Information and the Quality of Life of Visually Impaired Individuals

AbstractThe article deals with the general effect of information and the awareness on the quality of life with a focus on a target group of visually impaired individuals. The modern society is characterized by the development of technologies and by the awareness of the significance of a comprehensive approach t o a human as a bio-psycho-socio-spiritual being as well. The quality of life of a health impaired individual i s influenced by a number of factors which also include information available t o visually impaired individual s as well as intact persons. Data collection was performed using questionnaires containing items with closed as well as open-ended answers. The study was carried out in t he Czech Republic, the selection of the respondents (seniors with visual impairment, teachers in schools designed for children with visual impairment) was based on institutions that corresponded to the purposes of the study. The research revealed interest ing findings about the degree of awareness about the issue of visual impairment; this applies to both visually impaired individuals and intact persons. Both groups showed a lower than optimum level of awareness in all key aspect s. The result s of t he study showed considerable reserves in the area of awareness about visual impairment. Considering the interdependence between the quality of life and t he amount of information, the quality of life of impaired individuals can be affected by these reserves. In this area, the study brings new findings for special education theory as well as practice. The study is supported by grant of Palacky Universit y, number PdF_2013_006 (Research of Quality of Life of Individuals wit h Special Needs)