Chapter 1 The Problem and Its Setting Introduction Have you ever imagined how blind person live?

How would they get to the grocery store, pass a pedestrian lane or do a simple household chore? Those are basic questions that play on our minds as we talk about blindness. Blindness as defined by Mosbys Medical Dictionary is the absence of sight. World Health Organization (WHO) defines blindness as the best corrected visual acuity of 3/60 (20/400) or less, in better eye. Without sight, people rely on their other senses to experience the world. They use the other senses to compensate for their lack of sight. As what Maslow said, all people have the need or desire for stable, firmly based usually high evaluation of themselves; self respect and self esteem and for the esteem of others. Accordingly, he identified two subjects competence and confidence in the face of the world, independence and freedom to respect the needs for self esteem from others. Therefore, having high self esteem and self worth enables individual to cope with daily life changes and help them attain happiness and satisfaction in their daily living. Horowitz et al. (2005) observed that visual impairment considerably affects the carrying out of the blind persons daily living tasks and social activities. Moreover, it is a strong predictor of functional decline over the long term. Many of the chores and routine tasks associated with daily living can be frustrating to blind individuals. Thankfully,

specializes tools / equipments and devices have been developed to help alleviate this frustration, gain more self esteem and enhance the quality of life with increase independence. Electronics have opened up a new world of independence for blind people living alone. In fact, computers with screen reading software have opened new areas of employment never considered viable for workers with vision loss. With specialized training workers who are blind operate equipments, machineries and manufacturing tools. There are also mobility tools that can be use by blind individual like sighted guide, mobility cane and a dog guide. Sighted guide technique is not difficult to learn. If you are walking with someone visually impaired, dont grab their arms. Allow them to take yours grasping gently at your elbow. In this manner, they will keep a half step behind you. The use of mobility cane is the first major step to travel independence for a blind person. The cane travelers arcs the tool from left to right, their body width is insured of clearing any obstacles. Dog guide and other working animals are on special diets. The owner looks after the diet of their four legged partner very carefully. The animal is well fed and does his job most efficiently when a recommended diet is followed. Blind people do not want pity or condescending treatment. We see more blind persons today walking alone with their new found independence. These people enjoy increased mobility with their cane or enhanced independence because of their dog guide. It is important for us to know the correct procedure to offer assistance or interact without interfering their independence.

This study seeks to give deeper understanding and realization to Albayanos and others, with information regarding blindness; its most common causes, the problems it brought to the person and the coping strategies they used to overcome the difficulties they encountered. Everyone should be aware of this problem so as concerned agencies will support and give proper attention to this affliction. Deeply exploring the difficulties met by blind people, how they perform activities of daily living, how they adjust and adapt to the situation and as future nurse and health care provider, for her to give proper intervention and assistance to an individual with the same disorder without interfering their independence, motivated the researcher to conduct this study Statement of the Problem This study aimed to determine the life of a blind individual. Answers were sought for the following question: 1. What is the identifying information of the case in terms of: a) Age b) Sex c) Civil Status d) Educational attainment e) Occupation f) Living arrangement g) Onset of blindness

2. What is the historical background of the case along: a) History of chronic disease b) Eye Infections c) Accidents 3. What is the level of Difficulties met by the Respondents along: a) Physical Activities b) Psychological Dilemma c) Social Relations d) Financial Management 4. What are the coping strategies used by the respondents to overcome the difficulties? Assumptions 1. The respondents have different historical background of the disability 2. The respondents encountered different difficulties in terms of physical activities, psychological dilemma, social relation and financial management. 3. Each respondent have different views on coping strategies they used to overcome the difficulties of their daily living. Scope and Delimitation This study will focus on the difficulties met by blind persons in terms of physical activities, psychological dilemma, social relation and financial management and the coping strategies used by the respondents to overcome the difficulties and to adjust with

