For a person who has been diagnosed with a disability at some point in their life, their ability to be an active democratic citizen in our information society changes. This thesis examines what kind of challenges the Swedish public libraries and librarians faces in their day-to-day work connected to the specific group of users with vision-related disabilities and discusses and analyze public librarians' perception of what digital skills means to them.  In the combination of people with visual impairments and their digital needs and competence development and on the actual conditions and challenges existing at the Swedish public libraries regarding digital services for people with visual impairments, the study identifies several challenges for both parties. The study results present an insecurity among librarians regarding the expectations to adjust and help with digital guidance, when they still are feeling insecure about what kind of digital competence expects of them.  During the qualitative interviews, a shared experience of anxiety, uncertainty, and an uneven level among the library staff regarding basic digital competences and where the "boundary" is revealed. The uneven level of digital competence is highlighted as problematic, as the patrons are assumed to be treated differently on repeated visits to the public library. The study identifies several challenges that would further encourage both the individual, the profession, the institution as well as society and research to study further. New knowledge in a library context has been identified and needs to be studied in a broader and more comprehensive research study.

The aim of this research was to explore career information learners with visual impairment acquire from school to enable them develop vocational self-concept and career decision-making self-efficacy. It explored role of guidance and counselling in preparing learners for world of work from primary to university levels of education. The study adopted Career Development and Self-efficacy Theories as bases of exploration. Two standardized tools were used to assess development of these aspects. Pilot study was conducted to validate instruments, testing reliability for applicability with subjects in Kenya. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences for quantitative and Atlas Ti to code qualitative data. The major finding indicated a linear relationship between aspects implying that learners experienced increased development as they progressed in education. Other findings are explained in text. The findings affirmed need for comprehensive career guidance and counselling for learners with disabilities, culminating to suggested vocational development model. / Furthur Teacher Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

This research was conducted on inclusive education in HEIs of Ethiopia. Its main purpose was to investigate, as case studies, the learning experiences of students with visual impairments (SVI) in two HEIs. The study was undertaken having realized the research gap that exists in the area of the inclusiveness of HEIs in Ethiopia. In order to conduct the research, a qualitative methodology was followed. The data collection methods used were individual interviews and observations. Data were collected from students with visual impairments, their instructors, department/school heads, college deans and disability centre coordinators. In addition, observations were made in library facilities and classes. The process of data analysis was started by considering the major curriculum elements as general categories following LeCompte and Preissle‟s typological analysis strategy. Atlas.ti computer software was used to code, categorize and manage the data. The theory that was primarily used to examine and understand the learning experiences of SVI in the higher education context was Bronfenbrenner's bio-ecological systems theory. In addition, the biopsychosocial model of disability and the accommodation model (in contrast to the UDL model) were considered. The study resulted in the following major findings: SVI, in many cases, were not assigned to the departments of their interest; the curricula of the HEIs were highly inflexible and did not consider SVI needs; there was limited access to curricular materials in assessment formats; there was limited use of assistive technology; assessment practices were largely unfair to SVI; the learning environment was less friendly to SVI; the support SVI get from their institutions was inadequate and disorganized; and instructors made little effort to accommodate the learning needs of SVI during class teaching. The findings also showed that there were no significant differences of perceptions among SVI of the two institutions. Based on the findings of the research some conclusions are drawn. In addition, some recommendations were suggested to improve policy and practice based on SVI responses and the researcher's own reflections on the study‟s findings. Recommendations for future research were also made. / Inclusive Education / D. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

The purpose of this study was to explore the academic experiences of learners with low vision in integrated schools. Based on the findings from the study, recommendations were forwarded to the integrated primary school principal and teachers who are responsible for the support of learners with low vision. Ethical measures were adhered to as participants were told that their interview was voluntary and they were free to withdraw at any time if they felt uncomfortable. The researcher also kept strict confidentiality to protect identity of the participants. The participants in this research work were seven learners with low vision, one principal and three teachers in one of the integrated primary schools. In this study the researcher used qualitative methodology with purposive sampling technique to select respondents and used descriptive design. It was found that in most cases the attitude of teachers and sighted learners towards learners with low vision was negative, social isolation and withdrawal of learners with low vision from sighted group were the main problems. During this research process respondents reported that there was lack of learning resource materials and modification of teaching materials to suit the needs of learners with low vision. Therefore, the study recommends that learners with low vision should be included not only physically, but socially and psychologically. The teachers in the integrated schools should have a close relationship with these learners, give them support and the curriculum as well learning material or resources should be adapted to suit the need of the learners with low vision. The regular inclusive schools should know the importance of early acceptance and benefits of early identification and intervention to encourage social development of learners with low vision. / Inclusive Education / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)

