Critical Concerns in Blindness Book Series | Research Reports | Braille Bibliography | O&M Bibliography
Research Reports
The Institute on Blindness continues to demonstrate our commitment to research to provide in-depth knowledge to the field of education and rehabilitation of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Below is a selection of completed projects that have been done by or for the Institute on Blindness.
Development of Client Outcome Measure For Examining Training Effectiveness
Aditya, Ram N. National Orientation and Mobility Certification Study. "Development of Client Outcome Measure for Examining Training Effectiveness." Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA.
This report, prepared by the principal investigator, documents a series of studies undertaken at International University under subcontract to the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness at Louisiana Tech University. These studies form part of a long-term project to evaluate the effectiveness of an approach to O&M training developed as an alternative to the conventional training practices that have evolved under the direction of professional associations in the blindness rehabilitation field over the last several decades.
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Touch and Learn: A Study of Visually Impaired Children and Tactile Graphics
Bell, E. & Ryles, R. "TOUCH AND LEARN: A study of visually impaired children and tactile graphics." National Braille Press; Creative Adaptations for Learning; and Professional Development & Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University, 2007.
In an effort to learn more about children's capabilities and interest in tactile graphics, National Braille Press (NBP) and Creative Adaptations for Learning (CAL-tac™) in collaboration with Louisiana Tech's Institute on Blindness conducted a study of 73 visually impaired children. NBP provided parents of children in the project with TOUCH and LEARN TACTILE ACTIVITY BOOK, an interactive tactile activity book developed by CAL-tac™. The children's tactile activity book consisted of thermoformed pages containing a variety of tactile representations. Parents were provided with a wide variety of activities and suggestions designed to make their child's exploration of the workbook's 22 tactile graphics an enjoyable, informative experience. Parents were asked to complete questions for each of the graphics, post-activity surveys and basic demographic information. This is the research report.
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Factors that Contribute to the Success of Blind Adults
Goodwyn, M., Bell, E. C., & Singletary, C. (2009). Factors that Contribute to the Success of Blind Adults. Research Report of the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness. Louisiana Tech University, Ruston.
Two focus groups comprised of successful blind adults were convened to define "success" and to identify factors that contributed to their own successes. Seven aspects of “successful” and 13 factors that supported their becoming successful were identified, and these constitute a sound basis for future training and rehabilitation efforts.
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Measuring Attitudes about Blindness: The Social Responsibility about Blindness Scale
Bell, E. C. (2010). Measuring Attitudes about Blindness: The Social Responsibility about Blindness Scale. Research Report of the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston.
This study reports on the development and initial testing of a scale to measure attitudes about blindness. The instrument was tested on 67 legally blind youth who participated in a mentoring program between September 2007 and September 2008. Instrument development and psychometric testing are reported. Results provide support for the scale and the relationship between positive attitudes and hope.
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