engleski

Connection between the techniques of a seeing guide and independent movement of a visually impaired person

In the process of rehabilitation of visually impaired persons, the training in orientation and movement, along with acquiring Braille literacy, still plays the most important role and is often considered the foundation of the rehabilitation process for the blind. During such training, blind and visually impaired persons acquire a range of knowledge, skills and abilities, i.e. the techniques that will enable them to move safely, independently and efficiently. The techniques of a seeing guide, which are acquired at the beginning of the training in orientation and movement, presuppose the ability to use a seeing person while moving, without affecting the independence of the visually impaired person at the same time. That is, in the context of orientation and movement, the seeing person is considered to be an aid, such as a white stick, a guide dog or electronic devices. The aim of this paper is to establish the connection between the techniques of a seeing guide and independent movement of a visually impaired person, that is to establish whether the achievements in the techniques of a seeing guide can be a predictor of the achievements in independent movement of visually impaired persons. The research included 27 visually impaired war disabled, out of whom 71.43 percent completed their rehabilitation and 28.57 percent did not attend any rehabilitation programmes. Due to the small number of respondents, a quasi-canonical analysis was done, as well as the partialisation of the variable Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (which was found in a part of the visually impaired war disabled) and of the variable Rehabilitation. Based on the obtained results, it could be concluded that there is a connection between the techniques of a seeing guide and independent movement of a visually impaired person, i.e. that the techniques of a seeing guide can be a predictor of efficiency of independent movement of these persons.

sight impairment ; technique of a seeing guide ; independent movement

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