Services for People with Sensory Impairment: Differences between Supply and Demand

Daniela Jaklova Strihavkova

Abstract:

OBJECTIVES: The paper looks at the ideas of people with sensory impairment with regards to their demand for social services as compared to the ideas of providers about the supply of these services. THEORETICAL BASE: The key concept is the idea about the demand for services and their supply. METHODS: The structured interview and focus group were used for the research. OUTCOMES: The people with visual impairment formulate their needs and activities leading to the satisfaction of these needs in the area of their contact with the seeing majority. The providers of services for people with visual impairment see the needs of their clients mainly as the direct or indirect consequences of their impairment. The fulfillment of the needs is realized within the helping organizations and is targeted at people with visual impairment. People with hearing impairment similarly expressed mainly the need for communication with hearing people. Helpers described a broad scale of needs and activities, which was similar to that described by the providers of services for people with visual impairment. SOCIAL WORK IMPLICATIONS: Social workers should focus on helping their clients with social interaction with other bodies, especially when this includes negotiation with them.

Keywords:

social services, people with visual impairment, people with hearing impairment, people with sensory impairment, needs, qualitative research

p. 107 - 121