The Routledge Handbook of Visual Impairment examines current debates as well as cross-examining traditionally held beliefs around visual impairment. It provides a bridge between medical practice and social and cultural research drawing on authentic investigations.

It is the intention of this Handbook to provide an opportunity to engage with academic researchers who wish to ensure a coherent and rigorous approach to research construction and reflection on visual impairment that is in collaboration with, but sometimes is beyond, the medical realm.

This Handbook is divided into ten thematic areas in order to represent the wide range of debates and concepts within visual impairment. The ten themes include:

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• cerebral visual impairment;
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• education;
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• sport and physical exercise;
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• assistive technology;
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• understanding the cultural aesthetics;
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• socio-emotional and sexual aspects of visual impairment;
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• orientation, mobility, habitation, and rehabilitation;
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• recent advances in "eye" research and sensory substitution devices;
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• ageing and adulthood.
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The 27 chapters that explore the social and cultural aspects of visual impairment can be taken and used in a variety of different ways in order to promote research and generate debate among practitioners and scholars who wish to use this resource to inform their practice in supporting and developing positive outcomes for all.

John Ravenscroft, PhD (Chair of Childhood Visual Impairment) is a psychologist, educationalist and lectures a little in philosophy. He has vast experience of inclusive education, and has advised various governments, locally, nationally and internationally on promoting inclusive education. Professor Ravenscroft is also Head of the Scottish Sensory Centre, which is a national centre that provides career-long professional development for teachers of children with sensory impairment, including those with cerebral visual impairment. He is also the current editor-in-chief of the British Journal of Visual Impairment and lectures on inclusive education, visual impairment, as well as on areas of virtue epistemology and ontology. He has published widely on visual impairment, disability and on research methods.