AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

Globally and locally, disability advocates seek ways to identify promising programs and services. “Best practices” is a buzzword not only for educators, but also for agencies hoping to invest their development dollars effectively. Yet, we cannot promote best practices unless we can answer the question, “best practices for what?” What outcomes do people with disabilities value? Quality of life (QOL) is an important and measurable outcome which should become a basis for best practices in education, disability rights, and development. Researchers have proposed theories and instruments for measuring QOL but have not validated their theories and instruments for populations that include people with visual impairments. In order to validate instruments or theories, we must have a theory of QOL for people who are visually impaired; therefore, I undertook an exploratory investigation of the experience of QOL for young adults who are blind. I conducted in-depth interviews with six young adults and analyzed the transcripts, identifying six themes: external support system, experiences, interdependence, independence, internal support system, and knowledge and skills. These themes and their subthemes have immediate applications for education, community services, and advocacy. This research offers a starting point for an array of studies. Additional qualitative research will enhance the proposed model of QOL, enabling instrument validation and larger-scale studies in populations that include people who are visually impaired. Existing QOL instruments should be reconsidered in the light of evidence about QOL as experienced by people who are blind; then these tools can be redesigned to ensure validity. My methods and findings demonstrate that the voices and experiences of people with disabilities can and must guide evaluation and research. In response to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a few studies and reports have described effective practices in international disability rights, but none have employed rigorous methods necessary to demonstrate evidence-based practices and none have emphasized QOL as an indicator. This study unites research from the field of visual impairment with the work of QOL and disability scholars, strengthening the research basis for QOL to promote the rights of all persons with disabilities.