ABSTRACT
The comparative study of visually impaired and sighted physiotherapists illustrates that the two samples are different in many ways other than visual impairment. The large number of male visually impaired physiotherapists, in what is still predominantly a female profession, indicates restriction in choice of occupation for visually impaired people which was commented upon by both the male and female research respondents. Seven major barriers in the working lives of the visually impaired physiotherapists emerged. These barriers concerned administration, transport, medical equipment, post-registration education, mobility, meetings and the attitudes and behaviour of employers and colleagues. Various coping strategies to overcome, minimise or manage the barriers encountered were highlighted by the visually impaired physiotherapists. Most of the visually impaired physiotherapists used the Access to Work scheme for equipment, readers and transport. The chapter concludes with suggestions for research and the implications of the study for the education and employment of visually impaired physiotherapists and disabled people generally.
