Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with having proficient braille skill, with a specific interest in employment status. Method: Survey data were collected in 2021 and 2022 from 449 employed and unemployed people with low vision and people who are blind, all of whom were legally blind. Proficient braille skill was the dependent variable in two logistic regression models (full sample model and totally blind-only model), which included age category, age of blindness onset, sex, education level, non-visual disability, level of vision loss, assistive technology (AT) skill level, and employment status as independent variables. Results: We found that people who (a) experienced visual impairment at a younger age, (b) were blind or had less functional vision, (c) were younger, (d) were female, (e) had higher self-reported AT skill, and (f) were employed were more likely to have proficient braille skills. Discussion: Multiple variables were related to proficient braille skill, some anticipated based on previous research (younger age of blindness onset, less functional vision, and employment), and some unexpected (younger age, being female, and greater AT skill). Although employment had a small association with proficient braille skill for the entire sample, it had a stronger association for people who are totally blind. Higher rates of proficient braille skills among people between the ages of 21 to 30 years may be a consequence of laws passed in the 1990s. Implications: With easy access to braille in the form of refreshable braille technology, it is more important than ever that people with visual impairments of all ages have the opportunity to learn braille. Additional resources for learning braille, as well as support and encouragement to learn braille are needed, particularly for youths and adults who acquire vision loss.

Introduction: Writing in braille and utilizing writing skills are challenging for students with visual impairments. These students may encounter specific challenges and make errors in their braille writing. This research aims to examine errors in braille writing made by eighth-grade students with visual impairments. Methods: This study employed a descriptive research design using a survey design. The data collection instrument used was the Braille Writing Errors Assessment Tool. Statistical analyses, including the Mann-Whitney U test, were employed to investigate potential differences in braille writing errors based on variables such as writing tool, the age onset of visual impairment, and school type. The correlation between the number of errors, the amount of time spent writing, and the number of words was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation method. Results: The findings revealed various errors made by the students, with the error category of “inappropriate use of symbols” exhibiting the highest mean. In contrast, the “fabricated contracted braille” error category had the lowest mean. Additionally, “errors related to spacing” was found to have the highest mean, while “word level” had the lowest mean. The results indicated that errors in braille writing differed significantly based on the writing tool and school type but did not vary substantially by the age of onset of visual impairment. Discussion: Based on the findings, students with visual impairments encountered various writing errors. These findings align with similar research results, indicating that the obtained outcomes align with existing scholarly evidence. Implications for Practitioners: Future research could include a more extensive and diverse sample, encompassing students from different grade levels, to enhance the study. Longitudinal studies could be conducted to examine the longitudinal development of braille literacy skills among students with visual impairments, considering factors like class level and age and their potential effect on braille proficiency.

Introduction: People with visual impairments face a multitude of orientation and mobility (O&M) challenges in various aspects of their daily lives, and their quality of life is significantly affected. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the O&M experiences faced by individuals who are visually impaired in Romania, evaluate their use of assistive technology, assess environmental barriers, and propose potential interventions. Method: This study consisted of a cross-sectional, online, self-administered survey conducted between January and March 2023; with a convenience sample of 199 Romanian individuals with visual impairments; and focused on sociodemographic data, visual impairment status, ophthalmologic diagnosis, and O&M. Results: The mean age of the 199 participants was 39.17 years (SD = 12.58, range 18–78). Only 20% of participants declared that their income completely covered their needs. More than half of the participants (66.6%) received their ophthalmological diagnosis at birth. Almost 70% of participants mentioned leaving the house daily or almost daily. Yet, 22.8% of them reported asking for someone else's help every time they left the house. When leaving their home, participants reported using mobile telephones with specific technologies (60.3%), a white cane (58.3%), a human companion (11.1%), or a guide dog (4%) for navigation purposes. Many of the participants had concerns about their safety when leaving their homes, especially due to fear of getting injured or assaulted. Discussion: Our study contributes to the limited research done on understanding the O&M experiences of Romanian individuals who are visually impaired. Implications for Practitioners: The study emphasizes the need for O&M training for visually impaired individuals and the integration of assistive technologies alongside conventional mobility devices, which is hypothesized to enhance their independence and navigation, particularly in urban areas, and promote safer and more effective mobility.

Introduction: Vision impairment is a common health problem among older people that can affect many aspects of quality of life; several factors contribute to these effects. This study set out to assess the quality of life of visually impaired older people in the Marrakech-Safi region and to identify the factors that influence it. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between September 2021 and November 2022 among 290 visually impaired persons aged 60 years and over who consulted with ophthalmology services in the Marrakech-Safi region. The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 was employed to evaluate quality of life. Clinical and ophthalmic data were taken from medical records. Sociodemographic data was obtained through participant questioning. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 25 software. Results: The analysis found that older adults with visual impairments have a low quality of life; the more this deficit worsens, the lower the quality of life. Multiple regression presented that the main factors independently associated with quality of life of these people were age 70 years and over (RC = -5.09 ± 2.16; p = .019), female gender (RC = -5.34 ± 2.36; p = .025), low level of education (RC = 4.05 ± 1.80; p = .025), cardiovascular disease (RC = 9.34 ± 4.61; p = .044) and hearing impairment (RC = 6.56 ± 2.16; p = .003). Discussion: Older adults with visual impairments have a low quality of life, which is influenced by several factors such as advanced age, female gender, lower education level, and the presence of other co-morbidities such as cardiovascular diseases and hearing deficits. Implications for Practitioners: It is very important to take care of older adults with visual deficits while considering these factors, in order to preserve their quality of life at an advanced age and enable successful aging.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the 13-item Participation Scale Short (PSS). Methods: After the translation of the PSS into Turkish, a total of 73 visually impaired participants were interviewed face-to-face to complete the PSS and the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ) concurrently. Two weeks later, 31 participants were re-interviewed to complete a secondary session of the PSS. Factor structure was examined by principal component analysis (PCA). Cronbach's alpha was used for internal consistency, intra-class coefficient (ICC) was used for test-retest reliability, Spearman's correlation coefficient between PSS and CIQ was used to examine convergent validity, the average inter-item correlation for discriminant validity, and floor and ceiling effects were used to examine the distribution of scores. Results: PCA showed a three-factor structure with an explained variance ratio of 57.1%. The internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.832), test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.97), convergent validity (ρ = −0.84), and discriminant validity (average inter-item correlation = 0.32) of the scale were good according to predefined criteria in line with the literature without any floor or ceiling effect. Discussion: The Turkish version of the PSS is a valid and reliable scale to assess the participation of visually impaired individuals in society. Implications for Practitioners: Participation of visually impaired individuals in daily life was assessed using the Turkish version of the 13-item PSS.