The lifeworld-phenomenology of rehabilitation: developing a practice based theory of life-changes and learning

Worldwide, at least 2.2 billion people live with visual impairment and there is a huge need for these cases to be addressed or prevented. In order to implement as good global and relevant rehabilitation strategies as possible, there is need for more knowledge about processes which people undergo when facing vision impairment or blindness in their lives. Earlier studies have focused on how people learn to handled and live with their disability in various contexts. These studies show that for many persons it is quite a strenuous process to learn to again lead an active life. Outgoing from lifeworld-phenomenological theory and philosophy it has been shown that their new life-situation could be described as a changed lived body in a changed world. Their existence in the world is for many of them thoroughly changed, where both body and soul are affected. This project deals with developing a practice-based theory, where data from earlier empirical qualitative studies will be intertwined with lifeworld philosophy and theory. Preliminary results show that integrated aspects of existence, perception, sociality and human activity stand out as important for leading a healthy and active life. The developed theory will have the potential to guide rehabilitation initiatives globally.