Employment Concerns of People with Blindness or Visual Impairments

1992 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.E. Wolffe ◽  
R.T. Roessler ◽  
K.F. Schriner
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Search Strategies ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
American Council ◽  
Career Opportunities ◽  
Employment Concerns

Seventy-six consumer members of the American Council of the Blind with primary disabilities of blindness or visual impairment responded to an Employment Concerns Questionnaire which was developed by consumers, advocates, and service providers. Respondents’ concerns included their not receiving adequate help in developing job search strategies, in obtaining information on career opportunities, and in financing assistive devices.

scholarly journals Tactile-Foot Stimulation Can Assist the Navigation of People with Visual Impairment

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramiro Velázquez ◽  
Edwige Pissaloux ◽  
Aimé Lay-Ekuakille
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Tactile Stimulation ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Tactile Information ◽  
Human Navigation ◽  
Plantar Surface ◽  
The Third ◽  
Tactile Interfaces ◽  
Technological Improvements

Background.Tactile interfaces that stimulate the plantar surface with vibrations could represent a step forward toward the development of wearable, inconspicuous, unobtrusive, and inexpensive assistive devices for people with visual impairments.Objective.To study how people understand information through their feet and to maximize the capabilities of tactile-foot perception for assisting human navigation.Methods.Based on the physiology of the plantar surface, three prototypes of electronic tactile interfaces for the foot have been developed. With important technological improvements between them, all three prototypes essentially consist of a set of vibrating actuators embedded in a foam shoe-insole. Perceptual experiments involving direction recognition and real-time navigation in space were conducted with a total of 60 voluntary subjects.Results.The developed prototypes demonstrated that they are capable of transmitting tactile information that is easy and fast to understand. Average direction recognition rates were 76%, 88.3%, and 94.2% for subjects wearing the first, second, and third prototype, respectively. Exhibiting significant advances in tactile-foot stimulation, the third prototype was evaluated in navigation tasks. Results show that subjects were capable of following directional instructions useful for navigating spaces.Conclusion.Footwear providing tactile stimulation can be considered for assisting the navigation of people with visual impairments.

Participant Experiences in an Employment Mentoring Program for College Students with Visual Impairments

2018 ◽  
Vol 112 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-286
Author(s):  
Karla Antonelli ◽  
Jamie O'Mally ◽  
Anne Steverson
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Job Search ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Career Guidance ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Mentoring Programs ◽  
Mentoring Program ◽  
Legal Blindness

Introduction Mentors can help college graduates with visual impairments (that is, those with blindness or low vision) prepare for and seek employment in their chosen fields by serving as role models and sharing their experiences with mentees. Identifying mentoring activities and discussions most valued by mentees with visual impairments will facilitate the design of future mentoring programs. Methods A nationwide mentoring program for college students with legal blindness was implemented using an experimental longitudinal research design. Career mentors with legal blindness worked with mentees to develop knowledge and skills related to securing employment. Data included engagement in job-seeking activities, most helpful aspects of the mentoring relationship, and a participant evaluation of the program. Results Most mentees indicated that program activities and discussions related to visual impairment (for instance, disclosure and accommodation planning) and field-specific issues (such as career exploration and professional development) were of greatest value. Participants evaluated the program positively. Discussion Mentees valued knowledge, support, encouragement, and career guidance provided by mentors. Mentors valued the opportunity to contribute to the growth of young professionals with visual impairments. Implications for practitioners Students with visual impairments find value in specific aspects of mentoring relationships, and mentors are eager to work with students seeking employment. Topics and activities for future mentoring programs should include disclosure, accommodations, blindness skills, and job-search skills. Level of visual impairment and the career field should both be considered when pairing mentors with students with visual impairments preparing for employment.

Contribution of Leisure Activities to Health Perception, Life Satisfaction, and Self-Esteem among Korean Individuals with Visual Impairments

2020 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-164
Author(s):  
Junhyoung Kim ◽  
Areum Han ◽  
Jan S. Hodges ◽  
May Kim
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Social Activity ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Health Perception ◽  
Religious Activity

Introduction: We determined the types of leisure activities that affect health perception, life satisfaction, and self-esteem among Korean individuals with mild and severe visual impairments (i.e., those who have low vision or are blind). Methods: Using the 2015 Korean national census data, 429 individuals were selected and classified into two groups based on visual impairment level: severe and mild. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance was used to compare each group difference, followed by univariate analyses. Results: Participants with mild visual impairment reported social activity was the highest mean scores on health perception ( M = 2.70, SD = 0.56) and life satisfaction ( M = 3.54, SD = 0.37), and religious activity was the highest mean score on self-esteem ( M = 2.79, SD = 0.52). Computer or Internet use was the second-highest score on health perception ( M = 2.59, SD = 0.51), religious activity was the second-highest on life satisfaction ( M = 3.33, SD = 0.46), and social activity was the second-highest on self-esteem ( M = 2.77, SD = 0.61). Among participants with severe visual impairment, computer or Internet use showed the highest mean scores on health perception ( M = 2.86, SD = 0.38) and self-esteem ( M = 2.64, SD = 0.50), while social activity had the highest mean score on life satisfaction ( M = 3.37, SD = 0.42). Discussion: Social and religious activity promoted health perception, life satisfaction, and self-esteem among participants with mild visual impairments. Social activity and computer or Internet use contributed to health perception, life satisfaction, and self-esteem among participants with severe visual impairments. Implications for practitioners: Leisure service providers and recreational therapists can support socialization and the building of friendships by individuals with visual impairments by designing and implementing social activities. Marketing and information dissemination using the Internet could aid access to necessary information among such individuals. Employing online social communities for social networking, information access, and education will contribute to their health and life satisfaction.

