The psychosocial impact of acquired vision loss-Particularly related to rehabilitation involving orientation and mobility

Loss of vision affects each person in unique ways. Factors can include the onset and severity of the loss. The person may also have other health issues, including both physical and mental. The person's age, personality, self-concept as well as other's attitudes can all contribute to the psychosocial impact of the person with acquired vision loss. Previous experience of coping with life's set backs or crises contribute to how a person can be affected. Rehabilitation is the process of restoring a person's ability to learn or relearn skills needed in every day activities, enabling them to live life as normally as possible. This process needs to address not only the teaching of new skills and methods, but include the psychosocial issues for the person as well. Traditionally, orientation and mobility training has focused mainly on the teaching of techniques and skills to enable a person who is blind or vision impaired, to travel safely and independently. The psychosocial impact of this loss has not usually been a major focus of this training. It has been identified that this impact, when related to the acceptance and undertaking of orientation and mobility training, can affect not only the person confronting the training but their family and friends as well. A person may be fearful or anxious about travelling independently, or lack the confidence to learn new skills. Being seen in public using a white cane may cause one to feel self-conscious and withdraw from society. Family members may also feel anxious and act in an overprotective way, not encouraging the undertaking of any independent travel training. Unless these psychosocial factors are recognised as important considerations to be incorporated into an orientation and mobility program, the person who needs, and is offered the training may decline or not complete the training. This paper discusses the psychosocial impact of acquired vision loss, in particular, the implications for orientation and mobility training.