A narrative exploration of satisfaction in leisure and social participation among the visually impaired, 2025

Item — Call Number: MU Thesis Nad

Identifier: b7932419

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

See more See less

The collection consists of dissertations written by students enrolled in the Monmouth University graduate Occupational Therapy program. The holdings are primarily bound print documents that were submitted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree.

During the fall 2022 semester (in instances where the requisite waivers were received from consenting student authors), the Monmouth University Library, together with the University's Graduate School and School of Education, began providing open access to select full-text digital versions of current theses and dissertations through links to the ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global website in the Library's Online Public Access Catalog. Links to these open access digital publications can also be found in the "External Documents" section under any conforming titles that are listed among the holdings itemized in the collection inventory for this finding aid.

Dates

Creation: 2025

Creator

Nadrowski, Megan (1999- ) (Author, Person)
Garcia, Andrea (Thesis advisor, Person)
Patro, John (1985- ) (Thesis advisor, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use. Access is by appointment only.

Research appointments are scheduled by the Monmouth University Library Archives Collections Manager (732-923-4526). A minimum of three days advance notice is required to arrange a research appointment for access to the collection.

Access to the collection is confined to the Monmouth University Library and is subject to patron policies approved by the Monmouth University Library.

Patrons must sign a completed Researcher Registration Form and provide appropriate identification to obtain access to the collection. Copies of these documents will be kept on file at the Monmouth University Library.

Full Extent

1 Items (print book) : 41 pages ; 8.5 x 11.0 inches (28 cm).

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Blind and visually impaired individuals encounter unique challenges with leisure and social participation. Understanding their lived experiences enables occupational therapy (OT) practitioners to design targeted, client-centered interventions. The objective of the study was to explore how individuals who are legally blind experience and perceive satisfaction with leisure and social participation. The design utilized a qualitative narrative inquiry conducted over two weeks, involving individual interviews and a follow-up focus group to validate findings. Data were coded thematically using NVivo 15, with inter-rater reliability used to enhance trustworthiness. The study took place at New Jersey Blind Citizens Association (NJBCA), a nonprofit community organization serving individuals with visual impairments. Four adult NJBCA members (aged 18+), legally blind under New Jersey state criteria, selected via convenience sampling. All participants scored ≥25 on the Mini-Mental State Exam. Data collection entailed four 30–45 minute semi-structured interviews, followed by one focus group for member checking and theme validation. Data was analyzed using an inductive coding process in NVivo. Emerging themes reflected lived experiences, adaptations, and environmental contexts influencing occupational engagement. The results uncovered five themes: (1) personal adaptations to vision loss, (2) transportation and mobility barriers, (3) value of social connectedness, (4) importance of community-based programs, and (5) accessibility in public environments. Participants described a range of facilitators and obstacles that influenced their ability to engage in meaningful occupations. The study concluded that OT practitioners can play a vital role in addressing participation barriers for individuals with visual impairments. Continued research is needed to guide intervention development for this underserved population. This study highlights how occupational therapy can address key barriers to social and leisure participation among people with visual impairments through client-centered and contextsensitive interventions.