How the COVID-19 pandemic affected children with low vision: An Occupational perspective

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 31 - 47, 30.04.2022

Güleser Güney Yılmaz Tarık Demirok Esra Akı

Abstract

Objectives: Specific needs of children with low vision have emerged during the COVID- 19 pandemic. This study aimed to reveal the occupational experiences during the pandemic period from the perspectives of children with low vision.
Materials and Methods: The present study was designed as a concurrent transformative mixed design study. The demographic information form and an online survey which were prepared to enhance the results of the qualitative data, were applied through Google Forms. Semi-structured interviews with qualitative data were collected via telephone conversation / Zoom / Skype according to the personal communication preferences of the families.
Results: 38 children with low vision and their families were included in this study. Education or treatment/rehabilitation processes of children with low vision have been adversely affected by the pandemic. It was found that the decrease in social interaction and participation levels, limited social communication and interaction, decrease in activity variety and performance, and sleep patterns were negatively affected by low vision children at school age and without multiple disabilities. Children have experienced limitations in their participation in school and play activities that are very important to their age group.
Conclusion: Prior to the pandemic, children with low vision with special needs now have additional problems that require new support systems and arrangements to fully participate in life. There is a need for special adaptations and structuring, especially for the participation of these children in education and rehabilitation services.

Keywords

COVID-19, children, Low vision, occupational therapy

COVID 19 pandemisi az gören çocukları nasıl etkiledi: Oküpasyonel bir bakış açısı

Abstract

Amaç: COVID-19 pandemisi ile birlikte az gören çocukların özel gereksinimleri ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çalışma, az gören çocukların bakış açısıyla pandemi sürecindeki okupasyonel deneyimlerini ortaya koymayı amaçlamıştır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu araştırma, eşzamanlı dönüşümsel karma desenli bir araştırma olarak tasarlanmıştır. Demografik bilgi formu ve nitel verileri desteklemek amacıyla oluşturulan çevrimiçi anket Google Formlar aracılığıyla, nitel veriler telefon görüşmesi/Zoom/Skype aracılığıyla yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler ile toplandı.
Bulgular: Bu çalışmaya az gören 38 çocuk ve ailesi dahil edildi. Az gören çocukların eğitim veya tedavi/rehabilitasyon süreçleri pandemiden olumsuz etkilenmiştir. Okul çağında ve çoklu engele sahip olmayan az gören çocukların sosyal etkileşim ve katılım düzeylerinin azalması, sosyal iletişim ve etkileşimin sınırlı olması, aktivite çeşitliliği ve performansında azalma, uyku düzenini olumsuz etkilediği bulundu. Çocuklar, akranları için çok önemli olan okul ve oyun etkinliklerine katılımda sınırlamalar yaşamışlardır.
Sonuç: Pandemi öncesinde özel ihtiyaçları olan az gören çocukların artık hayata tam olarak katılmaları için yeni destek sistemleri ve düzenlemeleri gerektiren ek sorunları ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu çocukların özellikle eğitim ve rehabilitasyon faliyetlerine katılımları konusunda özel adaptasyon ve yapılandırmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Keywords

COVID-19, az gören, pandemi, ergoterapi

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