Originally published in 1983, the papers in this volume were first presented at an international symposium "The Development of Language and Communication in the Blind Child" held in 1981 in Germany. The topic although specialized, had importance within several disciplines. Contributions came from the fields of education and medicine as well as psychology and linguistics. In bringing these researchers together the aim was not only to pool results but to encourage inter-disciplinary cooperation, thus giving work in this area a broader and sounder theoretical basis.

Today it can be read in its historical context.