Improving assistive technology access to students with low vision and blindness in Delhi: A school-based model

Purpose: Assistive technology (AT) has recently received considerable attention around the world. Studies have shown poor access to assistive technology for visual impairment (ATVI) in schools for the blind in India. The present article aimed at designing a school?based model to improve AT access in schools and provide hands?on training, and identify types of ocular morbidities present among students. Methods: The vision rehabilitation (VR) team of a tertiary eye?care center visited schools for the blind as a part of community? based VR services. The team conducted a basic eye examination and assessed best?corrected vision acuity (BCVA) and provided VR services. Furthermore, two schools were selected to establish an ATVI learning center as a pilot model. Results: In total, 1887 students were registered for VR and obtained their disability certificates in 2019?20. Retina problems (25.7%), globe abnormalities (25.5%), optic nerve atrophy (13.6%), and squint (12.0%) were common ocular problems identified in students. Around 50.3% of students had BCVA ³ 1/60 in the better eye who would be benefited from visual?based AT, and the remaining students with visual substitution AT. Further, 20.8% of them who had near vision between N18 to N24 would be benefitted from large print books. Two schools were provided ATVI with support from the WHO. Familiarization, demonstration, and initial training for ATVI were carried out. Conclusion: A sizable number of the students would be benefitted from visual?based AT apart from visual substitutions AT. Students were interested to have such ATVI centers in the school for academic and non?academic skills development.

Survey of Medicine Use of the Acquired Visual Disabilities / 社会薬学

<p>[Objectives] Visually impaired is assumed that the taking medicine is difficult. This study aimed to elucidate the actual status of using drugs as part of medication assistance for people with acquired visual disabilities. [Method] We conducted a questionnaire survey of 14 people with acquired visual disabilities who use the Fukuoka Welfare Center for the Disabled. [Results] The mean age of the subjects was 70.2 years. The reading method “voice” was the highest at 12 cases. Thirteen people (93%) managed their medications by themselves. Among medication-related problems, 10 were associated with “vision.” Regarding efforts in using drugs, 6 cases the efforts involved using “vision.” People who always carry around the medication notebooks was two people (14%). Three people (21%) had a family pharmacy. Among requests and dissatisfaction concerning medication notebooks, 8 cases citing dissatisfaction had factors attributable to “pharmacy’s actions.” [Discussion] From the fact that voice in the reading methods are most often used, as a means of communication of information to the acquired visual disabilities, it is considered a method using the sound is suitable. In order to resolve medication difficulties, pharmacies need to make efforts according to the remaining ability of each individual.</p>

Preventive Health Examination, Health Behavior, and Psychological Health in Visual Disabilities

PURPOSE: To better understand visual disabilities via preventative health examination, health behavior, and psychological health. METHODS: The preventative health examination, health behavior, and psychological health records of 4,724 participants over the age of 40 who completed the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III) were analyzed. The participants were divided into 3 groups for analysis: subjects without disabilities, subjects with disabilities but without visual disabilities, and subjects with visual disabilities. The unadjusted mean and the adjusted mean for which socioeconomic factors were adjusted were calculated. RESULTS: In the preventative health examination there were no differences between the 3 groups except for a statistically significant increase in the number of cholesterol check-ups in the visual disability group. In the health-related behavior analysis, lifetime smoking and routine physical activity were similar between the visual disability and no disability group, however, these factors were greater in the disability without visual disability group. The analysis of psychological health revealed that major depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts and psychological consultations were greater in the disability without visual disability and the visual disability groups compared to the participants without disability. However the overall number of psychological consultations was low. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the frequency of preventative health examinations between each group. However, there was an increase in the prevalence of psychological problems in subjects with visual disabilities compared to subjects without disabilities and subjects with disabilities but without visual disabilities. Thus, ophthalmologists should consider psychological aspects when dealing with patients with visual disturbances.

Preventive Health Examination, Health Behavior, and Psychological Health in Visual Disabilities

PURPOSE: To better understand visual disabilities via preventative health examination, health behavior, and psychological health. METHODS: The preventative health examination, health behavior, and psychological health records of 4,724 participants over the age of 40 who completed the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III) were analyzed. The participants were divided into 3 groups for analysis: subjects without disabilities, subjects with disabilities but without visual disabilities, and subjects with visual disabilities. The unadjusted mean and the adjusted mean for which socioeconomic factors were adjusted were calculated. RESULTS: In the preventative health examination there were no differences between the 3 groups except for a statistically significant increase in the number of cholesterol check-ups in the visual disability group. In the health-related behavior analysis, lifetime smoking and routine physical activity were similar between the visual disability and no disability group, however, these factors were greater in the disability without visual disability group. The analysis of psychological health revealed that major depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts and psychological consultations were greater in the disability without visual disability and the visual disability groups compared to the participants without disability. However the overall number of psychological consultations was low. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the frequency of preventative health examinations between each group. However, there was an increase in the prevalence of psychological problems in subjects with visual disabilities compared to subjects without disabilities and subjects with disabilities but without visual disabilities. Thus, ophthalmologists should consider psychological aspects when dealing with patients with visual disturbances.