The effectiveness of orientation and mobility training on the quality of life for students who are blind in Iran

Abstract

Orientation and mobility (O&M) training is a practical and helpful method to prepare people who are blind for independent living. Hence, this study aimed to survey the effect of O&M training on the quality of life in students who are blind in Iran. This research was a quasi-randomized controlled trial design. Participants were 24 third-grade to sixth-grade students from two schools for blind in Isfahan, Iran. Using cluster sampling method, one school was assigned to the experimental group ( n = 12) and the other to the control group ( n = 12). The experimental group participated in the 8-session O&M training program. Both groups completed a World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) at pre-intervention and post-intervention. The obtained data were analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) test. The results showed significant increases in quality of life and all subscales (physical health, mental health, social relationships, and environmental health) in the experimental group than in the control group. The findings suggest that O&M training can promote quality of life among students who are blind in Iran. Moreover, these findings increase the interest of children and adolescents who are blind in O&M training.

The Effect of Vocational Training on Visually Impaired People’s Quality of Life

“…As such, blind and visually impaired people may not want to go out and are afraid of being laughed at after falling. These conditions can be ascribed to a lack of orientation and mobility training [ 70 ] or unfriendly environmental conditions (pedestrian obstacles, a lack of warning sounds, etc.). Kuriakose et al [ 71 ] found that using technological aids increases the possibility of employment for visually impaired people.…”

Meningkatkan Kemampuan Orientasi dan Mobilitas Anak Usia Dini Tunanetra melalui Permainan Petak Umpet yang Dimodifikasi

“…Orientasi dan mobilitas (O&M) mengacu pada kemampuan untuk mengetahui posisi seseorang dalam berhubungan dengan individu lain dan kemampuan bergerak melalui lingkungan. Keterampilan mobilitas pada tunantera umumnya bervariasi (Kamali & Ashori, 2021). O&M juga dipahami sebagai keterampilan yang digunakan untuk mengetahui posisi seseorang di lingkungan serta kemampuan untuk bergerak secara mandiri dan aman (Malik, 2018).…”