Evidence-based recommendations for interventions to reduce fall risk in older adults with visual impairment are lacking. Adapted tango dance (Tango) and a balance and mobility program (FallProof) have improved mobility, balance, and quality of life (QOL) in individuals with movement impairment. This study compared the efficacy of Tango and FallProof for 32 individuals with visual impairment (age: M = 79.3, SD =11 [51–95 years]). Participants were assigned to Tango or FallProof to complete twenty, 90-min lessons within 12 weeks. Participants underwent assessment of balance, dual-tasking, endurance, gait, and vision-related QOL. The balance reactions of participants in both groups improved (p < .001). Endurance, cognitive dual-tasking, and vision-related QOL may have improved more for Tango than FallProof. Group differences and gains were maintained across time. Both programs could be effective options for motor rehabilitation for older adults with visual impairment because they may improve mobility and QOL while reducing fall risk.

Reading is one of the most important activities in most people’s life. For children, reading is a window to knowledge, good educational achievement and better job opportunities in the future. Thus reading fluency is a very important factor in the child’s education. Children and young adults with low vision usually use a close working distance to gain relative distance magnification. Unlike adults, they have active accommodation. Many studies, however, have shown that children and young adults with low vision have reduced accommodation response compared to the norms of their age. Reading additions (high plus lenses) can correct for this reduction in accommodation and may be an optimum method of prescribing magnification in younger adults with low vision. There have been no studies to verify the best method of prescribing reading additions in young adults with low vision and few studies of their effect on reading performance. This is the first study to compare different methods to determine reading additions and their effect on reading performance in young adults with low vision. The aims of the present study are 1) to investigate if three different methods to determine reading additions would lead to significantly different dioptric powers 2) to determine which method (if any) would lead to better reading performance. Reading performance was assessed by measuring the maximum reading speed, critical print size (CPS), print size threshold and the area under the reading speed curve. This was an experimental study involving thirty participants with low vision aged between 8 to 35 years. Participants were recruited from the Low Vision Clinic at the School of Optometry, University of Waterloo, Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) and the Vision Institute of Canada. All participants underwent a routine clinical examination including distance visual acuity, near visual acuity, Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity, unilateral cover test, static retinoscopy, subjective refraction and measurement of the habitual reading distance. A questionnaire was used to determine their usage of any low vision aids, their perceived difficulty with reading and time spent reading. Reading additions were determined by 1) an objective method using Nott dynamic retinoscopy 2) an age-based formula 3) a subjective method based on the participant’s response to lenses. Reading tasks and dynamic retinoscopy were conducted at a fixed working distance of 12.5cm. Reading performance was assessed using MNREAD-style reading charts with each of the reading additions and without a reading addition, in a random order. Sentences were arranged in way that no sentence was repeated by the same participant. Participants were timed with a stop watch in order to calculate the reading speed in correct words per minute (CWPM). Reading speeds were plotted against print size to calculate the maximum reading speed, the critical print size, MNREAD threshold and the area under the reading speed curve. The participant’s mean age was 16 (± 6) years. There were equal number of males and females. The mean distance visual acuity of the tested eye ranged from 0.357 to 1.184 logMAR with a mean of 0.797 ± 0.220 logMAR. The near visual acuity ranged between 0.301 to 1.301 logMAR with a mean of 0.80 ± 0.26 logMAR. There were six participants who already had a reading addition. Maximum reading speed ranged between 52 to 257 wpm (165 ± 61 wpm). Critical print size ranged between 0.325 to 1.403 logMAR (0.965 ± 0.279 logMAR). Repeated measures ANOVA on the whole group showed that there was a significant difference between the reading additions (p=0.001). The retinoscopy reading addition power was significantly lower than the age add (p=0.002) and the subjective add (p=0.038). Repeated measures ANOVA did not show any improvement of any of the reading measures with the reading additions compared to without the reading addition. A re-analysis was undertaken excluding participants who had normal accommodation at 12.5cm. The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference in the dioptric powers obtained by the three methods, although, all reading addition power were significantly greater than zero (t-test <0.0005). There was a significant difference in the area under the reading speed curve (p=0.035), which was greater with the subjective addition than with no reading addition (p=0.048). The MNREAD threshold significantly improved with the age addition compared to no addition (p=0.012). There was a large variability between the participants in their response to a reading addition. Analysis of individual data showed that some participants showed a clear improvement in reading performance with a reading addition. Other participants did not demonstrate any obvious improvement in reading performance with reading additions. Of those participants who showed an improvement, all but one participant had abnormal accommodation. However, not all participants who did not show an improvement had normal accommodation. Univariate analysis and forward step-wise linear regression analysis were used to investigate if any improvement in reading performance and the habitual reading performance without a reading addition could be predicted by factors that were measured in the study. These factors included distance visual acuity, near visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, lag of accommodation, age, time spent on reading each day, perceived difficulty of reading regular print and whether or not the participant received training for the usage of his/her low vision aids. Improvement in reading performance could not be predicted by any of these factors. Habitual reading performance without a reading addition was correlated with some factors. Univariate analysis showed that critical print size was associated with MNREAD threshold (r=0.904. p<0.0005), distance visual acuity (r=0.681, p<0.0005) and contrast sensitivity (r=-0.428, p=0.018) and MNREAD threshold without an addition was associated with the contrast sensitivity (r=-0.431, p=0.017,) and distance visual acuity (r=0.728, p<0.0005). Difficulty of reading correlated with near visual acuity (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.620, p=0.0009), MNREAD threshold (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.450, p=0.02) and maximum reading speed (Spearman correlation coefficient=-0.472, p=0.014). Time spent on reading each day correlated with the area under the reading speed curve (Spearman correlation coefficient=0.659, p=0.0024). The multiple regression analysis showed that MNREAD threshold was best predicted by distance visual acuity (R=0.728, p <0.0005), critical print size could be predicted by distance visual acuity (R=0.681, p <0.0005) and age (R=0.748, p=0.022) and the power of the subjective addition could be predicted by age (R=0.583, p=0.001) and near visual acuity (R=0.680, p=0.028). There was evidence that a reading addition improved reading performance as measured by the area under the curve and MNREAD (reading acuity) thresholds, but this was not predicted by any visual factor, except that all those who gained improvement had poor accommodation. Therefore, it is recommended that an eye care practitioner should demonstrate a reading addition in a low vision assessment of children and young adults, particularly with patients who have reduced accommodation.

