Self-regulation when using a mobility scooter: The experiences of older adults with visual impairments

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals with visual impairment may choose to use a mobility scooter for meaningful community mobility. This study investigated what self-regulation strategies older adults with visual impairment employed to ensure effective mobility scooter use. Method: This interpretive description study used multiple methods, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Among the 15 participants, a variety of visual impairments was represented. Results: Participants described the various reasons for getting a scooter. They also detailed risks and barriers that warranted self-regulation strategies including the environment, the visual impairment and the attitudinal approaches. Conclusion: Barriers to community participation are common for people with visual impairment. This study adds detailed accounts of strategies for the competent management of such barriers using self-regulation practices. These practices can be applied in the community to maintain/improve infrastructure accessibility, address public understanding of scooter use and educate individuals with visual impairment of strategies to improve their scooter use.

Special issue: Low vision rehabilitation

“…The final two articles address the important IADL of community mobility. The first, by McMullan and Butler (2019), provides an interpretative descriptive study from New Zealand. The researchers observed and interviewed 15 participants to determine self-regulation strategies older adults with vision impairment employ using a motorized scooter for community mobility.…”