Practical skills of persons with vision impairment
Abstract
Background/Aim. The acquisition of practical skills (PS), as well as adaptive behavior (AB) in general, is affected by an array of personal and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to determine the level of acquisition of practical adaptive skills (PAS) among adults with vision impairment (VI), in comparison to the norms among the general population and with regard to the vision status (low vision and blindness), age of vision loss onset, gender, age, living arrangements, education, and employment status. Methods. Seventy-nine (62.2%) participants who were blind and forty-eight (37.8%) participants with low vision and typical intellectual abilities voluntarily took part in the study. The respondents were aged from 19 to 60 years, with a mean age of 36.1 ± 11.8 years. PAS were assessed using the PS domain which is part of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II – ABAS II. Results. The scores achieved in the skill areas of the PS domain range from extremely low to average. Extremely low scores were detected in the Work skill area, while for the skill areas of Community use, Home living, and Health and safety, the scores were below average, and average scores were noted in the Self-care skill area. The degree of PS acquisition among participants with VI depended primarily on the vision status, but a significant connection with living arrangements and employment status was also established. Conclusion. Persons with VI showed significant limitations in the area of PS, which indicates the need for support programs designed to foster the development of self-reliance.
References
1. Haegele JA, Brian AS, Lieberman LJ. Social cognitive theory determinants of physical activity in adults with visual impairments. J Dev Phys Disabil 2017; 29(6): 911-23.
2. Vučinić V, Gligorović M, Anđelković M. Leisure in persons with vision impairment. Res Dev Disabil 2020; 102.
3. Christodoulou P, Fotiado E, Soulis SG, Christopoulos K, Christopoulou F, Christopoulou E. Relationship of motor development to adaptive behavior of children and adolescents with visual impairment. Eur J Spec Needs Educ 2019; 4(4): 115-31.
4. Gold D, Shaw A, Wolffe K. The status of Canadian youth who are blind or visually impaired: A study of lifestyles, quality of life and employment. Int Congr Ser 2005; 1282: 1148-52.
5. Papadopoulos K, Metsiou K, Agaliotis I. Adaptive behavior of children and adolescents with visual impairments. Res Dev Disabil 2011; 32(3): 1086-96.
6. Runjić T, Novak Lau, K, Vatavuk Z. Effect of different visual impairment levels on the quality of life in glaucoma patients. Acta Clin. Croat. 2018; 57(2): 243-9.
7. Khorrami-Nejad M, Sarabandi A, Akbari MR, Askarizadeh F. The impact of visual impairment on quality of life. Med. Hypothesis Discov Innov 2016; 5(3): 96-103.
8. Gligorović M, Buha N. Conceptual abilities of children with mild intellectual disability: Analysis of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance. J Intellect Dev Disabil 2013; 38(2): 134-40.
9. Oakland T, Iliescu D, Chen HY, Chen JH. Cross-National assessment of adaptive behavior in three countries. J Psychoeduc Assess 2013; 31(5): 435-47.
10. Tan M, Reich J, Hart L, Thuma PE, Grigorenko EL. Examining the specific effects of context on adaptive behavior and achievement in a rural African community: Six case studies from rural areas of Southern Province, Zambia. J Autism Dev Disord 2014; 44(2): 271-82.
11. Stanimirov K, Jablan B, Mijatović L, Grbović A. Objective indicators of quality of life in people with different visual status. Spec Edukac Rehabil 2022; 21(2): 89-102.
12. Grbović A, Stanimirov K. Social participation of visually impaired adults – access to leisure activities. 7th ICEVI Balkan conference Free access, real educational inclusion and unlimited technology, Oct. 20-23 2020, Sofia, Bulgaria; 2020. p. 51-9
13. Elsman EBM, van Rens, GHMB, van Nispen RMA. Quality of life and participation of young adults with a visual impairment aged 18–25 years: comparison with population norms. Acta Ophthalmol. 2019; 97(2): 165-172.
14. Binns AM, Bunce C, Dickinson C, Harper R, Tudor-Edwards R, Woodhouse M, et al. How effective is low vision service provision? A systematic review. Surv Ophthalmol 2012; 57(1): 34-65.
15. Berger S. Is my world getting smaller? The challenges of living with vision loss. J Vis Impair Blind 2012; 106(1): 5–16.
16. Silva-Smith AL, Theune TW, Spaid PE. Primary support persons for individuals who are visually impaired: Who they are and the support they provide. J Vis Impair Blind 2007; 101(2): 113-8.
17. Lamoureux EL, Pallant JF, Pesudovs K, Tennant A, Rees G, O’Connor PM, et al. Assessing participation in daily living and the effectiveness of rehabiliation in age related macular degeneration patients using the impact of vision impairment scale. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2008; 15(2): 105-13.
18. Langelaan M, de Boer MR, van Nispen RM, Wouters B, Moll AC, van Rens GH. Impact of visual impairment on quality of life: A comparison with quality of life in the general population and with other chronic conditions. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2007; 14 (3): 119-26.
