Empowering Visually Impaired People to Access Their Environment

Abstract

The author discusses two factors that should influence the planning and development of rehabilitation services for visu-. ally impaired people: social perceptions/expectations and external environmental influences. Perceptions and expectations that are discussed include media influence, leisure, health, quality of life, and equality of opportunity. External environmental influences identified are demographic, economic, social, political, and physical. Achievements in raising the status of visually impaired people and improving some services will enable effective rehabilitation services to be developed, despite the conflicting requirements imposed by expectations and environmental influences.