Vision Rehabilitation Services program list
Descriptions of the programs/services available for accreditation in the Vision Rehabilitation Services Standards Manual.
Comprehensive Blind Rehabilitation Services (CBRS) provide a comprehensive rehabilitation program, including skills acquisition, psychosocial adjustment, and community reentry for persons served. This is accomplished through a full care continuum provided by residential and/or community-based blind rehabilitation services. A comprehensive rehabilitation plan is developed to incorporate the person’s expressed goals, identified needs as assessed by professional staff members, and available community resources.
Outpatient low vision and blind rehabilitation services in the VA’s continuum of care for veterans and active-duty service members with low vision or blindness provide an individualized rehabilitation program aimed toward achieving skills acquisition, adjustment to their condition, and community integration. This is accomplished through a full-service continuum established in each Veteran Integrated Service Network (VISN) through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system, by contract with qualified providers from the private sector, or a combination of both.
Outpatient low vision and blind rehabilitation services begin with a comprehensive evaluation of visual functioning and an evaluation that identifies impediments to activities of daily living, healthcare, home and living activities, educational pursuits, vocational pursuits or volunteerism, and family and community involvement. A comprehensive rehabilitation plan is developed through an interdisciplinary process to incorporate the person’s expressed goals as well as identified needs as assessed by professional staff members and available VISN and local community resources. Persons served are referred to the appropriate level of care based on their evaluation results. See Appendix E for a flowchart for referrals for veterans and active-duty service members who have low vision or who are blind.
Veterans and active-duty service members who have developed blindness or low vision may also acquire comorbidities that may create additional disability. These disabilities may result from a complex interaction of medical conditions, related morbidities, and environmental factors that affect patients and caregivers. Rehabilitation services are designed to address the complex nature of disabilities and must be interdisciplinary. Their development requires the creative energy of multiple disciplines working in synergistic manner. For example, rehabilitative interventions such as magnifiers that target poor visual acuity may improve visual performance; however, everyday function may not be enhanced if appropriate environmental or access technologies such as good lighting, visual skills training, and ergonomic support are not available to complement the visual performance improvements.
Similarly, improved visual function may not improve overall everyday function and quality of life if veterans also have medical conditions that affect their ability to function. An interdisciplinary approach to developing optimal rehabilitative interventions for this population is critical. Such interventions may include access technologies, environmental modifications, skills training, caregiver education, and various combinations of these strategies.
The following programs are available for accreditation under Outpatient Low-Vision and Blind Rehabilitation Services for Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members:
- Intermediate Low Vision Clinics (OVRS:IC)
- Advanced Ambulatory Low Vision Clinics (OVRS:AC)
- Advanced Hoptel Outpatient Blind Rehabilitation Clinics (Visual Impairment Services Outpatient Rehabilitation {VISOR} Programs) (OVRS:AH)
The mission of this service is to assist persons who require intensive training in vision and/or blindness rehabilitation. As compared to Intermediate and Advanced Ambulatory Low Vision Clinics, these programs provide a greater amount of time and training that is devoted to all aspects of rehabilitation. There is an increased focus on the assessment, training, and use of access technology, and an increased emphasis on acquisition of advanced travel, mobility, and blindness techniques.
Blindness techniques training may be provided for a longer duration, often with specialty devices. Such training includes long cane instruction, more emphasis on daily task training, greater emphasis on compensatory strategies, alternative techniques, and communication modalities such as basic Braille and tactile training.
Core components include enhanced use of access technology and skills training for ADL, instruction in orientation and mobility with a strong focus on safety, service referral relationships with audiology and other supports, as well as computer access training (CAT) to enhance communication and participation in daily world events.
This program is focused on training in activities of daily living (ADL), with an emphasis on using vision skills and vision enhancement. A moderate breadth and level of complexity of low vision services are provided. Expected outcomes of services include making use of remaining vision to enhance performance of daily living skills, successful ADL, and increased participation in home and community activities.
The low vision therapist provides training in the use of specific visual motor skills such as the identification and use of preferred retinal locus for fixation, accurate saccades, smooth pursuits, etc. Therapy is provided in the use of vision in both static and dynamic viewing conditions. Low vision therapy includes an assessment of function and appropriate intervention for the impact of changes in vision on instrumental activities of daily living such as preparing meals (survival cooking level, e.g., heating prepared food in microwave, making sandwiches, preparing beverages, using a toaster oven and microwave, organization strategies in kitchen), managing money, and paying bills.
Expected outcomes of services include the ability to:
- Read printed materials such as newspapers, ads, price tags, computer screen, etc.
- Write notes to self and others, write letters, complete forms, etc.
- Prepare simple meals.
- Manage money.
- Shop for groceries and personal items.
- Perform light housekeeping and laundry.
- Use the telephone.
- Improve time management.
- Perform personal grooming and healthcare activities.
- Manage medications.
- Self-examination for wounds or infections.
- Communication skills.
- Use a radio and/or television.
- Participation in hobbies.
- Be involved in volunteer and leisure activities.
- Return to work, as desired.
- Be involved in social and community activities such as attending church, clubs, sporting events, etc.
- Improve confidence.
- Improve psychosocial adjustment.
- Increase use of community resources.
Comprehensive vision rehabilitation services provide a comprehensive rehabilitation program, including skills acquisition, psychosocial adjustment, and community integration for persons served. This is accomplished through a full-service continuum provided by residential and/or community-based blind or deaf/blind rehabilitation services. A comprehensive rehabilitation plan is developed to incorporate the person’s expressed goals, identified needs as assessed by professional staff members, and available community resources.
Low vision therapy includes conducting an assessment of visual abilities for everyday tasks that are important to the individual with low vision. Everyday visual tasks might include reading, writing, moving through space, grooming, watching television, cooking, cleaning, household repair, finding lost objects, or other educational, vocational, or recreational pursuits. Low vision therapy includes instruction in the use of visual abilities for daily tasks; use of low vision devices prescribed by the eye care specialist; use of visual environmental cues; and modification of the visual environment to enhance the use of vision.
Orientation and mobility instruction is a sequential process in which persons with low vision and blindness are taught to use their remaining senses to determine their position within their environment and to negotiate safe movement from one place to another.
Vision rehabilitation therapy includes instructing persons with low vision and blindness in the use of compensatory skills and assistive technology that will enable them to live safe, productive, and interdependent lives. Vision rehabilitation therapy includes work in areas that enhance vocational opportunities, independent living, and the educational development of persons with low vision and blindness, and may include working in center based or itinerant settings.