This thesis deals with orientation and mobility (O&M) of children with visual and multiple disabilities in early childhood years. It provides basic information about individuals with visual and multiple disabilities, about early childhood, about early intervention, about O&M, about importance of family and about possibilities of support in early learning. The main attention is focused on content areas of O&M in early childhood years and devices O&M for children. It also deals with the situation in the sphere of O&M for children in early childhood in the Czech Republic.

Annotation: This thesis deals with the importance of guide dogs for the visually impaired people. It is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part defines and classifies the types and degrees of visual impairment and the most common eye diseases. It discusses the position of the blind in society, means of communication and assistance. It focuses on the history and methods of training of the guide dogs and suitable breeds, according to organizations engaged in training of dogs at home and abroad, the thesis also mentions international organization of these training centers. The research is based on the results of the survey among people utilizing the services of a guide dog. Through interviews, it was analyzed, how important the guide dog is for the participants and how it affects the quality of their life.

89 Abstract This examined diploma thesis focuses on the sphere of tertiary education and its aim was especially to examine the study conditions of university students with visual impairment. The basis was to study professional literature and other sources to build a theoretical framework. It was essential to create an image of the student with visual impairment that the visual handicap and thereunder constraints were covered and it was also necessary to describe the young adulthood specifics. An important step was to characterize the environment wherein these student move. To do this I used legislative documents and provisions and tried to delineate any difficulties and implemented solutions. I also introduced research which previously examined this field and provided relevant information, too. This was the foundation for the practical part of this paper. It contained the survey wherein I addressed a few visually impaired students who conveyed their findings regarding their study conditions. I carried out semi-structural interviews with them and analyzed the obtained data with the help of the open coding method. I summarized the resulted findings in the final section and tried to suggest further steps. The first chapter dealt with the definition of the visually impaired individual. At first, visual...

This diploma thesis is focused on the problematics of examination of tactile perception in older school-age pupils with severe visual impairment. The thesis has got three main parts. The first part deals with tactile perception, defines its main characteristics, properties and obstacles associated with tactile perception. It also deals with the role of touch in the life of pupils with visual impairment. A large part of this chapter focuses on the description of orientation aids for visually impaired students. In conclusion, there are mentioned the diagnostic instruments by which the tactile perception is judged. The second part deals with the Tactual Profile observation instrument. There is a detailed description of its purpose and use and there are also mentioned foreign studies on this instrument of Dutch origin. The practical part includes the study of the level of tactile perception in school-aged pupils with visual impairment through the Tactual Profile test. The aim of this diploma thesis is to determine the functionality and usability of this test material (Tactual Profile) in praxis in the given age group of pupils and students with visual impairment. Keywords Tactile perception, touch, visual impairment, Tactual Profile test, school age, older school-age pupils, diagnostics, blindness.

