Development Of A Continuing Education Action Plan To Address The Life-Career Needs Of Blind And Visually Impaired Adults In The Province Of Alberta, Canada.

• Main Author: Nadeau, Dorothy Rae
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: NSUWorks 1991
• Subjects: Education; Northwest Territories
• Online Access: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etda/221; https://nsuworks.nova.edu/context/fse_etda/article/1220/viewcontent/280.pdf

The purpose of this Major Applied Research Project was the development of a continuing education action plan to address the needs of blind and visually impaired work-aged adults in Alberta to assist the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Alberta - Northwest Territories Division) with planning decisions. The six research questions guiding the study focused on the following: 1. Demographic characteristics of the target group; 2. Current continuing education programs fostering life-career development; 3. Life-career development needs of the target group; 4. Barriers and constraints to participation in learning activities; 5. Educational goals and strategies; 6. Elements for inclusion in the action plan. The conceptual framework of this descriptive study encompassed andragogical assumptions, and adult learner participation theory. Data collection methodology included case study techniques, literature review, document analysis and focus group activities with CNIB field specialists. A sample of thirty-two CNIB members between twenty-five and fifty-nine years of age formed two groups: adults with initial vision loss in adulthood and in childhood. They were interviewed using an Interview Schedule of Questions that included the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (Guglielmino, 1977/78) and an Adult Participation Questionnaire designed from the literature. Thirty-four Canadian and U.S. organizations were surveyed using an original questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and four models constructed from the literature were used to analyze the data. The most important models were the Adult Life-Career Development Continuum (ALCDC) of needs and the Life-Career Development Continuing Education Planning model. The findings offered insights important to program planning. Vision loss in childhood was proportionately lower than in adulthood. Official statistics did not accurately represent the target group due to denial of the condition, resistance to being identified within this group, and inadequate referral ...