Services provided 124 visually impaired students involved in a federal demonstration project in Oakland County, Michigan, (1979-1980) involved preliminary assessments, referral to a low vision specialist, and follow-up training. Development of a general remediation scheme and a team approach facilitated follow-up care and use of low vision aids.…

The eyes are the most complex organs in the body. Children's eyes are still developing until they are around 8-9 years old; therefore it is important to check that they are working properly before it is too late to rectify any problems. So how do they work, and why do they sometimes go wrong? In this article, the author explains children's eye…

Providing Access to the Visual Environment (Project PAVE) is a statewide multidisciplinary project that provides low vision services to children ages 3-21 in Tennessee. This article describes the project's administrative, direct service, and research components and the philosophy on which it is based. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

Describes undetected and uncorrected vision problems for children in poverty associated with juvenile delinquency and poor academic performance. Discusses success of a project offering vision screening and free glasses for at-risk students in Tucson, Arizona. (PKP)

The authors describe personal experiences with Usher's Syndrome, a condition involving visual impairment (due to Retinitis Pigmentosa) and deafness. Prevalence and onset of Usher's Syndrome are described along with characteristics of two different types. Problems connected with diagnosis are reviewed, including genetic aspects and the progressive…

The Vision In Preschoolers (VIP) Study, is a multi-phased, multi-center study designed to identify screening tests that best detect vision problems in preschool children. The VIP Study uses mobile medical units that are specially equipped to conduct vision screenings and eye examinations. Known as Vision Vans, these mobile units are staffed by lay…

A project integrating low-vision services into children's educational programs comprised four components: teacher training, functional vision evaluations for each child, a clinical examination by an optometrist, and follow-up visits with the optometrist to evaluate the prescribed low-vision aids. Educational implications of the project and project…

While a nationwide study of vision problems in children has not been conducted in over 30 years, the most recent NHIS (National Health Interview Survey) study shows vision problems are common in children, with an estimated 13.5 million children ages 0-17 affected. As of 2002, 30 states plus the District of Columbia "required" vision…

The article describes the development of a visual assessment and training program designed to predict initial and final low-vision mobility performance. The program's tasks were determined to be better predictors of visual performance than existing clinical measures, and task learning could be transferred to real-life mobility situations.…

An inexpensive computer graphics systems (Commodore PET), used as a video aid for teaching students advanced case analysis, is described. The course provides students with the analytical tools for evaluating with graphical and statistical techniques and treating with lenses, prisms, and orthoptics various anomalies of binocular vision. (MLW)

The Low Vision Service of Perkins School for the Blind (Massachusetts) developed a model project to provide comprehensive vision evaluations and follow-up services to 169 children with dual sensory impairments throughout New England. This article describes the project's objectives, the population served, and the procedures for implementing…

This article reviews the structure, development, function, and assessment of the visual system and then considers: common eye problems of young children with visual impairment; impacts of severe impairment on child development; and the roles of early intervention professionals, ophthalmologists, and pediatricians in working with these children and…

The visual acuity of 8 children, aged 2-7, with low vision and multiple handicaps was effectively tested using the Teller Acuity Cards and a preferential-looking procedure with operant modification. This inexpensive procedure was found to be suitable for at-home testing by itinerant vision specialists in developing countries or rural areas. (DB)

The paper describes a software system which uses microcomputers to aid in the assessment of functional vision in visually impaired students. The software also aims to be visually stimulating and to develop hand-eye coordination, visual memory, and cognitive abilities. (DB)

The most commonly used chart for testing eye acuity is the Snellen Chart, developed more than 100 years ago. A description is given of the way this chart works, its uses, and its limitations. (JD)