VIDBE-Q 2025 Volume 70 Issue 4
impairments, including level of visual acuity, lack of access to adapted
programing, societal attitudes, and family barriers.
Although their research was not specific to children, Chia-Hua et al. (2020)
sought to examine barriers to and facilitators of physical activity. They found that
most individuals with visual impairments involved in the study did not participate
in sufficient physical activity noted by the recommended daily moderate or more
strenuous activity. They also noted that the duration of the physical activity was
decreased. Children with visual impairments are less likely to participate in
physical activity (Harrington et al, 2023). Barbosa Porcellis da Silva (2018) and
Stewart et al (2006) found that persons who had better visual acuity had higher
levels of participation. This was most likely due to higher rates of self-efficacy in
those with better visual acuity. Those with lower visual acuity may have a lower
sense of autonomy leading to being less motivated to participate in physical
activity. Children with more severe visual impairments scored notably lower on
environmental subscales (Lieberman et al., 2025).
Programmatic Barriers
Parents of children with visual impairment cite lack of access to appropriate
adapted programming as a major barrier to participation (Columna et al., 2017).
Additionally, parents do not perceive they have the necessary knowledge to
facilitate participation in physical activity with their children (Columna et al.,
129
