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The Dualistic Society
Published in Al Condeluci, Beyond Difference, 2020
Albert Ellis (1975), the eminent psychologist, knows this phenomena well. In his work, he has developed a form of therapy called Rational Emotive Therapy (RET). In his thesis, if people are struggling with a psychological challenge, they can literally practice a rational approach to change. An example Ellis once used in a talk I attended, helped me understand RET. He asked us to consider the following scenario: You’re on a crowded bus on your way home from a harrowing day. The bus is packed and you have to stand. Holding your brief case and a package, added to how tired you are from the day, you’re not a particularly happy camper. The bus starts and stops and you are being jarred around. Then you feel a piercing elbow to your back – someone has bumped into you trying to make their way to the front of the bus. You’re highly annoyed and turn to give this person a piece of your mind. Then you notice their white cane. It’s a person with a visual disability making their way up front. Automatically, your anger turns to compassion and you help forge an opening for the person to pass by.
Life Care Planning for the Visually Impaired*
Published in Roger O. Weed, Debra E. Berens, Life Care Planning and Case Management Handbook, 2018
Roger O. Weed, Rasheeda Wilkins
Mobility devices are the most common aid, and the simplest is a white cane (or long cane). The proper length is important. An orientation and mobility specialist can assess an individual for the right size cane and provide the proper training needed to use the white cane effectively. White canes come in different styles, lengths, sizes, and weights. There are also various tips that can be attached the end of the cane.
Women Who Are Visually Impaired or Blind as Psychotherapy Clients: A Personal and Professional Perspective
Published in Mary E. Willmuth, Lillian Holcomb, Women with Disabilities: Found Voices, 2014
The fear or anxiety a woman who is visually impaired or blind may feel about traveling alone warrants additional comment. The possibility of violence or attack is an issue that all women must deal with when going out alone. Although there are no large-scale studies of women who are blind or visually impaired in relation to this issue, one may easily see how this group of women are at increased risk for violence or attack. Several factors make this group more vulnerable. Many women who are visually impaired or blind need to use a white cane, guide dog, or assistance from individuals with full vision because of their limitations in mobility. These assistive devices and techniques also signal to those around them that they have physical limitations. Their visual limitation also decreases their ability to discern when danger is present. They may not be able to take note that they are being watched or followed, and then to seek assistance. Finally, women who are blind or visually impaired generally must rely on public transportation such as buses and taxis. Use of these forms of transportation often require waiting alone for long periods, and walking to and from bus stops. All of these factors may make women who are visually impaired or blind more vulnerable targets to perpetrators of crime.
An intelligent indoor guidance and navigation system for the visually impaired
Published in Assistive Technology, 2022
The input modules used in indoor navigation systems can be divided into three main groups: non-camera-based, camera-based, and hybrid systems (Plikynas et al., 2020). Some studies using non-camera-based inputs for navigation utilize sensor network tags such as Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID). RFID uses electromagnetic fields to recognize and track the tags of objects automatically. Systems using this technology require various hardware and software components such as tags, readers, reader control and an application software to process signals at different frequencies which can increase the cost. One study using the RFID technology is by Alghamdi et al. (2014) where a mobile reader is attached to the user, and active tags are distributed to ceilings of the building. Besides, dynamic RFID systems for a room having fixed obstacles and setup have also been studied (Öktem & Aydin, 2010) where three RF receivers are fixed around the room divided into grids. These grids are previously defined and the signal strength in each grid is measured and saved. Bayesian Decision Theory is used for position estimation depending on the previously calculated probabilities. Also, Tsirmpas et al. (2015) applied the passive RFID technique to corridors and all reachable locations which were divided into grids. A similar technique is used with a white cane by including colored navigation lines as well as RFID tags (Seto & Magatani, 2009).
Validation of an eBAT as a mobility aid for blind people
Published in Assistive Technology, 2022
David Abreu, Benito Codina, Jonay Toledo, Arminda Suárez
A sample of 25 totally blind subjects was used for the test. The population was 64% male and 36% female. Ages ranging from 26 to 56. The average age of blindness was 19. And all of them were 100% visually impaired. As concerns their personal autonomy, 4% were autonomous in normal outdoor environments; 40% were autonomous in normal outdoor environments and, if needed, used public transportation; and the remaining 56% were autonomous in any environment (being public transportation users). Finally, 100% of the participants used a white cane. The goal of this sample selection procedure was to overcome one of the main limitations of this kind of study: the absence of user-centered designs (Fok et al., 2011; Klatzky et al., 2014; Loomis et al., 2012). Instead of temporarily blindfolded subjects, this study employed functionally blind individuals who relied on a white cane.
Romantic relationship and psychological wellbeing: the experiences of young individuals with visual impairment
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2021
Carmit-Noa Shpigelman, Mara Vorobioff
The Jewish participants also believed that stigmatic reactions are associated with using a white cane. They said that using a white cane placed them in a position of inferiority compared to other blind people who use a guide dog: “In the past, when I used a white cane, people saw it and moved away from me. When you use a cane, it is like you physically and socially sweep people away, including potential partners” (Gal, blind Jewish man). “Having a guide dog is like an ice breaker. When people see the guide dog they start talking to you, while a white cane causes people to stay away” (Dina, blind Jewish woman). It should be noted that the Muslim participants did not raise the question of using a white cane versus a guide dog in the context of stigma. In the Islamic religious culture, dogs are perceived as “forbidden animals” due to the association of the dog with certain “unclean” behaviors like scavenging or eating carrion [56].