Social participation of visually impaired adults – Access to leisure activities

Abstract

Social participation is a determinant of active aging, and can produce positive physical and mental outcomes. Those outcomes satisfy the psychological needs of individuals and help him achieve appropriate life satisfaction. The number of activities in which a person participates reflects her social interaction and social relations. The aim of this research aimed was determining the barriers that adults with visual impairment face during leisure activity of sport-recreational type, while checking whether there are differences in the self-perception of the barriers of blind and visually impaired people. Sample consisted of 137 persons with visual impairment. Using the Assessment of Life Habits scale (LIFE-H), domain Recreation in a sample of 92 people with visual impairment, key barriers for leisure activities were highlighted: inadequate public transport, low level of independence, negative attitudes and nonacceptance in a wider environment; additionally, using the Physical Activity Barrier Scale for persons who are blind and visually impaired on a sample of 45 persons, separated barriers were singled out: the one from an inaccessible physical environment and barriers of a psychological nature. Persons with low vision participated in various sports and recreational activities significantly more frequent than blind ones, although the frequency of barriers to exercise was not statistically different. The inaccessibility of the physical environment is a major factor limiting the social participation of adults with visual impairments in the field of leisure activities which, with inadequate attitudes of the social environment, insufficient material resources and dependence of the help of other people, limits the participation of persons with visual impairment in many domains important for social participation. Introduction