Supporting the social and emotional needs of students with vision impairment: guidance for High Education Providers

Although the number of university students with vision impairment is increasing, university students with vision impairment have expressed their dissatisfaction with both the social support available to them and the lack of staff training in this area. The main purpose of this one-year research project was to develop participatory research in the areas of vision impairment and Higher Education (HE) with a focus on priority setting and co-production. The suggested project consisted of two phases. In Phase 1, we conducted online interviews with university students and people with vision impairment who have recently (within the last five years) completed a university degree as well as professionals from national organisations and university staff that support students with vision impairment. In Phase 2, we developed an advisory group of university students and people with vision impairment who have recently completed their degrees and a second advisory group of professionals and university staff. Findings from both phases were analysed by Reflexive Thematic Analysis. The main outcome of the study was the development of co-produced university guidance to address the interpersonal and social emotional needs of adults with vision impairment in HE and promote their educational inclusion. In particular, our main findings highlighted the interconnectivity between vision impairment and mental health, the importance of proactive action and preparation from university staff, the urgent need for departmental collaboration at university and the diverse academic and social and emotional needs of students with vision impairment. They also emphasised the power of shared experiences in implementing social support, the importance of fostering student confidence and the significance of specialised staff training. Based on the findings of the research, we have developed recommendations related to the social and emotional support for students with vision impairment, for three key stakeholders: University staff, Policy Makers and the Vision Impairment Sector.