Social and subjective representations of visual impairment in Italy: a qualitative study

Visual impairment (VI) is a leading cause of disability in young people and profoundly affects their psychological well-being and that of their families. In Italy, Legislative Decree No. 62/2024 redefined disability according to the biopsychosocial model and focused on the individualised life project. Given the limited research in this field, this study explores the subjective experiences of disability among young people with VI and their close networks, within their social context.

36 semistructured interviews with 12 young people with VI (8-18 years old), 14 parents and 10 health professionals were conducted in four Italian centres participating in the EU project SeeMyLife. Data were analysed using a thematic approach aided by NVivo V.14 software. Representative quotations and emerging themes were identified and reported.

Four major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Understanding disability: medical vs social definitions; (2) Personal experiences and biopsychosocial perspectives; (3) Disability in social context: barriers and facilitators and (4) Interpersonal relationships and social dynamics. Although participants were familiar with the term 'disability', it was not always framed within a biopsychosocial perspective. Young people with VI described living similarly to their peers but with more limitations in autonomy and social participation. These limitations reflect individual functioning but also environmental and social barriers, consistent with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework.

The findings, within the framework of the updated Italian legislative context, have significant implications for clinical practice, offering insights for practitioners and policymakers and supporting multidimensional decision-making in care planning and service delivery. These insights should be interpreted through the ICF lens to ensure person-centred and integrated care.