Providing culturally competent services to visually impaired persons

Providing culturally competent services to visually impaired persons requires an understanding of the influence of culture on effective assessments and plans of action. This article examines seven cultural values: communication, health beliefs and practices, family structure, attitude toward authority, etiquette, expectations of "helping," and time orientation. It provides suggestions for meeting crosscultural challenges through skills similar to those used in the disability field.