PSYCHO-PERSONAL FACTORS AS PREDICTATORS OF ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SKILLS ACQUISITION AMONG STUDENTS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Orientation and mobility skills are one of the important skills that is expected to be acquired by the visually impaired for their day to day activities. This research work therefore takes a look into psycho personal factors as predators of orientation and mobility skills acquisition among secondary school students with visual impairment in Oyo State, Nigeria The purpose of the study is to identify the relationship that exist between the independent variables and the dependent variable, examine the joint contributions of the independent variables to the dependent variable and to investigate the relative contributions of the independent variables to the dependent variable.  The study utilizes survey research design of the correlation type. Purposive sampling technique was used to choose 80 respondents including male and female secondary school students with visual impairment who are totally blind and having low vision. The data was gathered through qualitative and quantitative methods with the use of questionnaire to collect data from the respondents while interview was conducted for chosen respondents on psycho-personal factors that predict acquisition of orientation and mobility among secondary students with visual impairment. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency count, percentage, mean and standard deviation with the thematic analysis used for the key informant at the interview section. The result revealed that, there is significant relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable, also in the findings it was evident that the joint contributions of the independent variables was also significant and the relative contributions of the independent variables to dependent variable was also significant in the result. Based on the findings the study therefore recommends that, there should be a design Orientation and mobility training programs that incorporate self-esteem-building activities and positive reinforcement strategies, Include anxiety management modules such as mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and exposure-based training coupled with aligned training goals with students’ personal aspirations to sustain motivation.