Development of Reaching in Blind Children: Continued Discussion

Reaching is a key accomplishment in the early motor and cognitive development of blind children. The emergence of reaching in the behavior of a blind child indicates their understanding of object permanence. The research analyses the viewpoints of researchers who participated in the debate on the causes of delayed development of reaching in blind children, which was sparked by Selma Fraiberg’s 1977 study. There is a hypothesis formulated and tested through empirical research: developed communication between the child and the mother and specific adult behavior are necessary conditions for the emergence of reaching in blind children.