Abstract:
The use of Selman’s stages of interpersonal awareness of friendship facilitated a study of the friendship patterns of children with severe vision loss, and children with no vision problems. The study also investigated children’s understanding of the meaning of friend, and their criteria for judging friendship. The findings add to those of previous studies that suggest a relationship between vision loss and children’s friendship understanding. The findings show that children with vision impairment vary in their stages of friendship understanding, in relation to sighted peers.