Summary

This work presents the practice of occupational therapy for individuals with low vision acquired either in the adolescence or in the adult life, that were assisted by the interdisciplinary team of Cepre. These clients are, most of the times, in a very difficult emotional process related to the low vision and the consequent difficulties faced day by day.

The aim of the occupational therapy is not restricted to the evaluation and improvement of the visual functionality and efficiency, but also to the consideration of the emotional aspect, the family and social context, the life history, the interests and expectations of the individual, keeping as objective the improvement of the life quality.

This treatment process is on weekly basis, either individually or in groups and uses the realization of activities and the therapeutical bond as resources. The activities can be of expressive, arthesanal, artistic or corporeal character. Selected in function of the interest of the client and the pathology presented, the activities aim to favor the life experience so that the client can adapt to the day-by-day, the adequate conditions of distance, posture (ergonomic), usage of optical and non-optical resources, illumination of the environment and illumination for the activity, usage of contrasts and instrument and material adaptations.

This way occupation therapy creates an environment where the individual is involved with its actions, which allow him to be the agent of the his own transformation process, enhancing the acceptance of the low vision, acquiring autonomy on the usage of the visual residue and rehearsing situations which will make the client able to execute the daily activities, thus improving the life quality.