19. Saarela KMM, Jämsä U, Falck A, Kyngäs H, Siira HJ. The functional ability of older adults with visual impairments: A 2-year follow-up study. Br J Vis Impair 2022; 40(2): 405-22.
20. Montarzino A, Robertson B, Aspinall P, Ambrecht A, Findlay C, Hine J, et al. The impact of mobility and public transport on the independence of visually impaired people. Vis Impair Res 2007; 9(2–3): 67-82.
21. Anđelković M. Adaptive behavior of children with visual impairment. Spec Edukac Rehabil 2014; 13(4): 397–413.
22. Balboni G, Tasso A, Muratori F, Cubelli R. The Vineland-II in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders: An item content category analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2016; 46(1): 42-52.
23. World Health Organization. International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision (ICD-10). Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016.
24. Harrison P, Oakland T. Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-II). San Antonio, TX: Psychol 2003.
25. Greenaway R, Pring L, Schepers A, Isaacs DP, Dale NJ. Neuropsychological presentation and adaptive skills in high-functioning adolescents with visual impairment: A preliminary investigation. Appl Neuropsychol Child 2017; 6(2): 145-57.
26. Jones N, Bartlett HE, Cooke R. An analysis of the impact of visual impairment on activities of daily living and vision-related quality of life in a visually impaired adult population. Br J Vis Impair 2019; 37(1): 50-63.
27. Robinson BL, Lieberman LJ. Effects of visual impairment, gender, and age on self-determination. J Vis Impair Blind 2004; 98(6): 351-66.
28. Gallagher BAM, Hart PM, O’Brien C, Stevenson MR, Jackson AJ. Mobility and access to transport issues as experienced by people with vision impairment living in urban and rural Ireland. Disabil Rehabil 2011; 33(12): 979-88.
29. Bell EC, Mino NM. Blind and visually impaired adult rehabilitation and employment survey: Final results. J Blind Innov Res 2013; 3(1): 1–35.
30. Žuvela BS. Individual and contextual factors related to the employment of blind and visually impaired persons [dissertation]. Belgrade: University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy; 2013. (Serbian)
31. Douglas G, Pavey S, Corcoran C, Clements B. Evaluating the use of the ICF as a framework for interviewing people with a visual impairment about their mobility and travel. Br J Vis Impair 2012; 30(1): 6-21.
32. Zou H, Zhang X, Xu X, Bai L, Wolffsohn JS. Development and psychometric tests of the Chinese-version Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire. Qual Life Res 2005; 14(6): 1633-39.
33. Desrosiers J, Wanet-Defalque MC, Tmisjian K, Gresset J, Dubois MF, Renaud J, et al. Participation in daily activities and social roles of older adults with visual impairment. Disabil Rehabil 2009; 31(15): 1227-34.
34. Wolffe K, Sacks SZ. The lifestyles of blind, low vision, and sighted youths: A quantitative comparison. J Vis Impair Blind 1997; 91: 245-57.
35. Demiris G, Rantz MJ, Aud MA, Marek KD, Tyrer HW, Skubic M, et al. Older adults’ attitudes towards and perceptions of “smart home” technologies: A pilot study. Med Inform Internet Med 2004; 29(2): 87-94.
36. O’Day BL, Killeen M, Iezzoni LI. Improving health care experiences of persons who are blind or have low vision: Suggestions from focus groups. Am J Med Qual 2004; 19(5): 193-200.
37. Stevens-Ratchford R, Krause A. Visually impaired older adults and home-based leisure activities: The effects of person-environment congruence. J Vis Impair Blind 2004; 98(1): 14-27.
38. Alma MA, Van Der Mei SF, Groothoff JW, Suurmeijer TPBM. Determinants of social participation of visually impaired older adults. Qual Life Res 2012; 21(1): 87–97.
39. Nešić A. Harmonization of gender roles as a basis for life quality. TIMS Acta 2017; 11(1): 45–52. (Serbian)
40. Tošić M, Todorović D. Labour division, marital quality and the ideology of gender. Sociološki Pregl 2011; 45(3): 393–419. (Serbian)
41. Moore JE, Giesen JM, Weber JM, Crews JE. Functional outcomes reported by consumers of the independent living program for older individuals who are blind. J Vis Impair Blind 2001; 95(7): 403-17.
42. Bathelt J, de Haan M, Dale NJ. Adaptive behaviour and quality of life in school-age children with congenital visual disorders and different levels of visual impairment. Res Dev Disabil 2019; 85: 154-62.
43. Gold D, Simson H. Identifying the needs of people in Canada who are blind or visually impaired: Preliminary results of a nation-wide study. Int Congr Ser 2005; 1282: 139-42.
44. Taylor AE, Shah SP, Gilbert CE, Jadoon MZ, Bourne RRA, Dineen B, et al. Visual function and quality of life among visually impaired and cataract operated adults. The Pakistan national blindness and visual impairment survey. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2008; 15(4): 242-9.
45. Wagner E. Development and implementation of a curriculum to develop social competence for students with visual impairments in Germany. J Vis Impair Blind 2004; 98(11): 703-10.