VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AS A CORRELATE TO PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONS WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT IN THE ANGLOPHONE REGIONS OF CAMEROON

Abstract

Vocational rehabilitation seeks to restore individuals with disabilities to their optimal, physical, mental, social, vocational, and economic ability. These individuals with disabilities include persons with visual impairment. Visual impairment has a devastating effect with deep emotional and economic complications. The loss of vision after an illness or trauma causes major changes in lifestyle and habits which may results to problems in psychological adjustment. This study investigated “Vocational rehabilitation as a correlate to personality development of persons with visual impairment in the Anglophone Regions of Cameroon”. To achieve the objective of the study, the specific objectives used were; to evaluate the relationship between vocational guidance and counselling and the personality development of persons with visual impairment, to assess the relationship between Orientation and mobility and the personality development of persons with visual impairment. The study adopted a correlational survey design with the sample of 30 persons who had gone through vocational rehabilitation. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and the Pearson moment correlation test to establish the relationship between vocational rehabilitation and personality development. The findings showed that there exist a moderately strong and positive relationship between vocational guidance and counselling and personality development of persons with visual impairment (P=0.049, <0.05). . Findings equally affirmed that there exist a very significant strong and positive relationship between orientation and mobility and personality development of persons with visual impairment (P=0.001, <0.05). Based on the findings, some recommendations were made that policy makers should formulate rules and policies governing the welfare of persons with visual impairment in choosing careers they like. The government and community should provide well equipped training institutions to enhance the training of persons with visual impairment.