The practical skills of persons with vision impairment

Abstract

Background/Aim. The acquisition of practical skills, as with adaptive behaviour in general, is affected by an array of personal and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to determine the level of acquisition of practical adaptive skills among adults with vision impairment in comparison to the norms among the general population, and with regard to the visual status (low vision and blindness), age of vision loss onset, gender, age, living arrangements, education, and employment status. Methods. Seventy-nine persons who are blind and forty-eight volunteers with low vision with typical intellectual abilities took part in the study. The respondents were aged from 19 to 60 (M = 36.06, SD = 11.777). Practical adaptive skills were assessed using the Practical Skills domain which is part of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II - ABAS II. Results. The scores achieved in the skill areas of the Practical Skills domain, range from extremely low to average. Extremely low scores were detected in the Work skill area, for the skill areas of Community Use, Home Living and Health and Safety, the scores were below average, and average scores were noted in the Self-Care skill area. The degree of practical skills acquisition among persons with vision impairment depended primarily on the visual status, but a significant connection with living arrangements and employment status was also established. Conclusion. Persons with vision impairment showed significant limitations in the area of practical skills, which indicate the need for support programs designed to foster the development of self-reliance.