Existing adaptive devices do not give blind persons full access to today's word processors or the personal computers (PCs) replacing them. Therefore, a study examined information concerning the technological and training imperatives that must be addressed in order to allow blind individuals complete access to the field of word processing. Because word processing systems are highly proprietary, it is not prudent to develop adaptive devices for specific, dedicated word processors. Rather, efforts should be concentrated on developing adaptive devices to be attached to PCs capable of running applications programs that can generate sharable files. Hardware and supporting software must be developed to facilitate sharing of files along the following avenues: across phone lines, between different operating systems, between different applications programs, and between systems in which both the operating systems and applications programs differ. At present, only a handful of rehabilitation agencies across the country are training blind people to use the types of hardware for which file sharing is available. Blind persons must receive more and better training in the areas of using adaptive aids sharing files; should be given the opportunity to gain proficiency on a given device prior to employment; and, once on the job, should be allowed to perform more than one task, not just word processing. (MN)