The approach of Mother Elżbieta Czacka and contemporary theoretical and research trends in the field of visual impairment

Abstract

Visual impairment is currently presented in special education as a tendency to experience a number of problems in implementing developmental tasks characteristic of specific life phase. Some of the main goals of typhlopedagogy is to develop optimum rehabilitation solutions and to implement procedures which prevent marginalization of persons with blindness. The accomplishments of Mother Elżbieta Czacka are particularly significant in Polish typhlopedagogy. She was the founder of the Society for the Blind and of the Institute for the Blind at Laski. Based on the descriptive and critical analysis of the available sources the article presents selected typhlopedagogical views of Mother Czacka and refers them to contemporary research trends. The timeliness of her pedagogical views is emphasized – she had a holistic approach to typhlopedagogical support and she focused on such ideas as independence, self-determination, autonomy, personal development, social utility. Key words: visual impairment, blindness, education , rehabilitation, typhlopedagogy