Vision Loss and Brain Injury: More Tools for Your Toolbox

We will have two tracks—a child track and an adult track—with top experts in the area of vision loss due to brain injury.  

For the child track, speakers include:
Kathy Appleby from Vision Associates, who will discuss strategies for working with students with CVI who do not exhibit the classic CVI characteristics.
Barry Kran, O.D., Optometric Director of the New England Eye Low Vision Clinic at Perkins, who will present a lecture entitled: “Cortical/cerebral visual impairment (CVI): Is CVI one or several entities?”
Luisa Mayer, Ph.D., M.Ed, Christine Roman-Lanzty, PhD, Barry Kran, O.D., and Kathy Appleby, who will sit on a panel addressing multidisciplinary approaches to working with children with CVI.

The adult track features:
Dr. Kara Gagnon, O.D. from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, who will present a session entitled “Mild TBI: Identification, Assessment, and Rehabilitation.”
Colleen O’Donnell, MSA, OTR, CLVT (Visual Rehabilitation and Research Center, Henry Ford Health System), who will present on scanning techniques for clients with vision loss due to brain injury.

Professionals from the Palo Alto VA and Envision, who will present a session entitled: “Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Approach for Patients with Neurological Etiology.”

Click here to download Kathy Appleby's handout #1

Click here to download Kathy Appleby's handout #2

Click here to download Kathy Appleby's handout #3

Click here to download Brain Injury and Vision Loss Resource List

Click here to download Colleen O'Donnell's handout

Why Can't Grandma Shop?  Assessing Safety and Accessibility in Communities and Getting Changes Made

With the increasing older adult population, communities and institutions need to adapt their physical environments and raise staff awareness to provide adequate and safe services for low vision. This presentation highlights one approach to assessing environments and recommending simple,low cost modifications that can be easily implemented into an existing sites.

Click here to download presenters handout

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

Moderator:  Sarah Johnson

Get with the Program:  Pairing self-advocacy and low vision tools and strategies to increase student independence

Students with low vision do not automatically develop skills of using tools and strategies to access visual information, and few materials exist to guide needed instruction. This presentation reviews the philosophy and content of TSBVI's Special Program Low Vision Tools and Strategies.  Practice of self-advocacy is integrated into each activity

Click here to download presenters hanout

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Cynthia Bachofer, M.E.d., Austin, TX, Chrissy Cowan, M.Ed., Austin, TX

Vision Loss, Memory and Older Adults

Recent Research has identified how the aging brain adapts and processes information. These findings can be used to support strategies for learning in the vision rehabilitation program. This presentation will describe the research findings and demonstrate how to use older adult learning strategies to enhance vision rehabilitation programs.

Click here to download presenters handout

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Colleen O'Donnell, OTR, Livonia, MI

Rehabilitation of Neurological Vision Rehabilitation in Combat and Non-combat Brain Injury

Neurological vision loss related to traumatic brain injury has highlighted the need for improved vision rehabilitation therapy for combat injury, stroke, and other causes.  We will identify the types of vision impairment found in combat and non-combat brain injury and describe an evidence-based rehabilitation program which provides effective vision rehabilitation.

Click here to download presenters handout

Gregory Goodrich, Ph.D., Palo Alto, CA, John Kingston, M.A., COMS, Mountain View, CA

Moderator: Toni Walls

Low Vision Rehabilitation Outcomes, LVROS

The LVROS will present basic outcome data from 26 private low vision centers in the United States participating in a low vision research network.  The impact of low vision rehabilitation services to the low vision patient will be documented.  Areas of strength and concern will be identified

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Jim Deremeik, M.A., Baltimore, MD

Overcoming Barriers to Accessing Vision Rehabilitation Services by Members of Diverse Ethnic Communities

A recently completed CNIB study explored barriers to accessing vision rehabilitation services in diverse ethnic communities. Today we report on results of a follow up study aimed at overcoming these barriers. The study includes a survey with community organizations, peer support groups, and development of a cultural sensitivity manual.

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Alexander Shaw, Toronto, ON, Canada, Deborah Gold, Ph.D., Toronto, ON, Canada

Clinically Relevant Magnifer Optics: diopter power, magnification rating, equivalent power, image location, two-lens formula and enlargement ratio.

Magnifiers of all types are among common optical devices used for low vision rehabilitation. The understanding of the clinically relevant characteristics of magnifiers is more than knowing the diopter power or magnification rating. This course will explain the additional concepts of equivalent power, image location, two-lens formula and enlargement ratio.

Bill Mattingly, MA, ABOM, HFOAA, Escondido, CA

Moderator:  Lynn Tune

Using Reading Tests to Evaluate Macular Function

Reading performance measurements utilizing currently available reading tests can be a valuable tool in clinical low vision rehabilitation.  Findings on reading tests give clues to scotoma patterns and correlate to Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (SLO) macular perimetry testing.  Methods of administration are critical to obtaining maximum benefit from reading tests

Donald Fletcher, M.D., San Francisco, CA

Moderator:  Carolyn Palmer

Better Lighting for Better Sight: Illuminating Ideas

Illumination is crucial for success with near vision tasks for persons with low vision.  Presenters will focus on different types of lighting, advantages and disadvantages, and the critical role of positioning of lighting. Presenters will also discuss the interrelationship with contrast sensitivity function, as well as ideas for enhanced contrast

Click here to download presenters handout

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Priscilla Rogers, Ph.D., Dallas, TX

Maximum Speed: Increasing the computer proficiency of students with low vision

Managing computer tasks competitively is essential to success in our technological society.  Students with low vision warrant disability-specific instruction in maximizing this goal. A literature search identified four studies focusing on computer tasks/users with low vision. Developing an integrated system, visual and nonvisual, allows students to operate at maximum speed

Click here to download the presenters handout

Cynthia Bachofer, M.Ed., COMS, Austin, TX

Moderator:  Melody Engle

Factors to Consider When Making Choices about Print Literacy

This workshop will examine factors to consider when making print literacy choices for students who have low vision. These include determination of optimal print size, accommodation capabilities, contrast sensitivity, reading speed, visual perception capabilities, other conditions that impact learning and fine motor skills, as well as diagnosis and prognosis

Amanda Lueck, Ph. D., San Francisco, CA

Moderator:  Michelle Beck

Eccentric Viewing: Opening the Door to Improved Reading Skills for People with Macular Disease

People with macular disease can improve their reading skills with eccentric viewing and should be educated about its effectiveness.  This session prepares the professional to effectively explain eccentric viewing, scotomas, preferred retinal locus, methods to locate eccentric viewing positions, and exercises to strengthen the viewing position.

Click here to download presenters handout #1

Click here to download presenters handout #2

Michelle Beck, M.S., Brooklyn, NY

Moderator: Carolyn Palmer

To Drive or Not to Drive?  Driver Assessment and Pre-Road Training, a Protocol that Works

A protocol was developed to facilitate success using a bioptic telescope and other adaptive techniques needed to pass the state behind-the-wheel driver evaluation. This presentation describes the Assessment of Driver Related Skills, Pre-Road Training and how to assist patients in making the decision to continue driving or seek alternative transportation

Click here to download the presenters handout

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

Moderator:  Scott Crawford

Medicare & Low Vision Rehabilitation Reimbursement: Past, Present and Future

This presentation will discuss and review Medicare policy and reimbursement.  Emphasis will be placed upon low vision rehabilitation and reimbursement for mobility instructors, rehabilitation therapists and low vision therapists.  This review will include past, present and future directions of Medicare policy

Jim Deremeik, M.A., Baltimore, MD

Moderator:  Lynn Tune