ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the barriers experienced by visually impaired physiotherapists at work and the strategies they adopt to overcome, minimise or manage them. The data will be drawn from the 20 interviews with visually impaired physiotherapists conducted in the second phase of the study. The physiotherapists experienced six significant barriers in their work: transport, therapeutic equipment, administration, the physical environment, meetings and the attitudes and behaviour of colleagues and employers. A variety of coping strategies were used to overcome, minimise or manage these transport problems. Many of the physiotherapists were left with a considerable degree of personal struggle over travel and lack of choice regarding employment. In physiotherapy practice clinicians have autonomy to choose which therapeutic interventions to use; in this way they may be at an advantage when compared with disabled people in non-professional jobs. Some of the physiotherapists spoke of their need to concentrate very hard to cope with the environment, particularly the environment of wards.
