OBJECTIVE:This study aims to identify and critically examine the personal and social autonomy of visually impaired people (blindness) after undergoing rehabilitation services in a single specialized institution. METHODS: The method used in the study possessed qualitative approach, by organizing interviews and questionnaires to collect data. Study subjects are visually impaired people (blindness), who went through rehab, and their family members who accompanied the process.. The study involved the six people with visual impairments, graduates of the Unit for Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired - URDV between the years 2002 and 2009, and six family members, one member to each person with visual impairment. RESULTS: The survey results indicate that rehabilitation provided alternatives for determining changes to people with visual impairments in their socialcontext. CONCLUSION: This research showed that the conquest or reconquest of personal and social autonomy of this population was reached, providing thus a better quality of life.
Visual impaired persons; Personal and Social autonomy