The Association Between Presenting Visual Impairment, Health, and Employment Status

2021 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 204-214
Author(s):  
Michele C. McDonnall ◽  
Zhen S. McKnight
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Labor Force ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Health And Nutrition ◽  
Labor Force Status ◽  
The People ◽  
Self Reports ◽  
Study Participants

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of visual impairment and correctable visual impairment (i.e., uncorrected refractive errors) on being out of the labor force and on unemployment. The effect of health on labor force status was also investigated. Method: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 1999 to 2008 ( N = 15,650) was used for this study. Participants were classified into three vision status groups: normal, correctable visual impairment, and visual impairment. Statistical analyses utilized were chi-square and logistic regression. Results: Having a visual impairment was significantly associated with being out of the labor force, while having a correctable visual impairment was not. Conversely, having a correctable visual impairment was associated with unemployment, while having a visual impairment was not. Being out of the labor force was not significantly associated with health for those with a visual impairment, although it was for those with correctable visual impairments and normal vision. Discussion: Given previous research, it was surprising to find that health was not associated with being out of the labor force for those with visual impairments. Perhaps other disadvantages for the people with visual impairments identified in this study contributed to their higher out-of-the-labor-force rates regardless of health. Implications for practitioners: Researchers utilizing national data sets that rely on self-reports to identify visual impairments should realize that some of those who self-identify as being visually impaired may actually have correctable visual impairments. Current research is needed to understand why a majority of people with visual impairments are not seeking employment and have removed themselves from the labor force.

Using Labels: A Study of Client Preference

1990 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 218-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Abaglo ◽  
J. Downing
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Handicapped Person ◽  
Significant Preference ◽  
Client Preference ◽  
Adolescents And Adults ◽  
Visually Handicapped

Fifty-one adolescents and adults with a variety of visual impairments were interviewed to determine their preference for different labels used to describe them. Participants were asked to choose among labels that state the disability before the person (“the visually handicapped person”) and labels that state the person before the disability (“the person with a visual impairment”). Results showed no statistically significant preference. Reasons provided by participants for their preference were characterized and presented thematically. The importance of stressing abilities and needs to be treated as normal were the most common reasons given by the participants for their selections. Participants who chose the person-first labels cited these reasons more often than those who chose the disability-first labels.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of an emotional support and counselling service for people with visual impairments

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Hodge ◽  
Wally Barr ◽  
Louise Bowen ◽  
Martina Leeven ◽  
Paul Knox
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Support ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Low Vision ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Social Changes ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Mixed Methods Evaluation

There is growing evidence of the need for services to address the emotional support needs of people with visual impairments. This article presents findings from a mixed methods evaluation of an emotional support and counselling (ESaC) service delivered within an integrated low vision service, focusing primarily on the qualitative findings. Data collected using a standardised measure of psychological well-being (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation–Outcome Measure; CORE-OM) show an improvement in the psychological well-being of clients of the service between baseline and follow-up assessment. Qualitative findings from interviews with service users and service providers help to illustrate and explain the experiences underlying the quantitative findings. The ESaC services are shown to be helpful to service users in two particular ways: helping them to normalise their experiences by talking to an impartial listener and helping them to accept and adapt to the physical, emotional and social changes in their lives resulting from their visual impairment.

Job-Search Activities, Job-Seeking Barriers, and Work Experiences of Transition-Age Youths With Visual Impairments

2021 ◽  
pp. 0145482X2110591
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Cmar ◽  
Anne Steverson
Keyword(s):  
Job Search ◽  
Parental Support ◽  
Visual Impairments ◽  
Work Experiences ◽  
Job Seekers ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Work Activity ◽  
Transition Age ◽  
Work Activities ◽  
Job Seeking

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to describe the job-seeking and work experiences of transition-age youths with visual impairments. Methods: We analyzed follow-up data from a quasi-experimental study of a job-search intervention conducted from 2016 to 2019. Participants were 88 youths with visual impairments from three states; approximately half received the job-search intervention, and the other half served as a comparison group. Measures included job-search activities and outcomes, job-seeking barriers, volunteer and work experiences, and parental support for job-seeking. Results: Commonly reported job-search activities were preparing or revising resumes, talking to people about jobs, submitting applications, and submitting resumes, but most participants performed these activities infrequently. Many job-seekers encountered barriers during their job search, and few searches resulted in paid employment. Participants generally reported moderate levels of preparation to handle job-seeking barriers and parental support for job-seeking. Intervention and comparison participants had similar results on most measures, with few exceptions. Discussion: When youths actively search for a job but do not find one, their motivation to continue job-seeking may be reduced, particularly if their preparedness to overcome job-seeking barriers is low. Although many participants had some engagement in volunteer or work activities, short-term work experiences were the most common—and perhaps most misunderstood—work activity. Implications for practitioners: Youths with visual impairments may benefit from feedback on their job-seeking approach, application materials, and interview skills so they can make changes and determine how to focus or refocus their efforts. In addition to offering feedback, service providers can provide ongoing support to youth job-seekers and encourage them to persist in their job search. Explicit discussions about different types of work activities may help transition-age youths understand how short-term work experiences differ from paid jobs.

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