Sighted Children's Perceptions of Blind Children's Abilities

L iterature on adjustment of the blind suggests that a devaluation of the abilities of the blind by sighted persons is responsible for some of the adjustment problems faced by the blind (Barnett, 1951; Chevigny & Braverman, 1950; Cutsforth, 1951; AFB, 1951; Himes, 1950). To the extent that sighted persons' perceptions of the abilities of the blind are accurate, it is unrealistic to hope to change them; however, an underestimate of the actual capabilities of the blind is said to underlie the devaluation. The recent expansion of public school education of blind children, whereby sighted children have personal experience with blind children, offers an opportuniry to test the effects of increased knowledge on sighted children's perceptions of the abilities of the blind.