The practical skills of persons with vision impairment

Abstract

The acquisition of practical skills, as with adaptive behaviour 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 among adults with vision impairment in comparison to the norms among the general population, and with regard to the visual status (low vision and blindness), age of vision loss onset, gender, age, living arrangements, education, and employment status. Methods. Seventy-nine persons who are blind and forty-eight volunteers with low vision with typical intellectual abilities took part in the study. The respondents were aged from 19 to 60 (M = 36.06, SD = 11.777). Practical adaptive skills were assessed using the Practical Skills domain which is part of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II – ABAS II. Results. The scores achieved in the skill areas of the Practical Skills domain, range from extremely low to average. Extremely low scores were detected in the Work skill area, 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 practical skills acquisition among persons with vision impairment depended primarily on the visual status, but a significant connection with living arrangements and employment status was also established. Conclusion. Persons with vision impairment showed significant limitations in the area of practical skills, which indicate the need for support programs designed to foster the development of self-reliance.

Niz ličnih i sredinskih činilaca utiče na usvajanje praktičnih veština, kao i na adaptivno ponašanje u celini. Cilj rada je bio da se utvrdi nivo usvojenosti praktičnih adaptivnih veština kod odraslih osoba sa oštećenjem vida, u poređenju sa normama u opštoj populaciji, kao i u odnosu na vizuelni status (slabovidost i slepoća), vreme gubitka vida, pol, uzrast, porodični status, nivo obrazovanja i radni status. Metode. U istraživanju je dobrovoljno učestovalo 79 (62,2%) slepih i 48 (37,8%) slabovidih ispitanika tipičnih intelektualnih sposobnosti. Ispitanici su bili starosti starosti od 19 do 60 godina (M=36,06, SD=11,777). Za procenu praktičnih veština korišćen je domen 'Praktične veštine' koji pripada Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II – ABAS II. Rezultati. Skorovi ostvareni na subtestovima domena 'Praktične veštine' kretali su se u rangu od ekstremno niskih do prosečnih. Ekstremno niska postignuća zabeležena su na subtestu 'Posao', u rangu ispodprosečnih vrednosti bili su skorovi na subtestovima 'Život u zajednici', 'Život u kući' i 'Zdravlje i bezbednost', a u rangu prosečnih na subtestu 'Briga o sebi'. Usvojenost praktičnih veština kod osoba sa oštećenjem vida prvenstveno je zavisila od kategorije oštećenja vida, a utvrđena je i njihova značajna povezanost sa porodičnim statusom i radnim iskustvom. Zaključak. Osobe sa oštećenjem vida ispoljavaju značajna ograničenja u oblasti praktičnih veština, što ukazuje na potrebu za programima podrške razvoju njihovog nezavisnog funkcionisanja.