The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences (both professional and personal) of the therapist who is visually impaired or blind. This is a post-modernist dissertation contextualised within the ecosystemic-hermeneutical epistemology. These paradigms are two sides of the same coin and emphasize a social constructionist worldview. A descriptive methodology within the domain of language and narrative discourse is utilised in accordance with this worldview. The narratives of two research participants were recounted through the researcher's lens within particular `dimensions of understanding'. These `dimensions of understanding' were interpreted, deconstructed and co-constructed (with the research participants). Thus this dissertation operates simultaneously on a number of different levels which emphasises the social constructionist worldview. This also allowed for the hermeneutic-ecosystemic analysis of these `dimensions of understanding' as method of data analysis. There are also emerging `dimensions of understanding' from the researcher's own perspective and personal experience as a visually impaired therapist in training. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Submitted by Maria de Lourdes Mariano (lmariano@ufscar.br) on 2017-01-16T15:45:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PASTORIZA_Tais Buch_2015.pdf: 4354274 bytes, checksum: 65eed984df7f140acb74c2c1b9f9e9dd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria de Lourdes Mariano (lmariano@ufscar.br) on 2017-01-16T15:45:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PASTORIZA_Tais Buch_2015.pdf: 4354274 bytes, checksum: 65eed984df7f140acb74c2c1b9f9e9dd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria de Lourdes Mariano (lmariano@ufscar.br) on 2017-01-16T15:45:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PASTORIZA_Tais Buch_2015.pdf: 4354274 bytes, checksum: 65eed984df7f140acb74c2c1b9f9e9dd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-16T15:45:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PASTORIZA_Tais Buch_2015.pdf: 4354274 bytes, checksum: 65eed984df7f140acb74c2c1b9f9e9dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / The demand for specialized educational assistance and for adapted resources in regular schools, especially after the Constitution of 1988 and the Law for Guidelines and Basis for National Education, 1996, dictates challenges for teachers in terms of equivalent teaching and learning opportunities for students with or without disabilities, in a way that the same content is assured to be learned by both. Thereunto, some conditions are necessary and in their absence challenges appear for the offer of good quality teaching. The goal of this research was to analyze the a pedagogical intervention on geography contents teaching in a classroom, of grade 5 of Primary School, in which there is a blind student enrolled in the municipal school of Salto-SP. The methodological procedures were: interview, questionnaire, observation, field notes and pedagogical intervention. The data analysis was based on the theoretical reference of Historical-Critical Pedagogy and its substance. In the research many challenges were identified for the teaching and learning of blind students, which are: the deficit of adapted educational material and the lack of continuous education of the teacher and the teacher assistant. As a conclusion, we point that the adapted educational material isn't enough for geography teaching of blind students. Some conditions as the teachers' education and work condition must be considered. Besides that, in order to the learning of blind students to happen it is necessary to give them the opportunity of social interaction and the teacher's pedagogical mediation. The delegation of pedagogical functions to the teacher assistant or the caregiver, with no pedagogical education, establishes a disadvantage of appropriation of knowledge between the disabled student and the others. Briefly, the teacher is the main responsible for the learning of the student, disabled or not, and this requires the conditions above mentioned. As a final result, it was verified that the blind student learned the contents which were taught during the pedagogical intervention. / A demanda por atendimento educacional especializado e por recursos adaptados na escola regular especialmente a partir da Constituição de 1988 e da Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional de 1996, impõe desafios aos professores em garantir oportunidades equivalentes de ensino e aprendizagem aos alunos com e sem deficiência, de forma que o mesmo conteúdo seja aprendido por ambos. Para isso, determinadas condições são necessárias e na ausência delas surgem desafios para o oferecimento de um ensino de qualidade. O objetivo da pesquisa foi analisar uma intervenção pedagógica no ensino de conteúdos de Geografia no 5º ano do ensino fundamental I, em que há uma aluna cega matriculada na rede pública municipal de ensino em Salto-SP. