title: The Environmental Production of Disability for Seniors with Age-Related Vision Loss.
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.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario,School of Occupational Therapy,Elborn College.
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario,School of Occupational Therapy,Elborn College.
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laliberte Rudman
authors.affiliation: University of Waterloo,Optometry and Vision Science.
authors.forename: Marlee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spafford
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto,Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trentham
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario,School of Occupational Therapy,Elborn College.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polgar
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000523:psychology*; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: activity restriction; age-related vision loss (ARVL); aging; barrières environnementales; critical ethnography; disability; environmental barriers; ethnographie critique; invalidité; perte de vision liée à l’âge; restriction des activités; vieillissement