Supporting self-assertion: Mathilde Petron reflects on her work as a psychologist with young women with visual impairments

Abstract

n this interview, Mathilde Petron, a psychologist at the Institut des Déficients Visuels Les Primevères in Lyon, reflects on her career and how her work with adolescent girls with visual impairments has evolved over time. She shares her thoughts on how gender shapes the experience of disability, the social norms that young women may face, and the importance of creating group spaces that encourage self-expression and sharing.

Drawing on her experience with the therapeutic group “Les 4 rigolotes à la canne blanche” (“The Four Fun-Loving Girls with White Canes”), she shows how play, laughter, and group dynamics can become powerful tools for building self-confidence and fostering empowerment.