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados foram: entrevista, questionário, observação, registro de campo e intervenção pedagógica. A análise dos dados se deu com base no referencial teórico da Pedagogia Histórico-Crítica e seus fundamentos. Na pesquisa, identificamos muitos desafios para o ensino e aprendizagem de alunos com cegueira, entre eles estão: a escassez de materiais didáticos adaptados e a falta de formação continuada da professora e da auxiliar de sala. Como conclusão, apontamos que os materiais didáticos adaptados não bastam no ensino de Geografia para alunos com cegueira. Determinadas condições como formação do professor e condições de trabalho precisam ser consideradas. Além disso, para que haja aprendizagem de alunos com cegueira é preciso oportunizá-los a interação social e a mediação pedagógica do professor. A delegação de funções pedagógicas ao auxiliar de sala ou cuidador, sem formação pedagógica alguma, estabelece uma desvantagem de apropriação do conhecimento do aluno com deficiência em relação aos demais. Em síntese, o professor é o principal responsável pela aprendizagem do aluno com e sem deficiência, do coletivo, e por isso requer as condições já mencionadas. Como resultado final verificou-se que a aluna com cegueira aprendeu os conteúdos trabalhados durante a intervenção pedagógica.

Submitted by Milena Rubi (milenarubi@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-23T19:53:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 LIMA_Ana_2016.pdf: 60605256 bytes, checksum: d2dbc129d0018812d0415805d03c29db (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Milena Rubi (milenarubi@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-23T19:53:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 LIMA_Ana_2016.pdf: 60605256 bytes, checksum: d2dbc129d0018812d0415805d03c29db (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Milena Rubi (milenarubi@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-23T19:53:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 LIMA_Ana_2016.pdf: 60605256 bytes, checksum: d2dbc129d0018812d0415805d03c29db (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-23T19:53:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 LIMA_Ana_2016.pdf: 60605256 bytes, checksum: d2dbc129d0018812d0415805d03c29db (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-10-10 / Não recebi financiamento / The accessibility for park users with disabilities is rarely addressed. When it is addressed, the types of disabilities are treated individually. However, it is noteworthy that public spaces and services are used by all categories simultaneously. Due to that fact, the main purpose of this work is to analyze the accessibility for three types of disabilities: physical, hearing and visual. This was done in the facilities and activities offered by the Parque Natural Municipal Victório Siquierolli, located in Uberlândia / Minas Gerais. This is a relevant place in non-formal environmental education, offering activities for local schools, researchers and society in general; which also supports the research and extension activities of the Federal University of Uberlândia. Although the location has some access for wheelchair users, there is no specific accessibility project for other disabilities. The research methodology was divided into literature review and documentary research and field research. Field research included direct observation through photographic registration of the park structures using as a gathering instrument, a protocol based on Brazilian Standard NBR 9050/2015, profiling the mediators working in the park and the from the perspective of three associations for each type of disability of this study, through semi-structured interviews. With the results, we can notice that the park does not have all the structures for accessibility that NBR 9050/2015 standard requires, and the present structures, such as ramps, signs, handicap restrooms and free space for movement are not entirely suitable, with a view only to assist people with physical disabilities, more specifically wheelchair users. So necessary