Youth Categorized as Visually Impaired, Statistical Almanac, Volume 6. The National Longitudinal Transition Study of Special Education Students

This volume of the National Longitudinal Transition Study of Special Education Students (NLTS) offers statistical data relating to 875 students with visual impairments (ages 13-21). The study design involved a survey of parents/guardians, examination of school records, and a survey of school programs. The 43 tables describe: youths' individual and household characteristics (demographic characteristics, self-care skills, functional skills, assistive devices, parental expectations for futures of youth); characteristics of students' school and educational programs (enrollment, staffing, policies, coordination, transition planning, educational placements, course-taking); programs available (vocational education, vocational assessment/counseling, work adjustment training); services received (vocational services, counseling, occupational therapy, tutors, readers, interpreters, speech/language therapy, physical assistance, transportation assistance); and youth outcomes (educational achievements, school completion, independence, social experiences, postsecondary education, employment). The tables present data by type of community, gender, age, school status, household income, ethnicity, and head of household education. The volume also outlines the purposes of the study, procedures used to collect information, the sample of youth surveyed, statistical weighting procedures, the generalizability of study results, and caveats to data users. Appendices provide information on interpreting variables and present data tables relating to specific subgroups. Includes two references. (JDD)