Wybrane aspekty funkcjonowania rodzeństwa dzieci niewidomych
Selected aspects of the functioning of siblings of blind children

Summary/Abstract: Introduction. A contemporary approach to disability cannot focus solely on the disabled persons themselves, without reference to the wider context in which they function. Blind children are constantly and continuously affected by their family environment, which shapes their attitudes towards themselves and others. As the family is a united system, the relationships between non-disabled and disabled siblings affect other members of the family. Typhlo-pedagogical literature is rather poor in studies related to the experiences of blind children’s siblings. Meanwhile, the issue is worthy of attention because of the specific situations arising from both being a brother or sister of a blind child and being part of the family system. Aim. The aim of the article is to emphasise the need for an in-depth look into the functioning of siblings of children with visual impairment. Materials and methods. The text is a theoretical overview based on an analysis of Polish and foreign source publications. Results. Awareness of the needs of siblings of visually impaired children can deepen the insight into the functioning of a family which a blind child is a member of. Learning about the perspective of sighted brothers and sisters may accentuate certain issues that have yet to be comprehensively tackled by contemporary typhlo-pedagogy. A positive effect might be the enhancement of knowledge of visual impairment and its consequences, as well as the improvement of educational and rehabilitation practice, as the acquired knowledge should help develop clear guidelines for providing interaction support to siblings from the earliest years of life.

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