adjustments should be done to benefit other disability categories cited in this study, in order to improve the structure of the park and as a consequence increase and diversify the visitors. / A acessibilidade de pessoas com deficiência como usuários de parques ainda é pouco abordada e, quando trabalhada, as deficiências são tratadas de forma isolada, sendo que os espaços e serviços públicos são utilizados por todas as demais categorias de deficiência simultaneamente. Decorrente disso, esse trabalho tem como objetivo principal analisar a acessibilidade para três tipos de deficiência: física, auditiva e visual nas dependências e atividades oferecidas pelo Parque Natural Municipal Victório Siquierolli, localizado em Uberlândia/MG. Trata-se de um local de relevância na educação ambiental não formal, oferecendo atividades para escolas do município, pesquisadores e a sociedade em geral; que também serve de apoio para as ações de pesquisa e extensão da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. Apesar de o local possuir alguns acessos para cadeirantes, não existe um projeto específico voltado para a acessibilidade incluindo as demais deficiências. A metodologia da pesquisa foi dividida em pesquisa bibliográfica e documental e pesquisa de campo. A pesquisa de campo incluiu a observação direta por meio de registros fotográficos das estruturas do parque utilizando como instrumento de coleta um protocolo elaborado a partir da NBR 9050/2015, a caracterização do perfil dos mediadores que trabalham no parque e de três associações referentes a cada tipo de deficiência deste estudo, todas a partir da realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Com os resultados obtidos, percebe-se que o parque não apresenta todas as estruturas para acessibilidade que a norma NBR 9050 exige e as estruturas existentes, como rampas, placas, sanitário adaptado e espaço livre para deslocamento não estão totalmente adequadas, tendo em vista auxiliarem apenas as pessoas com deficiência física, mais especificadamente os cadeirantes. Logo, se fazem necessárias adaptações que possam beneficiar as demais categorias de deficiência abordadas nesse estudo, de forma a melhorar a estrutura do parque e consequentemente aumentar e diversificar os visitantes.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:51:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3683.pdf: 1656161 bytes, checksum: 4370a1447dc3a35ca039441a5aa052d6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-05 / This work presents collaborations of the ergonomics for the virtual learning environment, for its configuration and its use, seeking the inclusion of people with visual disabilities. These collaborations go along with the cognitive principles of ergonomics in which the focus is on the aspects of the usability and accessibility of interfaces of such environments. The virtual learning environment used was Moodle which is applied at Universidade Federal de São Carlos in order to offer distance education courses and where a visually impaired student takes subjects from the technological sugar-cane alcohol production course. The aim of this work is to analyse the interfaces under the view of accessibility, usability and ergonomics so as to facilitate the usage of the virtual learning environment from visually disabled students, contributing to the improvement of the UFSCar‟s distance education system, providing opportunity of inclusion to people with visual disabilities concerning distance education. / RESUMO Este trabalho apresenta colaborações da ergonomia para o projeto de ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem, para a sua configuração e sua utilização, buscando a inclusão de pessoas com deficiência visual. Essas colaborações estão perfiladas com os princípios ergonômicos cognitivos, em que o recorte do trabalho recai sobre os aspectos de usabilidade e acessibilidade de interfaces desses ambientes. O ambiente virtual de aprendizagem utilizado foi o Moodle, implantado na Universidade Federal de São Carlos para a oferta de cursos na modalidade a distância, utilizado por um deficiente visual em disciplinas ofertadas no curso de tecnologia em produção sucroalcooleira. A atenção desse trabalho está voltada para uma análise das interfaces sob a óptica de acessibilidade, usabilidade e ergonomia, com o objetivo de facilitar o deficiente visual a utilizar o ambiente virtual de aprendizagem, contribuindo para aprimorar o sistema de ensino a distância da UFSCar, dando oportunidade para a inclusão de deficientes visuais na educação a distância.

