readers of the New Outlook for the Blind, prepared by the editors. Please write to the source listed in each entry if copies or more information is desired; the materials are not available from the New Outlook or the American Foundation for the Blind.