Nesta pesquisa, analisei o padrão temporal de sono e as atividades cotidianas realizadas por duas crianças cegas e quatro crianças com baixa visão, na faixa etária entre 3-4 a 7-8 anos, por meio de diário de sono e de atividades preenchido ao longo de três semanas, com o objetivo de investigar se crianças cegas ou com baixa visão, sendo algumas com múltipla deficiência, apresentam padrão de ciclo vigília/sono alterado em função da dificuldade de percepção da mudança do ambiente pelo comprometimento do sentido da visão. Parti da hipótese de que a percepção dos ciclos e a organização temporal na espécie humana, principalmente nos centros urbanos das sociedades atuais, estão cada vez mais vinculadas aos compromissos sociais, em geral relacionados ao trabalho e à escola, e cada vez menos à observação da mudança do ambiente causada por eventos geofísicos, como é o caso do ciclo claro/escuro. Ao analisar os resultados, percebemos evidências indiretas de privação de sono nos dias da semana compatíveis com os dados existentes em pesquisas sobre ritmicidade biológica na espécie humana de modo geral, o que confirma a nossa hipótese inicial de organização temporal baseada no ritmo social cada vez mais independente do ciclo claro/escuro geofísico. Porém, evidencio a nossa sugestão em relação a uma identidade temporal singular para cada indivíduo, construída com base em aspectos sociais e biológicos. Assim, a partir de uma análise dialética, concluímos que a questão sobre sincronização de ritmos supera a dicotomia social-biológico e se desloca para as possibilidades diversas de interações entre os sinais temporais do ambiente e a forma como eles atingem singularmente cada sujeito em uma estrutura histórico-cultural / In this research, I analyzed the temporal pattern of sleep and daily activities performed by two blind children and four children with low vision, aged 3-4 to 7-8 years, through sleep and activity diaries filled in along three consecutive weeks, aiming to investigate whether blind or low vision children, some with multiple disabilities, present altered wake/sleep cycle pattern due to the difficulty of perceiving the change of environment due to the impairment of vision. I assumed that the perception of cycles and the temporal organization in the human species, especially in the urban centers of present-day societies, are increasingly linked to social commitments, generally related to work and school, and less and less to the observation of the environmental change caused by geophysical events, such as the light/dark cycle. Analyzing the results, we found indirect evidence of weekday sleep deprivation consistent with data from research on biological rhythmicity in humans, which confirms our initial hypothesis of temporal organization based on increasingly social rhythm independent of the light/dark geophysical cycle. However, I highlight our suggestion regarding a unique temporal identity for each individual, built on social and biological aspects. Thus, from a dialectical analysis, we conclude that the question of rhythm synchronization overcomes the social-biological dichotomy and shifts to the diverse possibilities of interactions between the temporal signals of the environment and the way they uniquely affect each subject in a historical-cultural structure

Stadsplanering och arkitektur har traditionellt sett prioriterat visuella värden i staden över andra sinnliga upplevelser. Synen dominans tillsammans med normen able-bodiedness ”den friska kroppen” inom yrkesgruppen gör att personer med blindhets erfarenheter och upplevelser blir exkluderade från samtalet om stadens utformning. Det bidrar också till en exkludering i staden genom att den bebyggda miljön i många fall inte är utformad efter deras behov. Personer med blindhets behov hanteras istället som tillgänglighetsåtgärder i ett senare skede och på så sätt framställs som något som skiljer från ”normalt” yrkesutövande. Denna studie studerar problematiken från en annan synvinkel. Här undersöks hur kunskap från personer med grav synnedsättning som inte huvudsakligen använder synen för orientering eller upplevelser av staden kan komma till nytta för stadsutvecklingen i stort. Syftet är att undersöka möjligheten att ta fram metoder som kan hjälpa till att synliggöra sinnliga upplevelser i staden. Människor har olika kroppsliga förmågor som påverkar hur vi använder våra sinnen och därför kan städer med olika sinnliga upplevelser bli mer anpassade för fler. Metoderna kan bidra till en mer inkluderande stad men även en mer variationsrik upplevelse, för alla oavsett funktionsförmåga, detta med större valfrihet och fler alternativ. Studien är både utforskande och ifrågasättande av subjektiviteterna ability och disability. Slutsatsen ger inte något konkret svar/lösning utan undersökning syftar till att synliggöra problem inom stadsplanering för att sedan vända dessa till möjligheter. Studien bidrar med metoder som kan hjälpa stadsplaneringen att reflektera över sinnliga upplevelser i staden och på så vis arbeta mot en mer inkluderande stad. Bidrar även med ett öppnare samtal om staden och utmanar normen om vilka som får vara med i utformningen av staden. Det finns ett behov av vidare forskning för att kunna använda kunskapen på en mer strategisk nivå, och en stadsplaneringen som vågar ta sig an de nya kunskaperna.