This dissertation considers the interactions of users who have been diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in adults 65 years and older. The investigation focused on the quantification of behaviors and strategies used by this growing subset of computer users. Participants diagnosed with AMD and age-matched controls without any ocular disease completed a series of visual search, icon selection and manipulation tasks with desktop or handheld PCs. Participants searched, selected and manipulated familiar playing card icons under varied icon set sizes, inter-icon spacing, icon sizes and auditory feedback. A comprehensive account of the interaction was made using a collection of efficiency, accuracy and information processing metrics. While all participants demonstrated a high rate for successful task completion, analyses revealed participants' overall task efficacy to be coupled with features of the interface and also strongly linked with measures of ocular health and personal factors. The outcomes of this study contribute to a growing body of work which informs a framework of performance thresholds for critical graphical user interface interactions based on visual profile, interface features and supplemental non-visual cues, including the following: The impact of auditory feedback on task interaction and information processing for visually impaired versus visually healthy older adults; The observed of use of the mouse pointer or stylus as means to direct attention during visual search and the implications of manual dexterity on visual search; The presence of speed accuracy trade-offs in handheld PC interaction performance for individuals based on their contrast sensitivity and near visual acuity; The shifting impact of increased icon spacing on visual search and movement times, versus its role in the accuracy of icon release; The utility for non-clinically acquired summaries of visual health to effectively predict performance decrements in handheld or desktop interaction; Emergent differences between handheld and desktop interaction and the most influential visual factors informing performance on each; and Empirical evidence that older adults, even with visual impairments can interact with small handheld displays, in spite of the size images.

Present study investigated the role of gender, age, perceived level of impairment, income, social activity level, and perceived social support from family, friend, and significant other in predicting total, family, friend, self, school, and living environment related life satisfaction of visually impaired Turkish adolescents. Participants were consisted of 138 volunteered visually impaired adolescents resides in Ankara. Age of the participants ranged between 11 and 22 with the mean of 14.38 (SD = 2.17). Data was collected via Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, &amp / Farley, 1988) and Multidimensional Student Life Satisfaction Scale (Huebner, 1994). Six seperate Multiple Regression Analyses were employed to examine the data. Results of the study indicated that age and perceived family support significantly predicted total life satisfaction of participants. Self related life satisfaction of participants was predicted significantly by perceived level of impairment and income. Friend related life satisfaction was predicted significantly by perceived social support from friend. Family related life satisfaction was predicted by perceived family support and age of the participants. Results of the study are discussed in light of the relevant literature and implications of the results are mentioned. Finally, suggestions for future research are presented.

