This thesis deals with self-help groups and support groups for persons with visual impairments, operating in Slovenia, within the Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Slovenia and other associated groups throughout the country. Persons with visual impairments come across many obstacles and difficulties on daily basis. One of the biggest barrier exposed both by professionals as well as by people with visual impairments, is poor social network and consequently high probability of social isolation and lack of interpersonal relationships. The study of this rapidly evolving phenomenon starts from the outside, which we used also in the following thesis. We made use of the questionnaires, which we utilize on eight group leaders of self-help or support groups and five in-depth interviews of group leaders who operate in the inter-municipal organizations of blind and visually impaired in Slovenia. We wanted to get a broader picture, and then carry out in-depth interviews with group leaders who were willing to cooperate. Our interest was to learn how the structure of self-help groups for the blind and partially sighted people looks like, the experiences and reasons for guiding these groups, and how leaders separate and define self-help groups and support groups. This thesis contains a qualitative research approach, and represents an introduction to research of self-help groups and support groups for persons with visual impairments in Slovenia.
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