Orientador: José Antonio Siqueira Dias / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T17:53:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Reis_SergioValle_M.pdf: 20392311 bytes, checksum: 62cdc355d5bf767387c03e9fed6e3725 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O acesso a material de leitura didático (e mesmo para lazer) em braille é muito restrito e representa uma grande dificuldade para aquelas pessoas com deficiência de visão grave. Os lançamentos pelas editoras de títulos em braille são quase inexistentes, já que este tipo de produção é trabalhosa e cara. No Brasil, apenas algumas instituições oferecem estes produtos. Uma alternativa para sanar este problema é a utilização de dispositivos chamados "displays braille" que, acoplados a um computador, permitem a apresentação de um texto em braille. Estes dispositivos são caros (custam na faixa de 3000 dólares) e não são fabricados no Brasil. Neste trabalho, propomos uma nova abordagem para a produção de um dispositivo dinâmico e interativo de leitura em braille. A abordagem proposta permitirá a produção de um "Painel Braille" com custo aproximado de um décimo do valor dos atuais dispositivos existentes no mercado. É apresentado o desenho de um display braille com a utilização de peças octogonais giratórias com os pontos braille, estas peças giram em torno de um eixo e são movimentadas através da utilização de dois motores de passo. Descrevemos a construção de um protótipo e os testes realizados / Abstract: The access to didactic and leisure reading material in braille is very restricted and it represents a huge difficulty for those with severe vision impairment. Publishers rarely launch braille versions of its books, because this kind of production is very laborious and expensive. An alternative to solve this issue is the use of braille displays, which when connected to a computer allows the presentation of text in braille dynamically. These devices are expensive (circa 3 thousand dollars) and aren't produced in Brazil. In this work, we propose a new approach to the production of a dynamic and interactive braille display device. This suggested approach will enable the production of a cheaper device, with cost close to about ten percent of the full value of current devices on the market. This work devises a design of a braille display device using spinning octognal pieces with braille marks, these pieces spin around a screw axis driven by two stepper motors. It reports the construction of a prototype and the tests made with it / Mestrado / Energia Eletrica / Mestre em Engenharia Elétrica

This research focuses on the perceptions of future fulfilment of visually impaired adolescent learners at the Khanyisa Special School. The qualitative research was undertaken at the selected special school, which is situated in Nelson Mandela Bay in the western region of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, with ten learners, ten parents and five teachers as participants. The concluding chapter suggests ways and recommendations to assist the visually impaired adolescent learners at the Khanyisa Special School financially and academically.

The purpose of the project was to determine if a school-wide intervention for students demonstrating symptons of Irlen Syndrome would result in improvements in reading skills and a reduction in physical symptoms that might impede visual processing necessary for successful reading.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between several theory based strategies for adaptive coping and well-being in a community of visually impaired elderly.

Thesis (Ph. D. (Medical Sciences)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016. / The burden of visual impairment is a major health problem worldwide, especially in the rural and remote areas of developing countries. Visual impairment does not only affect the productivity of the individuals affected, but may also result in a loss of income for those caring for them, which is time consuming. Globally, the majority of instances of visual impairment can be avoided or treated, if detected early. Therefore, it was considered important to evaluate the burden and determinants of blindness and visual impairment in order to institute measures to prevent avoidable blindness. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study was to investigate the burden and determinants of blindness and visual impairment among the elderly in the Dikgale Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS), Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional analytic and descriptive study design was used. The participants included males and females, 50 years and above, who were permanent residents in the Dikgale HDSS. Optometric procedures were performed and a questionnaire was administered to the people selected as study participants to collect data about the knowledge, need, utilisation of eyecare services and barriers to the use of eye-care services in the area. Optometric procedures performed included case history, presenting visual acuity, pin-hole visual acuity if the presenting visual acuity was less than 6/18, auto and subjective refraction, visual fields using a Novissphere and Amsler’s grid, tonometry, direct ophthalmoscopy through a dilated pupil, and light perception for cases of blindness. Prevalence rates of blindness and visual impairment were determined by the results obtained from the oculo-visual examinations, such as visual acuity xvii