Experiences of blind children caregivers

Abstract

• Background: Teachers, parents and foundations should become objective-oriented for children with visual impairment so that learning and sensitization of necessary knowledge and skills for the behaviors of these children are assisted. Where there is impairment in the relations of children caregivers, their emotional security is disturbed and its effects will appear in their behaviors. Therefore, strong dependence on parents, teachers and other adults is the characteristics of most of the children with physical problems including blind children. Since use of the experiences of caregivers of these children increases their efficiency and life skills, this study was conducted aiming to understand the experiences of blind children caregivers in Isfahan.
• Materials and Methods: This study was a qualitative study with a phenomenological approach to investigate the experiences of blind children caregivers including mothers and teachers. Four mothers of blind children and four caregivers of blind children were purposefully selected and interviewed from 2007 to 2009. Data were collected through interviews which were recorded on cassette tapes. The obtained data were analyzed using Collizzi method.
• Findings: The experiences of the blind children caregivers were divided into two groups of challenge and role.
• Conclusions: The results of this study showed that upon diagnosing the child’s blindness, the parents suffer from mental stress. At first, they deny the problem, but then they begin to come along and accept the blind child. At this time, they analyze the effective factors in keeping and educating the child. At the same time, they act in response to the child influenced by several factors including the role of the society.
• Key words: Caregivers, blind, phenomenology