Enhancing Self-Concept in Students with Visual Handicaps

The global perception that a person with a visual impairment has a “low” self-concept because of the inability to see and to form visual concepts is not altogether supported by research. In many instances, self-concept research on the blind population has proceeded from vague definitions of the construct, with instruments that lack specificity in scoring and interpreting results. The authors report a recent study in which the Student's Self-Assessment Inventory: Visually Impaired Form was used. Results demonstrate the area-specific nature of self-concept in the visually impaired student. This finding provides guidelines for classroom personnel to develop individualized education programs (IEPs) to enhance self-concepts for such students.