PERSISTENCE OF SOCIAL STIGMA AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS IN BURUNDI: A STUDY CONDUCTED AT THE UWIRAGIYE FOUNDATION IN BUJUMBURA
Keywords:
social stigma, visual impairment, social integration, accessibility, autonomyAbstract
In contemporary societies, visual impairment remains associated with prejudice, negative representations and stereotypes, fueling social stigma. It manifests itself in discriminatory attitudes of rejection and exclusion that limit the social integration of people concerned. Visual impairments continue to face several obstacles in their daily lives despite advances in human rights and inclusion. Our qualitative study conducted in the Uwiragiye Foundation of eighteen people with visual impairment, aims to identify the explanatory factors of stigma persistence towards people with visual impairment and analyze the different strategies for adaptation and social integration in order to cope with this stigma. By semi-directional interviews, the information collected is subject to thematic analysis. The results of our research show that the persistence of stigma is especially related to media invisibility, lack of awareness, prejudice, cultural beliefs, fear of unknown, inaccessible infrastructure and educational and support devices that remain insufficient. To address these barriers, visual impairments adopt resilience strategies such as strengthening self-confidence, education and public awareness, professional skills acquisitions, community engagement and the use of assistance technologies. However, these strategies allow their autonomy and social participation, contributing to the deconstruction of negative perceptions often associated with visual impairment.
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