Introduction: The ability to get out and about is important to social inclusion and quality of
life and it is one of the most significant challenges for people who are blind or visually
impaired. There has been little research into the underlying concerns of people who are blind
or visually impaired when making decisions about mobility.
Method: This grounded theory study explored the main mobility-related concerns of people
who are blind or visually impaired. It uses qualitative data, drawn from a combination of
online discussions, face-to-face, telephone and email interviews, and focus groups with
people who are blind or visually impaired and rehabilitation practitioners.
Results: The primary concern of people who are blind or visually impaired when making
choices about where to go, and when and how to do so, was a desire to see oneself and to be
seen by others as “normal”. Self-identity and perceived “normality” are subjective and
changeable and are continually internally co-reconstructed to achieve congruence between
them. The mobility strategies used are those that are perceived as most “normal”.
Discussion: Perceived “normality” has a powerful influence on behaviour. By harnessing
this, rehabilitation services may be better able to promote autonomy and self-reliance. Implications for Practitioners: To promote independence, rehabilitation services must change
people’s perception of what is “normal”. People must be supported to come to perceive
fulfilment of valued social roles, autonomy and self-reliance as “normal”
