The life-world of visually impaired adolescents : an educational guidance perspective

M.Ed.The purpose of this research study is to determine the experiences of the visually impaired adolescents in their life-world. Visually impaired adolescents have mixed emotions, that is, feeling of helplessness, confusion, disbelief, powerlessness, fear, shamefulness and anxiety. They generally consider themselves as inferior human beings. They are beset by predominantly negative images and see themselves, as either a source of trouble or in trouble. In bringing together this view one of my main challenges has been to challenges this problematic perspective on visually impaired adolescents. I also want to promote critical reflection on the position of visually impaired adolescents in our country and in so doing I have sought to capture and analyze the changing image and experiences of visually impaired adolescents and as well as the complexity of situations they go through. I perceive a need to rethink visually impaired adolescents in terms of acknowledging and respecting the many positive contributions they can do and do make to their communities and how peers and adults can provide them with both effective support and positive criticism. I believe that visually impaired adolescents peers and adults alike can learn and benefit from such a refashioned public dialogue. Thus this research study is represented as a positive contribution towards promoting the rights and acknowledging the responsibilities of visually impaired adolescents in our contemporary society. The study is qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual in approach and it, therefore, became necessary to use phenomenological semi-structured interviews with visually impaired adolescents. The sample consisted of eight visually impaired adolescents residing at the school hostels. Before the interview trust was built through written request of permission to the principal of the school concerned to conduct the research study. The participating adolescents were also informed of what the research is all about before the main interview. Data was analyzed utilizing Tesch's model Trustworthiness was ensured throughout the study by applying Guba's approach, including the services of an independent coder. The findings of the study indicated that adolescents who are visually impaired live a stressful life and suffer much shame neglect, abuse and confusion because their aspirations, namely social, physical, emotional and educational are frustrated since they are not considered as human beings. Guidelines for visually impaired adolescents were formulated around this theme with the aim of assisting them on how to cope in a similar situation, to mobilize resources in order to cope and lead a meaningful life irrespective of their physical status