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Exploring the effects of group therapy for the visually impaired
- Authors:
- NAYLOR Paige D., LABBE Elise E
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 35(1), 2017, pp.18-28.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Individuals with visual impairments may experience varying levels of stress due to their vision loss. This study investigated the effectiveness of a brief stress management group therapy intervention for visually impaired individuals. The measure for evaluating participants’ stress levels was the Calgary Symptoms of Stress Inventory (C-SOSI), and overall well-being was measured via the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS). The study evaluated 36 participants, all experiencing varying levels of vision loss, recruited from a regional vision rehabilitation centre. Approximately half of the participants were men (16) and half were women (20). The mean age of participants was 48.2 years (standard deviation [SD] = 12.9 years). This was a predominately African American sample (72%). The C-SOSI was administered before and after participation in an 8-week stress management group. The ORS was administered at every session. Well-being was significantly increased during the first round of the intervention (p = .02). No statistically significant decreases for stress during the first round of the intervention were observed. Those that enrolled in the intervention for a second round of treatment had a significant decrease for stress (p = .001), but not for well-being. Overall, hypotheses were partially supported. Stress scores decreased during both rounds of the intervention; a significant reduction in stress scores was found for those individuals in the second round of the intervention. Well-being also increased during both rounds of the intervention; a significant increase was found only for the first round of the intervention. These results may suggest that individuals need approximately 16 weeks of the intervention to experience significant reductions in their stress levels. The results and implications of the current treatment protocol are discussed. (Edited publisher abstract)
Habilitation provision for children and young people with vision impairment in the United Kingdom: a lack of clarity leading to inconsistencies
- Author:
- HOGG Kat
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 35(1), 2017, pp.44-54.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The key to empowering and supporting children and young people (CYP) with vision impairment (VI) to achieve their potential lies in the delivery of habilitation training. Evidence has revealed that provision of habilitation services across the United Kingdom was inconsistent, with CYP with VI not receiving services in some areas. This research explored the accessibility and quality of habilitation provision for CYP with VI via two studies: (1) 12 qualitative case studies of habilitation practice and (2) surveys of habilitation training experiences, with CYP with VI (n = 43) and with parents of CYP with VI (n = 68). Five themes were identified highlighting inconsistencies and variability in the delivery of habilitation training in recent years, a lack of focus on independent living skills training, on social inclusion and emotional well-being, a lack of support for parents and a lack of clarity with regard to the definition of habilitation, and who is responsible for providing training. (Publisher abstract)
“Kids like me, we go lightly on the head”: experiences of children with a visual impairment on the physical self-concept
- Authors:
- DE SCHIPPER Tessa, LIEBERMAN Lauren J., MOODY Brigitte
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 35(1), 2017, pp.55-68.
- Publisher:
- Sage
There has been limited research published investigating the experiences of the children with a visual impairment in physical activity and sports. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of children with a visual impairment on their physical self-concept (PSC). A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was employed to investigate the experiences of children with a visual impairment. Qualitative interviews were conducted with six children between 10 and 12 years, followed by a thematic content analysis. Within the framework of the PSC, four themes emerged: (1) adaptations, (2) friends, (3) bullying, and (4) eyes and glasses. Findings suggest that children with a visual impairment despite the occurrence of bullying or lack of adaptations in sports of physical activity are satisfied with their physical self and global self-esteem. (Publisher abstract)
Social-emotional competences in very young visually impaired children
- Authors:
- LANG Markus, HINTERMAIR Manfred, SARIMSKI Klaus
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Visual Impairment, 35(1), 2017, pp.29-43.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Social-emotional competences are an important developmental domain for children with a visual impairment (VI). Therefore, early diagnosis in this regard is needed to ensure that VI children receive appropriate support. In this study, the authors used two preliminary German versions of the Infant–Toddler Social Emotional Assessment (ITSEA) and the Social-Emotional Assessment/Evaluation Measure (SEAM) to assess social-emotional competences in 92 VI infants and toddlers aged 12–36 months. The results indicate that both instruments provide valid, reliable data and are suitable for use in practice. The results still reveal that understanding the emotions of other persons, paying attention to things around them and engaging with their environment, in addition to relating to other peers, seem to be the most important challenges for early intervention in VI toddlers. An additional disability is yet another condition that poses a specific challenge for VI education. The data also corroborate well-known findings from other research on the education of children with different conditions; in particular, the role of parental responsivity for the development of social-emotional competences is confirmed. Overall, the results suggest that the two instruments employed provide important information for educational practice, but further research is needed to demonstrate their full value. (Edited publisher abstract)