Frau K. hat sich viel vorgenommen für heute. Sie wird ihre E-Mails lesen und beantworten, ... Denn Frau K. ist blind und nutzt seit mehr als einem Jahr regelmäßig den PC-Arbeitsplatz für blinde und sehbehinderte Nutzer der SLUB.

In 2000, contributors to the formulation of the National Plan for Training Personnel to Serve Children with Blindness and Low Vision anticipated a severe shortage of direct service personnel as early as 2006 with an increasing negative impact on teacher numbers through the end of the decade. It is necessary to attract approximately 5,000 new teachers to the field to meet the needs of the ever-increasing population of students with visual impairments requiring specialized training.This study investigated the personality and background experiences of individuals who are attracted to work as educators with students with visual impairments. A sample of 132 teachers who had been trained at either the undergraduate or graduate level and were employed within their first five years as teachers with this specialization completed the Holland Self-Directed Search (Form CP) and a Participant Profile form to ascertain the personality types and experiences of those new to the field.The study considered three variables: (1) gender, (2) race/ethnicity, (3) teacher training level and their association with Holland personality type (RIASEC). All three variables were weak predictors of the personality type of teachers of the visually impaired as indicated by Goodman and Kruskal's tau. Results of the Holland Self-Directed Search was a stronger measure of the personality type associated with becoming a teacher of students with visual impairments. The data related to the sample revealed that 65.2% of those responding identified themselves as Social type.Teachers identified how they became aware of the field prior to making a decision to enter a teacher-training program, what their reasons were for making a decision to enter a training program to become a teacher of students with visual impairments, and which areas of their teaching experience differed from what they had expected prior to employment in the field. Limitations of the study, implications of the results for recruitment and retention of teachers of students with visual impairments, and recommendations for future research are provided.

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Socialinis ir ekonominis šalies vystymasis yra paremtas harmoningu individo santykiu su visuomene, jo pilnaverčiu socialiniu funkcionavimu. Kiekvienai valstybei tenka didžiulis vaidmuo ir atsakomybė, laiduojant savo tautos socialinę pažangą ir gerovę, kuri susideda iš kiekvieno jos nario, taip pat ir turinčio tam tikrų raidos sutrikimų, gerovės ir nuolatinės pažangos. Visame pasaulyje vienu iš sunkiausių neįgalumų, kuris ne tik fiziškai kamuoja, bet ir dvasiškai sukrečia žmogų, yra neregystė ir silpnaregystė. Demokratiška visuomenė turėtų užtikrinti asmenims, kenčiantiems nuo šių sutrikimų, siekti kaip galima geresnio išsilavinimo, saviraiškos darbinėje, kultūrinėje, visuomeninėje sferose. Tyrimo tikslas: Atskleisti žmonių su regėjimo negalia socialinės integracijos ypatumus Lietuvoje. Tyrimo uždaviniai: Remiantis moksline ir teisine literatūra, išanalizuoti asmenų su regėjimo negalia teisinius ir teorinius socialinės integracijos aspektus Lietuvoje; Išanalizuoti sutrikusio regėjimo žmonių reabilitacijos, edukacijos, profesinės orientacijos ir socialinės integracijos praktinius ypatumus Lietuvoje; Numatyti asmenų su regėjimo sutrikimais socialinės integracijos tobulinimo kryptis. Tyrimo metodai: Psichologinės, edukologinės literatūros ir teisinės bazės analizė; Anketavimas; Statistinė duomenų analizė. Tyrimo rezultatai rodo, kad Lietuvos Respublikoje veikiantys teisės aktai užtikrina lygias galimybes visiems žmonėms, tame tarpe ir asmenims su regėjimo negalia... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Social and economical development of the country is an essential guarantee for harmonious relationship between human and society, and his/her full social functioning. Every country gets an enormous role and responsibility in guaranteeing social progress and welfare of its nation, in planning the means of social development and the infrastructure of social services. In the whole world losing sight is considered as one of the most difficult disabilities that not only tortures physically but is also spiritually shocking. Blindness as a phenomenon has existed since the earliest times and unfortunately in spite of all the progress of medicine will exist for a long time. It is familiar to the people of different cultures ant different epochs. The aim of the research: to reveal the peculiarities of social integration of people with visual impairment in Lithuania. The objectives of the research: with the reference to scientific and juridical literature to analyze legal and theoretical aspects of social integration of people with visual impairment in Lithuania; to analyze practical peculiarities of rehabilitation, education, vocational counselling and social integration of people with visual impairment in Lithuania; to foresee the directions of improvement of social integration of people with visual impairment. The methods of the research: analysis of psychological and educological literature and juridical basis; questionnaire; statistical data analysis. The results of the research... [to full text]

