O brincar na habilitação e reabilitação visual: a atuação da terapia ocupacional junto a crianças com baixa visão

Abstract

Occupational therapy recognizes that playing is essential for the child’s holistic development and seeks to understand and promote their active participation in playful experiences. This study aimed to analyze how play is used in occupational therapy practice with children who have low vision. It is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach, with data collection carried out through semi‑structured interviews with three occupational therapists working in the field. The analysis was conducted based on the content analysis technique, and the results were organized into three thematic categories: playing in visual habilitation and rehabilitation: meanings and practices of occupational therapists; collaboration with families: challenges faced and shared responsibilities in the therapeutic process; and appreciation of Occupational Therapy in visual rehabilitation: challenges for recognition as a specialty. The research sought to contribute to the knowledge about the importance of play in visual habilitation and rehabilitation. Among the results obtained, the importance of evaluating functional vision for developing the intervention plan stood out, as well as the need for a critical professional practice based on evidence and for family co‑responsibility during the child’s therapeutic process. The relevance of this study lies in the need to deepen investigations about visual stimulation and the use of play as a therapeutic tool in this area, understanding the challenges and opportunities present in clinical practice, and generating subsidies for the development of future research and interventions.