The Physical Costs and Psychosocial Benefits of Travel Aids for Persons who are Visually Impaired Or Blind

Gitlin, Laura N.; Mount, Julie; Lucas, Warren Covelé; Weirich, L. C.; Gramberg, L.

doi:10.1177/0145482x9709100404

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Commercial device interfaces may be difficult or impossible for persons with disabilities to use, requiring expensive custom programming. 52 Although research is needed to help determine what types and levels of ability are needed to learn and operate many types of assistive technology, and to evaluate how devices should be changed to accommodate users with cognitive as well as physical disabilities, high-tech ATC may present its own set of challenges. Previous authors 53 have speculated about client characteristics that may predict success with electronic devices among persons with brain injury, but these have not yet been tested systematically.…”

Section: Can People With Cognitive Disabilities Manage Their Own Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assistive Technologies for Cognitive Disabilities

Scherer

Hart

Kirsch

et al. 2005

Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med

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To provide a comprehensive review of assistive technology (AT) to offset cognitive impairment, including examples, with pros and cons and important considerations for AT selection. Method: Prior research and a literature review identified the critical need for a means to identify key elements known to influence the successful use of AT and other supports by persons with cognitive disabilities. Results: The components of effective and satisfied AT use result from a good match among device features, user goals and preferences, and environmental resources (including trained professionals and providers). Conclusions: As the number of AT options increase, individualized interventions for individuals with cognitive disabilities will be easier to accomplish. The key to successful and optimal use of these products will be a comprehensive yet individualized determination of consumer needs and preferences and the identification of additional accommodations and supports.

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Section: Can People With Cognitive Disabilities Manage Their Own Tmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assistive Technologies for Cognitive Disabilities

Scherer

Hart

Kirsch

et al. 2005

Crit Rev Phys Rehabil Med

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“…A guide dog is a domestic dog ( Canis familiaris ) that is specially trained to provide mobility support to a blind or visually impaired owner. As a mobility aid guide dogs can improve an individual’s physical activity level, distance travelled, the pace of walking speed, and familiarity of routes considered [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. Beyond their trained role in mobility support, guide dogs can also provide: feelings of increased independence, confidence and safety[ 2 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]; affection and companionship[ 2 , 3 ]; facilitation of social interaction[ 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 ]; and positive changes in social identity[ 8 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“She’s a dog at the end of the day”: Guide dog owners’ perspectives on the behaviour of their guide dog

et al. 2017

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A guide dog is a domestic dog (Canis familiaris) that is specifically educated to provide mobility support to a blind or visually impaired owner. Current dog suitability assessments focus on behavioural traits, including: trainability, reactivity or attention to environmental stimuli, low aggressiveness, fearfulness and stress behaviour, energy levels, and attachment behaviour. The aim of this study was to find out which aspects of guide dog behaviour are of key importance to guide dog owners themselves. Sixty-three semi-structured interview surveys were carried out with guide dog owners. Topics included the behaviour of their guide dog both within and outside their working role, and also focused on examples of behaviour which might be considered outside a guide dog owner’s typical expectations. Both positive and negative examples and situations were covered. This allowed for the discovery of new perspectives and emerging themes on living and working with a guide dog. Thematic analysis of the results reveals that a dog’s safe behaviour in the face of traffic was the most important positive aspect of a guide dog’s behaviour and pulling or high tension on the lead and /or harness was the most discussed negative aspect. Other aspects of guide dog behaviour were highlighted as particularly pleasing or disappointing by owners including attentiveness to the task, work, environment and owner; confidence in work and decision making (with confident dogs resulting in confident owners) obedience and control; calmness and locating objectives. The results reveal important areas of behaviour that are not currently considered priorities in guide dog assessments; these key areas were consistency of behaviour, the dog’s maturity and the dog’s behaviour in relation to children. The survey revealed a large range in what owners considered problematic or pleasing behaviours and this highlights the heterogeneity in guide dog owners and the potential multifarious roles of the guide dog. This study contributes to the literature on which behaviour is considered appropriate or inappropriate in dogs and on the nature of human-animal interactions.

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“…The day-to-day experience of using a guide dog has received some attention in the professional and non-professional literature, but much of the information available is anecdotal or based on individual accounts. Psychosocial benefi ts of using a guide dog have been reported (Gitlin, Mount, Lucas, Weirich, & Gramberg, 1997;Lambert, 1990;Muldoon, 2000;Refson, Jackson, Dusoir, & Archer, 1999;Sanders, 2000;Steffans & Bergler, 1998;Zee, 1983) and reasons why some people with vision impairments chose not to use a dog (Refson et al, 1999;Refson, Jackson, Plant, et al, 2000). In addition to their working role, like pets, guide dogs and other trained service dogs, a category which include hearing dogs for the deaf, mobility assistance dogs, and seizure-alert dogs, benefi t people with disabilities by providing friendship and companionship (Hart, Zasloff, & Benfatto, 1995), acting as social facilitators (Eddy, Hart, & Boltz, 1988;Hart, Hart, & Bergin, 1987), and enhancing self-perceived health (Lane, M c Nicholas, & Collis, 1998).…”

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confidence: 99%