Knowledge of blindness adaptation techniques among rehabilitation undergraduate students

Abstract

This research study was an attempt to determine undergraduate rehabilitation students’ familiarity with adaptive aids for individuals with visual impairments. According to the National Federation of the Blind (2002), there are approximately 1.1 million people with a visual impairment in the United States. The American Foundation for the Blind (2002) states that the numbers of visually impaired older adults are expected to increase as much as one in three adults over the age of 65 by 2030. As the number of persons with visual impairments rises, more and more individuals will require rehabilitation services to live and function independently. Despite awareness of the growing demand for rehabilitation services, little information is known about the awareness of adaptive aids among undergraduate rehabilitation professionals. Currently, the Council on Rehabilitation Education (2000) does not require students to complete a course specifically addressing the needs of persons with visual impairments. In addition, students are not required to learn about adaptive aids and appliances specifically designed for individuals experiencing vision loss. This study has examined the current level of knowledge of adaptive aids among vocational rehabilitation undergraduate students in the early stages of their professional training. Participants have been selected from undergraduate courses offered within the Vocational Rehabilitation program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Participation was sought during the Fall 2002 semester, and permission was obtained by course instructors to collect data in selected courses. A new survey instrument was developed for this study, which asked participants to indicate their level of familiarity of various aids that are commonly used among people with vision loss. In addition, participants were asked to provide demographic information, such as gender, age, major, class rank, and prior interaction with someone with a visual impairment. The survey design used a four-point Likert scale ranging from “no knowledge” about an item to “much knowledge” about an item. Participants were asked to complete a two page survey that asks about four main categories of adaptive aids: Reading and Writing Aids, Orientation and Mobility Aids, Independent Living Aids, and Computer Technology Aids. It is anticipated that the information gathered through this study may be used to determine the need for additional education and training in vocational rehabilitation programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level.