the new situation. In this study, the researcher decided to conduct a study about blind persons that belongs to age 25 and above and recently residing at Albay province. The respondents are those who are not congenitally blind rather they acquire blindness due to history of any chronic disease, eye infection or trauma and injury on the eye. Investigation or inquiries about the difficulties met by the blind person in terms of physical activities, psychological dilemma, social relation and financial management will be conducted by means of visiting the respondents in their houses and asking them questions based on the interview guide that was prepared by the researcher. Locale of the Study Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Legaspi City and the province borders the Camarines Sur to the North and Sorsogon to the South. Also to the Northeast is Lagonoy gulf leading to the Philippine sea and to the Southeast is Burias Pass. Its land area is 2,552.6 km2 , which makes it the 26th smallest province. Albay is compose of three cities namely Legaspi City, Tabaco City and Ligao City. It is subdivided into fifteen (15) towns. Its total population is 1,090,907, which makes it the 22nd most populous province in the country. There are 208,640 households in the province with an average size of 5.22 persons significantly higher than the national average of 4.99. Bicolano is the primary language spoken in Albay, being a part of the Bicol Region. Majority of the inhabitants also understand Tagalog and English. Agriculture is the main industry in Albay, which produces such crops as coconut, rice, sugar and abaca. Handicrafts are the major source of rural income. Forestry and papermaking are another source of livelihood. The manufacture of abaca products such as Manila hemp, hats, bags, mats and slippers is one of the main sources of

Figure 1. Spot Map of Albay income in the rural areas. Fishing is also done along both shores of the province. Tourism, primarily because of Mayon Volcano, also draws income for Albay. Of the total 6,369 manufacturing establishments of varied sizes in the Bicol Region, 48.6% are located in Albay. Bicols largest industrial sites are in Albay. Tiwi and Manito boast geothermal energy plants; Camalig has the Goodfound cement factory. Daraga has its Isarog Pulp and Paper Company, Legaspi City has Bicol Hair and Legaspi Oil Company and two other large coconut oil milling plants, making Albay top foreign currency earner this part of Luzon. Albay is also the regions principal transshipment point with its ports; Tabaco International, Legazpi National, Pio Duran Provincial and the Pantao Regional

Port. Legazpi City also has its own domestic airport which hopes to serves as Bicols gateway to Manila and the Visayas. Significance of the study The researcher believed that the result of the study would prove useful to the following: Blind Individuals- By this study they will be able to grasp new and to have additional ideas about the coping strategies that can be employed to met their difficulties. Family- By this study they will have an idea about the difficulties met by their blind family members and ways to assist them. Community- this study will give the public an idea and deeper understanding about the difficulties met by blind persons and their roles to be played in meeting their needs. Nursing Students- the result of this study will serve as guidelines in dealing with blind person. With this study, they can anticipate the needs in physical, psychological, social aspect of the patient. They could also provide activities that are appropriate and can enhance the blind patients self-esteem, self worth and independence. Hospital Staff- this study would help the hospital staff and their affiliating agencies to duly understand the correct procedure in offering assistance on blind person. Hospital Administrator- this study would assist them identifying the appropriate management and assistant on blind person without interfering with their independence.

Department of Health (DOH)- as a center agency in health, this study would enlighten and motivate them to conduct programs (such as free check-up, seminars, programs and trainings about proper use of mobility gadgets) to help blind person ease doing their daily task. Government Organizations- would profit from the result of the study because they would be the recipients of the service towards programs. Non- Government Organization- this study would encourage them to give support on the programs implemented for blind persons. Other Researchers- this study would serve as a start for further studies regarding programs and activities in relation for the maintenance of self-esteem and enhancement for independence. Researcher Herself- through this study the researcher be aware about the difficulties and persons health needs as well as techniques to lessen those difficulties. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) this study would give them an idea as well as motivate them to provide assistance and programs that may help those blind individuals in their daily activities. They could also refer those blind individual in some institution that offer assistance for the welfare of those disabled people. Future Researchers- could also use this work as part of their learning or instruction materials and serve as starting point for further research.