The implementation of Holland Self-Directed Search to employed higher education graduates: A comparison between sighted adults and adults with visual impairments

In general, the occupational choices of individuals with visual impairments do not appear to be significantly different from the ones of the sighted individuals, despite the narrowed occupational possibilities offered to them. This study aims to explore (a) the range of occupational possibilities that according to the Self-Directed Search (SDS) most closely resemble the personality types of adults with visual impairments and sighted adults, (b) the differences between the occupational possibilities suggested by the SDS among adults with visual impairments and sighted adults, and (c) the differences between the current occupational choices and the occupational possibilities according to the SDS of adults with visual impairments and sighted adults, and the comparison among them. The sample consisted of 44 adults with visual impairments and 44 sighted adults, aged 24 to 44 years. All participants were higher education graduates and occupationally active. The occupational possibilities suggested by the SDS show the clear inclination of people with visual impairment toward social occupations. On the contrary, the SDS shows the inclination of the sighted adults toward the enterprising and the investigative occupations. The results of the statistical analysis showed that there are no differences between the two groups (visually impaired and sighted) in terms of the Iachan index – an index that determines the congruence between two SDS codes, representing the current occupations and the occupations proposed by the SDS application. The results could be practically implemented for the expansion of individuals with visual impairment occupational choices based on their occupational possibilities.