Who is there to help?
Understanding the types of services for people with vision loss will help you to connect with the professionals and agencies that can help you adapt to life with limited vision.
Medical eye care professionals are most often the first step in the vision loss journey. Regular eye exams are important for everyone. If you have not seen an eye doctor in a year or more, it is time to schedule an appointment. Some eye conditions have no symptoms until vision is already lost. Likewise, many conditions are treatable and sometimes medical treatment, or a stronger pair of glasses will improve vision or keep vision from getting worse.
- Optometrist: An optometrist examines patients’ eyes to look for abnormalities or other problems and frequently prescribes eyeglasses. They are often the first eye doctor a person sees when they start to experience vision problems.
- Ophthalmologist: An ophthalmologist provides medical care to people with eye diseases or disorders. They are the professionals who perform eye surgery and other eye-related medical procedures.
- Low Vision Clinician: A low vision clinician is an optometrist or ophthalmologist who specializes in caring for patients with low vision. Appointments are longer with more detailed assessments of a broader range of visual functions. Prescriptions for eyeglasses, magnifiers, and other optical devices often result.
- Low Vision or Occupational Therapist: Eye doctors, see above, may make a referral to a Certified Low Vision Therapist or occupational therapist for further training on the use of remaining vision and magnification aids to complete daily living tasks.
Rehabilitation Professionals teach skills that help people live and work with limited vision, which includes mild vision impairments through blindness. Note that when looking for services and professionals, the word blind is often used to identify people with all levels of vision loss. Rehabilitation services are provided by a variety of government and private agencies. Most services are available to anyone with a vision impairment, no matter their financial or insurance status. APH Connect can help you find these services.
- Vision Rehabilitation Therapist or Rehabilitation Teachers (VRT): assess needs and instruct in all areas of service, home and personal management; adaptations for reading and writing, including braille; moving around safely; use remaining vision to complete tasks; use adaptive devices, including computers and phones; and provide information and referral to other helpful services in the community.
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists (OMS): assess and instruct in familiarization of indoor and outdoor travel areas and skills, using devices, like a long cane, to travel safely through those areas. Glare control and low vision aids for distance tasks would also be included.
- Low Vision Therapists (LVT): Specialize in the instruction of the use of low vision skills and devices such as magnifiers. The training provided will help the individual make the most of their usable vision in order to accomplish everyday tasks.
- Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (ATIS): provide instruction in the use of computers, tablets, refreshable braille devices, and smartphones with no or limited vision.
Qualified professionals have finished a course of study, completed a 350-hour internship, and passed a certification exam. Since there is a shortage of qualified professionals, not all agencies employ certified staff.
Where do I find services? Services available in each state or region may look different. APH Connect center can help you find the agencies and programs in your area. Veterans should first explore what is available through the Veterans Administration.
- Private Non-profit Organizations: These organizations offer a range of services to people who are blind or have low vision, including education, rehabilitation services, and community groups. Eligibility requirements and services offered will vary.
- State-run Rehabilitation Services: Each U.S. state has a department that is responsible for providing rehabilitation services to people with disabilities. In some states, these services are separate for people who have vision impairments. In other states all disabilities are served through the same agency.
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services: These services are provided by each state, see above, to help people with vision loss maintain or gain employment. A person must state that they have the goal of being employed in order to receive these services. A person does not have to be ready to work or even feel ready to work. The services are there to help them adjust to vision loss and to gain the skills that they need to be employed.
- Independent living services for older individuals who Are blind: Independent living services are provided in each state. Sometimes these services are provided through the same agency that provides vocational rehabilitation services, while other programs contract with community agencies to provide services. OIB services are for adults 55 years and older who do not have a goal of employment. Services focus on the skills needed to live independently and can look different from state to state. A person who gains confidence from independent living services and wishes to explore employment may transfer to Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Find OIB services in your state.
- Veteran’s Administration (VA): The VA is a federal government agency that provides healthcare services to all service members and veterans, including comprehensive rehabilitation services for vision loss and blindness.