Songs at twilight

Abstract

This article reflects on a doctoral research project undertaken by the author, which used co-constructed audio narratives to explore the experience of living with a visual impairment and the effect this had on claims to identity. The research project was attempting to respond to Duckett and Pratt’s review of visual impairment research which called for research where there was empowerment and ‘greater inclusion of visually impaired people’ (2007: 7). Themes emerging from the research that were thought to have an influence on identity were related to negative societal attitudes towards visual impairment, including living in a world dominated by sighted perspectives, relationships with sighted people, attitudes towards education, schooling and employment and not having a voice within the agencies set up to support people who are visually impaired. Within this article the author specifically explores the use of collaborative narrative methodology, using excerpts from the narrative text to reflect on both the process of the research and whether this could be considered emancipatory, and also to demonstrate how societal attitudes affected the four research participants, and the author’s experience of living with a visual impairment, and the effect this had on claims to identity.