The Response of Individuals Beginning Work with Blind Persons

A three-year interview-survey program conducted at Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind, Little Rock, in which 90 interns were questioned about their reactions to working with blind persons for the first time. Those who had had previous contacts or who themselves had a severe visual handicap experienced no unusual reactions. Those who had had no such contacts, however, experienced depression, frustration, fear, sorrow, pity, revulsion, guilt, and resentment, both intensely for a short period and less so for an extended time. It was found that forewarning new workers of the possibility of such reactions is helpful. Individual and group counseling was also beneficial.