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The Environmental Production of Disability for Seniors with Age-Related Vision Loss

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 January 2017

Colleen McGrath ,
Debbie Laliberte Rudman ,
Marlee Spafford ,
Barry Trentham  and
Jan Polgar
Colleen McGrath*
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario, School of Occupational Therapy, Elborn College
Debbie Laliberte Rudman
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario, School of Occupational Therapy, Elborn College
Marlee Spafford
Affiliation:
University of Waterloo, Optometry and Vision Science
Barry Trentham
Affiliation:
University of Toronto, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Jan Polgar
Affiliation:
University of Western Ontario, School of Occupational Therapy, Elborn College
*
†La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à : / Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to: Colleen McGrath, Ph.D. School of Occupational Therapy University of Western Ontario 1201 Western Road London, ON, N6G 1H1 (cmcgrat2@uwo.ca)
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Abstract

To date, attention to the environmental production of disability among older adults with age-related vision loss (ARVL) has been limited. This critical ethnographic study aimed to reveal the ways in which environmental barriers produced and perpetuated disability for 10 older adults with ARVL. A modified version of Carspecken’s five-stage approach for critical ethnography was adopted with three methods of data collection used, including a narrative interview, a participant observation session, and a semi-structured, in-depth interview. Findings revealed how disability is shaped for older adults with ARVL when they encounter environmental features that are embedded within an ageist and disablist society. These findings are illustrated via presenting analysis of three commonly discussed activities: shopping, eating, and community mobility. Our discussion suggests that addressing the environmental production of disability requires inclusive social policy, advocacy, and a focus on education in order to develop and sustain age and low-vision-friendly environments.

Résumé

À ce jour, l’attention portée aux causes environnementales d’infirmité parmi les personnes âgées ayant une perte de vision liée à l’âge a été limitée. Cette étude ethnographique critique visait à révéler les façons dont les barrières environnementales ont produit ou perpétué l’invalidité chez 10 personnes âgées atteintes de PVLA. Une version modifiée de l’approche en cinq étapes de l’ethnographie critique de Carspecken a été adoptée en utilisant trois méthodes de collecte de données, notamment une entrevue narrative, une séance d’observation participante et une entrevue semi-structurée en profondeur. Les résultats ont révélé comment l’invalidité est façonnée pour les personnes âgées avec PVLA quand ils rencontrent des caractéristiques environnementales intégrées d’une société ageiste et invalidante. Ces résultats sont illustrés par la présentation d’analyses de trois activités couramment discutées: faire de shopping, manger et déplacement dans la communauté. Notre discussion suggère que la prise en compte de la production environnementale de l’infirmité nécessite une politique sociale inclusive, le plaidoyer et un accent sur l’éducation afin de développer et de maintenir des environnements favorables au vieillissement et à la faible vision.

Keywords

agingage-related vision loss (ARVL)critical ethnographyenvironmental barriersdisabilityactivity restrictionvieillissementperte de vision liée à l’âgeethnographie critiquebarrières environnementalesinvaliditérestriction des activités
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , March 2017 , pp. 55 - 66
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Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2017 

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Footnotes

* This work was generously funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (File #: 752-2013-2249).

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