Building Support Groups From the Ground Up

This presentation will cover the primary concerns and potential problem areas of newly established support groups for visually impaired adults.    Participants will work within small teams to discuss critical support group concerns, develop workable solutions, and present findings to the group as a whole. 

Don Golembiewski, M.A., Winnetka, IL

Moderator:  Cathy Rodgers

Communication, employment, community integration, and daily living skills challenges among seniors with dual sensory loss or vision loss alone - strategies for independence and service delivery

This presentation examines employment and community integration challenges among seniors with dual sensory loss by utilizing findings from a recently research among persons aging with hearing and vision loss. Findings will be vital to individuals experiencing dual sensory impairments and will provide information and strategies to professionals that serve seniors.

William Sansing, M.S., Mississippi State, MI

Moderator: Alberta Orr

Combined Session: Psychosocial Services and Division on Aging

The Aging and Psychosocial Divisions are combining forces to bring you an exciting consumer panel.  The panelists are both working age and older people, who will address “Major Challenges of Vision Loss.”  The challenges they will discuss include the impact of not being able to drive or having to give up driving, family members’ reactions to their visual impairment or blindness and possible role changes, experiences interacting in social situations among sighted peers, and some of the best resources they received or techniques they developed to enable them to adjust to their disability.  The consumer panel will be followed by a discussion among professionals in the audience about what we learned from the panelists.  Audience members will be encouraged to share challenges and successful strategies they have used to assist individuals though major life crises related to vision loss. 

In Their Own Words Aging with Hearing and Vision Loss

A series of focus groups, conversations, and surveys have yielded rich thoughts from seniors with dual sensory loss.  Issues related to transportation, housing, employment, rehabilitation services, telecommunications, the future, and the quality of their lives will be shared from a study funded by the National Institute of Disability Rehabilitation Research.

BJ LeJeune, M.Ed., Mississippi State, MS

Moderator: Alberta Orr

Whoops! Falls and Fall Prevention in Seniors with Vision Loss: A Safety-First Approach

One's risk for a fall increases with age and compounds with chronic medical conditions causing balance and gait problems.  These conditions include vision loss, peripheral neuropathy, stroke and arthritis.  This session will discuss routine fall screenings and modifications to increase safety and reduce falls for older adult clients.

Anne Riddering, OTR/L, CLVT, COMS, Novi, MI

Moderator:  Alberta Orr

Elder Abuse is on the Rise: Are Your Older Visually Impaired Clients at Risk?

Vision loss acquired in later life is increasing dramatically. Elder abuse is also on the rise.   As vision rehabilitation professionals, we are in a unique position to identify personal risk factors, recognize hidden signs of abuse and open communication with caregivers and clients.      

Colleen O'Donnell, OTR, Livonia, MI

Moderator:  Alberta Orr