A Profile of Teacher Educators and the Future of Their Personnel Preparation Programs for Serving Visually Handicapped Children and Youth

Abstract

A survey of current existing university programs in 1987–1988 that prepare personnel to serve visually handicapped children and youth was sent to all known programs in the mainland United States. Thirty-eight full-time faculty members from 27 universities in 16 states responded to the questionnaire. Data revealed that the future of these programs is at risk, resulting in a shortage of appropriately prepared teachers. Implications are discussed in terms of the current national shortage of teachers of the visually handicapped, the tenuous support for teacher education programs, current levels of funding, and a variety of other factors.