measurements. Data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23. Overall prevalence was calculated, as well as prevalence within subgroups defined by gender. To determine the predictive values for the determinants of visual impairment, the Pearson’s Chi square (with a 0.05 significant level) was used in order to eliminate the possibility that the observed results happened by chance. The odds ratios were calculated and interpreted at a 95% confidence interval to determine the strength of association between visual impairment and risk factors. Binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to describe the relationship between visual impairment and demographics, socioeconomic factors, ocular risk factors and chronic diseases. All reported p-values which were two-sided and p-values <0.05 were considered significant. Results are presented in narrative and tabular forms and as figures. The study used descriptive analytical methods to describe the outcome of the research. RESULTS Of the 1000 selected subjects for the study, a total of 704 participated (i.e. completed the questionnaire and had the clinical tests performed on them), in other words, a response rate of 70.4%. The participants included 508 females and 196 males. All participants were Black South Africans and their ages ranged from 50 to 105 years, with a mean age of 65.6±10.3. The prevalence of bilateral visual impairment meeting the criteria in the better eye was 26.4% (186) of the 704 observed respondents. The majority of the participants had moderate visual impairment, with a similar prevalence in males and females. Many participants used tobacco products (278 or 39.4%). Cataracts (46.2%) and refractive error (40.3%) continue to be the leading causes of visual impairment, followed by corneal disorders (4.9%) and glaucoma (4.3%). The prevalence of low vision increased with age (p<0.001), but there was no significant difference between females (62.0) and males (58.5). The odds ratio of having visual impairment increased significantly with age ranging from OR 1.2 (95% CI, 0.6-2.3) in the age group 60-69 to OR 3.8 xviii (95%CI, 1.6-9.0) in the age group 80+. The likelihood of having visual impairment increased with tobacco use OR 1.9 (95%CI, 1.1-3.3). Not using available eye-care services increased the risk of having visual impairment OR 1.3 (95%CI, 0.8-2.2). Refractive error and pathological disorders were significantly associated with all the different degrees of visual impairment. Tobacco use was only significantly associated with moderate visual impairment and not significantly associated with severe visual impairment. Unemployment and lack of education are likely to increase the burden of visual impairment among the participants when looking at p-values for trends. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of presenting visual impairment in the 50+ age group in the Dikgale HDSS. Most of the leading causes of visual impairment are preventable and/or treatable, which can be achieved by appropriate screening strategies. Therefore, there is a need to embark on eye care promotion and awareness campaigns; and to provide low-cost, quality spectacles and cataract surgeries. Better education about prevention of blindness and visual impairment will help to minimise this burden.

The researcher found little information in literature reviewed about how Gestalt Play Therapy is being used in the treatment of visually impaired children. The aim of the study was to expand knowledge regarding this issue. A basic qualitative research study of an exploratory and descriptive nature was undertaken to describe how this therapy may be used in the treatment of such children. A representative sample was drawn from the population, consisting of gestalt play therapists who previously provided assistance to these children, using a purposive non-probability method. Data collection took place through the execution of semi-structured telephone interviews. Collected data was analysed using the Thematic Content Analysis to search for related themes (in line with the objectives of the study) in transcribed interviews. The general conclusion drawn from the empirical data was that gestalt play therapy can be used to good effect in the treatment of visually impaired children. / Die navorser het gevind dat daar weinig inligting in die literatuur beskikbaar is oor hoe gestaltspelterapie in die hulpverlening aan visueel gestremde kinders benut kan word. Die doel van die navorsingstudie was dus om kennis uit te brei rakende die benutting van gestaltspelterapie in die hulpverlening aan visueel gestremde kinders. 'n Basiese kwalitatiewe navorsingstudie met 'n verkennende en beskrywende aard is onderneem om te beskryf hoe gestaltspelterapie benut word met betrekking tot visueel gestremde kinders. 'n Verteenwoordigende steekproef is getrek, volgens 'n doelgerigte nie-waarskynlikheidsmetode, vanuit die populasie bestaande uit gestaltspelterapeute wat al van tevore hulp aan visueel gestremde kinders verleen het. Data-insameling het plaasgevind deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde telefoniese onderhoude. Die versamelde data is volgens die Tematiese Inhoudsanalise ontleed deur verbandhoudende temas (ooreenkomstig die doel van die studie) in getranskribeerde onderhoude te soek. Die algemene gevolgtrekking wat vanuit die empiriese bevindinge gemaak kan word, is dat gestaltspelterapie wel in die hulpverlening aan visueel gestremde kinders benut kan word. / Social Work / M.Diac. (Play Therapy)