Kornelia Czerwińska

The first part of the article presents the forms of educating students with visual impairment in Polish education system, including discussion of their special educational needs. Furthermore, the data concerning the competency level of the students with visual impairment graduating from high school in 2014 and 2015 in each administrative district (voivodship), available on the websites of the Local Examination Committees (LEC) and the Central Examination Committee (CEC) are analyzed. In the final part of the article the authors propose means of identifying the reasons why students with visual impairment achieve very low scores at the final high school exam.

Acquiring visual impairment in senior age results in a number of negative implications in the physical, psychological and social spheres which lead to a decrease of the quality of life. Numer-ous studies have shown a higher mortality rate among seniors who are losing vision. The studies of various patient populations have proved that visual impairment increases the risk of death, both directly and indirectly, through the negative effect it has on the indicators of physical condi-tion and psychological wellbeing. The mechanisms determining this phenomenon have not been sufficiently recognized yet and need further investigations due to the high social significance of the problem.

Visual impairment is among the most common conditions in later life. It influences on the inability to perform the basic activities but limits independents, process of thinking and data coding information. The article presents the latest research on cognitive function in the elderly with visual disabilities. The authors drew attention to the cognitive difficulties of patients with cataracts, glaucoma, retinal pigmentosa degeneration, age-related macular degeneration and retinopathia diabetica.

Becoming blind in adulthood, which is a serious permanent disability, is considered to be a critical life event that lowers a person’s well-being and increases the need for social support. The effectiveness of support depends on many interrelated factors, among which the following are of fundamental importance: the nature of the problems experienced, individual traits of the person with acquired blindness and social networks’ characteristics. Effective support facilitates the process of adaption to vision loss as well as prevents mental disorders and a permanent deterioration of the quality of life. Lack of or inadequate social support as well as support that is not adapted to the current needs and capabilities of the person losing his or her vision in terms of its scope and type has a negative impact on the coping process. This article’s purpose is to review and analyze selected research on relationships between various aspects of social support - emotional and tangible support in particular – and adaptation to vision loss in adulthood. It presents studies whose findings have high application value in designing effective rehabilitation models for adults with acquired blindness and in supporting their family members.

In the process of adapting to permanent severe impairment an important role is played by social support which helps reduce stress, strengthens mental toughness, and facilitates developing constructive coping strategies. Professional texts emphasize the need to develop an ability to perceive and utilize social support. The article presents a biographical case study of a person who suddenly lost his vision as an adult due to a road accident. The narrative interview of Dan McAdams is a basic research technique. The analysis of the narration aims at learning about the role the subject attributes to the perceived social support as a factor in the process of adaptation. The subject focuses on informal support provided by his family members, friends, acquaintances, as well as by professionals. He points out to some gaps in the rehabilitation service system. The statements of the subject indicate that it is very important that the support offered in the situation of vision loss is subject-oriented and helps empower the supported individual.

The population of persons with visual impairment is increasing due to the increasing number of cases of vision loss in the course of life, particularly in late adulthood. Acquiring vision loss in late adulthood is a risk factor for occurrence of additional problems in the area of physical and mental health which result in significant  deterioration of the quality of life. One of the negative effects of adventitious vision loss is decreased physical activity. Developing effective programs which promote physical activity among seniors with acquired vision loss is determined by proper identification of barriers experienced in that area, as well as of motivating factors and  of resources available for that social group. Taking into consideration the increasing global population of persons with visual impairment and numerous advantages (physiological, emotional-social, functional) of regular physical activity, it is necessary to undertake research investigating those issues.

The prevalence rate of visual impairment in the population of persons above the age of 65 is significantly increasing. Vision loss in late adulthood can result in substantial functional deterioration which generates a number of problems in performing activities of daily living and increases the demand for care services in the place of residence or in an institution. The goal of the article is to present the results of research on the effects of partial or total vision loss on the quality of life of elderly persons. The negative effect of acquired vision loss on the quality of life of seniors has been sufficiently evidenced by numerous research studies. However, the  mechanisms generating those adverse effects have not been clearly identified.