Addressing Physical Activity Among Adults with Vision Impairment

PROJECT SUMMARY People with vision impairments or blindness routinely face substantial challenges in everyday living that can significantly limit their participation in physical activity and exercise important for managing weight and overall health. While there is a growing amount of scientific literature documenting physical inactivity

and increased time spent in sedentary behaviors among people with vision impairments, there remains a dearth of health promotion research specifically studying this vulnerable population in comparison people with adequate sight. Further lacking is the availability of evidence-based physical activity-based health

promotion programs tailored to the unique challenges experienced by individuals with a vision impairment. Our preliminary findings clearly support the significance of this health disparity within this vulnerable population. As such, this timely project will address this health disparity by: (1) adapting an evidence-based

physical activity behavior change intervention tailored to the unique challenges of adults living with a vision impairment and (2) establishing feasibility, patient satisfaction, and preliminary efficacy of the adapted intervention for increasing physical activity intensity and duration along with other health outcomes among

adults with vision impairments. Our research will also be informed by an Advisory Board consisting of key stakeholders (e.g., adults living with a vision impairment; vision-related organizations involved in advocacy, policy, and service; along with our investigative scientific team).