Low Vision Rehabilitation: Practical Tools and Techniques for Assessment, Treatment and Beyond Seminar training classes conferences & workshops presented by Cross Country Education Seminars register for training on FindaSeminar.com

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Training Course Syllabus:

Low Vision Rehabilitation: Practical Tools and Techniques for Assessment, Treatment and Beyond by Debra Sokol McKay

PROGRAM DETAILS

Vision loss is becoming a major public health problem. The American Foundation for the Blind estimates that 21.2 million Americans 18 years of age and over have vision loss. As the population ages, the prevalence of age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and cataracts increases proportionally. Diabetes is also increasing dramatically in children, causing an earlier occurrence of complications like diabetic retinopathy and vision loss. Vision impairment takes a personal and societal toll as it contributes to an increased risk for falls, injury, depression, social isolation, strained relationships, job loss, financial insecurity and loss of independence. Vision loss is not an obvious disability nor as visible and as readily identifiable as a physical disability. Occupational Therapists and other health care professionals have the unique skills of recognizing functional deficits, developing and adapting intervention and locating resources. Today vision rehabilitation is recognized as an emerging field of practice in many health care arenas.

This course provides practical, ready-to-use information about low vision rehabilitation to today's health care professional. Participants learn how to assess vision loss, utilize effective strategies to enhance the patient's use of residual vision, incorporate non-visual tools and techniques when vision is insufficient, and provide appropriate psychosocial intervention to promote adjustment to vision loss. With almost two hours of lab time, participants will develop the foundational skills necessary to facilitate effective optical device use, ADL independence, safe mobility and success in leisure and recreational pursuits. The skills and strategies learned in this seminar can be directly implemented into practice immediately to provide effective low vision interventions. The current research supporting this evidence-based practice will be discussed.

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

DEBRA SOKOL-MCKAY, MS, CVRT, CLVT, CDE, OTR/L, SCLV, is a licensed Occupational Therapist in the state of Pennsylvania and has been practicing for the past 26 years. She is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, Certified Diabetes Educator, Certified Low Vision Therapist and has a specialty certification in Low Vision through the American Occupational Therapy Association. Ms. Sokol-McKay is currently establishing a private practice providing occupational therapy, low vision and vision rehabilitation therapy, as well as adaptive diabetes self management services to clients. She is currently the American Association of Diabetes Educators' liaison to the National Eye Institute (NEI) and a grant reviewer for the NEI/National Eye Health Education Program. Ms. Sokol-McKay previously worked as a Certified Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation Therapist for a non-profit agency for the blind and visually impaired persons in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and before that as a Staff Occupational Therapist Manager at Lehigh Valley Home Care, also in Allentown. Her expertise ranges from adaptive equipment and training for diabetes management to implementing activities of daily living for patients with physical and mental or cognitive disabilities.

Ms. Sokol-McKay received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her master's in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy of the Blind and Visually Impaired from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, now Salus University. She is a widely published author of various books, chapters and articles, included in Re:view, OT News, Diabetes Educator and RT News, and even won the "Publication Award" by the AER's Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Division for publications that have benefited and moved forward the field of Vision Rehabilitation Therapy. Ms. Sokol-McKay is a member of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) and the Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association (POTA). She was a member of the AOTA's national Expert Low Vision Practice Certification Panel, which wrote the AOTA's standards for specialty certification in low vision. Ms. Sokol-McKay has presented workshops and presentations for many various state, national and international conferences. Her extensive knowledge and background in the low vision field make her a qualified and skilled instructor.

TESTIMONIALS

"Very well presented. Debra knows her subject well, and presented in a clear and interesting way. Lots of information in one day...I recommend this course and Debra Sokol-McKay to future participants." - Jeanne, OTR, Holtsville, NY

"Excellent, personable instructor. Did not use jargon and was easy to understand. Instructor was easy to approach and readily answered questions. Strategies were easy to incorporate into daily practice." - Grace, OTR, New York, NY

"I've been to several low vision courses and this is the first one where I've learned hands-on techniques for training clients in using recommended strategies such as eccentric viewing and sighted guide mobility. I feel so much better able to apply this information now. Debra was a wealth of knowledge." - Shannon, OTR, Roanoke, VA

"Debbie was very knowledgeable. She offered practical visual solutions that were cost-effective. The practical experiences were very effective at re-enforcing low vision concepts taught." - Jennifer, PT, Edison, NJ

"The practical portions were helpful in having us as therapists understand better what it is like for our patients." - Laura, PT, Edison, NJ

"Program was well executed and provided important information for working with this population. The information will provide guidelines for incorporating vision impairment techniques into educational protocols." - Deborah Thomas, Washington, D.C.

"Gave me great ideas...Debbie has many ideas and has created many low vision adaptations/creations with limited resources—practical ideas for patients and therapists to implement." - OTAC Conference, San Jose, CA
 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Nurses
• Recreation Therapists
• Activity Professionals
• Social Workers

CREDITS

This seminar qualifies for 6 continuing education hours as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your course outline and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific filing requirements.

Cross Country Education is an AOTA Approved Provider of continuing education. This course is offered for .6 AOTA CEUs. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. AOTA Educational level Introductory, Category 1: Domain of OT, 2: Occupational Therapy Process.

Cross Country Education, LLC is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
This course is offered for 6 contact hours.

Cross Country Education is an approved provider with the Iowa Board Of Nursing, approved provider #328. This course is offered for 7.2 contact hours.

Cross Country Education is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 13345, for 7.2 contact hours.

Cross Country Education is an approved provider by the Florida Board of Nursing, provider #50-466. This course is offered for 7.2 contact hours.

Cross Country Education is approved through the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board (provider #RSX029903). This program is offered for six (6) clock hours of continuing education for social workers. Licensed social workers in other states should contact their individual state jurisdiction to review the current continuing education requirements for licensure renewal.

Cross Country Education provider #1005, is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Licensure Boards (ASWB), through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program (approved through 1-27-12). Cross Country Education maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers will receive 6 continuing education clock hours for participating in this course. Licensed social workers should contact their individual state jurisdiction to review the current continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Visit ASWB's website at www.aswb.org for more information.

This course has been pre-approved for 6 hours of continuing education by NCCAP (approval #NCCAP29030-10).

This program has been approved for 6 CEUs by the Ohio Physical Therapy Association for Physical Therapists and Physical Therapy Assistants (Approval #09S1332).

This program has been approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Physical Therapy for a total of 5.45 contact hours of which 0 hours have been approved for Direct Access. PA Board Approval #PTCE000842.

TRAINING SEMINAR CLASS TIME:

Training Seminar Check-in: 7:30 AM    Training Seminar Class 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Seminar Summary:

Identify the causes and types of low vision/vision loss, recent/current treatments and the current living conditions of the patient. Learn how to assist your client in setting goals and determining appropriate rehab intervention. (see full course description)

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