Telehealth clinical applications, which allow medical professionals to use telecommunications technologies to provide services to individuals remotely, continue to expand in areas such as low vision rehabilitation, where evaluations are provided to patients who live in rural areas. As with face-to-face low vision rehabilitation, the goal of…

Large-scale social surveys of visually impaired people often explore participants' mobility and travel behaviour. What is methodologically more challenging is gathering participant-centred data in relation to their own interpretation of the barriers they face. Findings from a national survey of visually impaired people are presented in this…

A model Center of Excellence in Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation was created in a health care setting in China utilizing an inter-institutional relationship with a United States optometric institution. Accomplishments of, limitations to, and stimuli to the provision of low vision and vision rehabilitation services are shared.

This article provides a terminological framework to show the relationships among different types of visual deficits. It distinguishes between visual functions, which describe how the eye and the lower visual system function, and functional vision, which describes how a person functions. When visual functions are disturbed, the term "visual…

A model is proposed that organizes factors related to visual function into three dimensions: visual abilities, available resources and past experiences, and environmental cues. The model is explained to be useful in determining how to elicit visual behaviors or maximize visual function in persons with low vision. (Author/CL)

The development of a model educational program in rehabilitative optometry is examined in terms of a statement of the scope of practice of the profession, analysis of existing educational programs in the field, and competency objectives to which the model educational program is directed. A survey of nine of the 13 institution members of the…

Presents a theoretical model of reading that takes into account the principal differences between skilled and deficient readers; describes a study that tested the relevance of the model by comparing good, average, and poor partially sighted readers and by studying how training affected the reading process. (GT)

The development of visual perception skills in children with partial vision as well as developmental disabilities is considered. A model of visual learning is offered which incorporates the role of visual experience, movement, and visual learning. Specific teaching suggestions for developing visual attention and visual search skills are offered.…

This document reports on the purpose, design, implementation, and outcomes of a policy forum entitled "Training Educators To Work with Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired." Participants included representatives of universities, public schools, schools for the blind, organizations that work with this population, state departments of…