Šiandieninėje visuomenėje vis daugiau dėmesio skiriama neįgalumą turinčių asmenų socialinei integracijai į visuomenę. Tam turi reikšmės priimti Invalidų socialinės integracijos (1991), Neįgaliųjų socialinės integracijos (2005), Specialiojo ugdymo (1998) įstatymai, Nacionalinė žmonių su negalia socialinės integracijos 2003 – 2012 metų programa, iškeliantys būtinybę mažinti šių asmenų socialinę atskirtį. Pažymima, kad socialinė integracija gali padėti asmeniui prisitaikyti socialinėje aplinkoje ir kartu gerinti aplinkos sąlygas siekiant užtikrinti jo sėkmingą funkcionavimą. Sprendžiant šias problemas, svarbu, kad regėjimo negalę turintis asmuo, dalyvautų pilnavertėje visuomeninėje veikloje, patikėtų savo galimybėmis ir kad jam būtų padedama įgyti aukštesnį socialinį kompetentingumą. Meninė integracija suprantama kaip skirtingai besivystančių asmenų bendravimas ir kūrybinė meninė veikla. Tačiau ypatingą reikšmę turi profesionalus požiūris į integruotos meninės veiklos turinį, parenkamą repertuarą ir jo adaptavimą skirtingų gebėjimų kolektyvui, bendros veiklos organizavimą. Tyrimo objektas – regėjimo negalę turinčių asmenų kolektyvinė muzikinė veikla. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleisti regėjimo negalę turinčių asmenų įgalinimo galimybes kolektyvine muzikine veikla. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1) apibrėžti regėjimo negalės sampratą mokslinėje literatūroje; 2) apžvelgti visuomenės požiūrio į neregius kaitą istorinės raidos kontekste; 3) apibūdinti regėjimo negalę turinčių asmenų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The society is increasingly focused on people with disabilities to social integrate them into society. Implications for Social integration for handicapts (1991), Social integration for disabled (2005), Special education (1998) laws, Nacional 2003 - 2012 year program for social integration for people with disabilities, putting emphasis on the need to reduce their social exclusion. Noted that social integration can help a person to adapt the social environment, and to improve environmental conditions in order to ensure its successful functioning. Tackling these problems, it is important that a person with vision disabilities participates in social activities , entrustes to his potential and that he would get help to gain a higher level of social competencies. Arts integration is understood as communication and creative artistic activity for people with different development. However, professional attitude for content of integrated art activities, selected repertoire and its adaptation for collective with different abilities and organizing activities have special significance. Research subject – collective musical activity in persons with visual disabilities. Purpose of the research – to reveal opportunities for integration into society for people with visual disabilities through collective musical activities. Research objectives: 1) define the concept of visual disability in scientific literature; 2) overview public attitude to blind people in the context of the historical... [to full text]

This thesis reports research conducted into a character recognition system suitable for use in a reading aid for the blind. A brief review of blind reading aids is given, showing the need for a device which is cheap, simple and effective. The structure of a proposed reading aid fulfilling these needs is outlined, with a list of the desired characteristics of each of its subsystems. The remainder of the thesis is concerned with research into just two of these subsystems: the input device and the character recognizer. A detailed review of pattern recognition by the n-tuple method is presented, followed by a description of the experimental techniques used in obtaining real data from a camera system, and in simulating various recognizer structures. The camera system and computer programs developed specifically for the research are described in detail. Several series of experiments are reported, concerned mainly with investigating problems associated directly with the blind reading aid, namely accommodation of multifont printed text and of the tracking errors inherent in data from a hand-held probe. A further series of experiments, aimed at improving the performance of the recognizer within fixed size constraints, i. e., optimisation, has a wider field of application. Finally suggestions are made as to how the recognizer might be implemented in a reading aid, using RAMs, ROMs, or PLAs as the main storage elements.