Suggests resources for school librarians who need materials for visually impaired or blind students. Highlights include the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; Louis Database of Accessible Materials for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired; Braille books; large print books, audio books; assistive technology; and…

A study investigated the experiences of 14 people with visual impairments in attempting to exercise their civil rights to equal access to print. Results found they experienced long waits for large-print accommodations, negative reactions to requests, a lack of quality in the materials, and misinformation about accommodations. (Contains 13…

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Division of Special Education (DSE), per Section 162.1136 RSMo, conducts an annual study of the educational status of eligible blind/visually impaired students and reports the findings to the Missouri Legislature on December 1st each year. The information contained in this report…

Designed for use as supplemental reading, this book provides high interest reading material for beginning adult readers in rural areas of Tennessee. The book is printed in large type for readers with vision problems. Where appropriate, stories are written in a modified vernacular form. The book may be made more pertinent to geographic areas other…

An instrument used to assist teachers in the prescription of appropriate print size for the partially sighted student, the Teacher's Evaluation for Low Vision Needs, was field-tested for reliability with 54 legally blind and partially sighted students (7-14 years old) who used large print books. (Author/DLS)

Bibliographic essay presents citations to recent books and articles dealing with problems of providing library services to the disabled, particularly the visually impaired, and to sources that describe technological equipment in detail. Ways to identify libraries that use the equipment to obtain evaluative information are suggested. Twenty-two…

The use and applications of new technologies in the education of the visually impaired have made substantial strides forward in recent years. New technology allows the visually impaired to enjoy better access to information, to read for themselves and, by extension, to improve their learning literacy. Nevertheless, despite the advances made in…

The public library is uniquely situated to meet the information needs of older adults and can also assist them in both finding ways to make their lives meaningful and staying in the mainstream. This study involved a mail survey of the public libraries of Ohio regarding their services for adults aged 65 and over. One hundred and eighty-four…

This annotated bibliography describes braille and recorded books presenting African-American personalities and concerns in fiction and nonfiction. Approximately 480 items are indexed. The bibliography is divided between recorded and braille titles and by fiction and nonfiction. There are separate sections for juvenile titles reflecting these…

Directed towards library staff members involved in public education, this manual provides guidelines for making community members aware of talking books and braille materials provided by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Guidelines are presented in three categories: (1) media relations, (2) preparing materials,…

FOUNDED IN 1858, THE AMERICAN PRINTING HOUSE (APH) FOR THE BLIND IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST PUBLISHER OF LITERATURE FOR THE BLIND. IN 1965-66 THE OPERATING BUDGET EXCEEDED $3 MILLION, AND THERE WERE 440 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES. A HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF APH INCLUDES CONTROVERSY RESULTING IN THE FINAL CHOICE OF…

Six fourth-graders with low vision were asked to read unrelated words and continuous text ranging in print size. Participants read faster when they read text aloud than when they read nonrelated words. Their reading speeds decreased as the print sizes decreased. Methods to maximize reading efficiency are discussed. (Contains references.) (CR)

A project was developed which successfully taught individuals with visual impairments to read commercial large-print books, with either their own reading spectacles or with lower levels of magnification than usually prescribed. Over the course of the project, print sizes were systematically reduced and healthy reading habits were re-taught. (JDD)

Examines the areas of visual and physical efficiency that are important to reading and writing braille or large print and conditions and modifications that may be used to make the selected media effective for individuals who have both visual and physical impairments. (Author/DB)

This study compared performance of 181 students with learning disabilities (LD) and 184 students without LD on tests under four conditions (standard, extended time, large print, students reading aloud). Students with LD profited differentially from reading aloud but not from extended time or large print. The assessment based on data predicted…