Vision Education Seminars

Vision Education Seminars sponsors continuing education courses for occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech pathologists, and educators of the visually impaired.

This website is designed as a resource for information about vision, vision rehabilitation and vision therapy.

 
Vision Education Services
 
 

Understanding and Managing Visual Deficits: A Guide for Occupational Therapists

Suggested Audience
This seminar is designed for therapists and assistants (occupational, physical, speech) who work with either the pediatric, acquired brain injury or the elderly population, and teachers (preschool, special and early education, visually impaired).
Course Description
This seminar is designed to help therapists develop a comprehensive understanding of vision and how vision can impact on the therapy process. A three component model of vision will be presented stressing the importance of optical, visual efficiency and visual information processing disorders. A screening battery that allows therapists to test for the most common vision problems will be presented. Treatment options will be discussed at length including both compensatory strategies and rehabilitative techniques (vision therapy). A therapy sequence for eye movement and visual processing disorders will be presented. Case studies will be used throughout the presentation. Testing and intervention techniques presented will be applicable to the pediatric, acquired brain injury and elderly populations.

11.5 hours of continuing education credit (1.15 CEUs)

Learning Objectives
  • Understand the complexity of the visual system
  • Identify the 3 major components of the visual system
  • Describe how various vision deficits affect performance in play, learning, work and sports
  • Administer a screening battery to identify common vision disorders that can affect therapy
  • Understand the various treatment approaches available
  • Plan and implement compensatory strategies to manage vision problems interfering with therapy
  • Plan and implement direct intervention to manage vision problems interfering with therapy
Day One
8:30-4:00
Designed for those who are interested in developing a comprehensive understanding of vision, how to screen for vision problems and how vision deficits may affect performance.
I.Three Component Model
II.Acuity, Optics, Disease
III.Visual Efficiency Problems Binocular vision (eye teaming) problems
Accommodative (focusing) problems
Ocular motility (eye movement) disorders
IV.Visual Processing Problems Laterality and Directionality
Visual Form Perception
Visual Memory
Visual Motor Integration
V.Vision Problems by Population Learning Disabled population
Developmentally delayed population
Brain Injury population
Elderly population
VI.Screening For Visual Problems Screening for: Acuity, Optical Problems
Visual Field Deficits
Accommodative Disorders
Binocular Vision Disorders
Eye Movement Disorders
Visual Information Processing Disorders
Day Two
8:30-4:00
Designed primarily for therapists who want to learn how to manage vision problems in therapy.
VII.Optometric Treatment Use of Lenses, Prism, Vision Therapy
VIII.Intervention Techniques for Therapists Helping the patient to compensate for visual deficits
IX.Direct Intervention Techniques including Vision Therapy
Pediatric Population
Brain Injury Population
Elderly Population
Purpose
This 2-day workshop will provide you with practical applications that you can use immediately to achieve results

Course Reviews

Overall, I have to agree with past and current OT colleagues that this is an incredibly engaging, yet informative and practical workshop. I just keep thinking "why didn't I learn this in school?" I acquired a serious tool in my professional toolbox.

Patty Gonzalez - Redondo Beach, CA

It is so refreshing to have our profession (OT) valued by a professional of your caliber. It would be so nice to have a course similar to yours offered in OT school instead of a few short lectures on this topic. I will be taking lots of valuable information from this course back to my rural practice where I work with all populations. Thank you for all of the resources, forms, and activities we can use immediately.

Heidi Bitney, OTR/L - O'Neill, NE

Professionally and personally, this has been the most informative and applicable workshop I've taken in years.

Sherri Toft, OTR - Sumner, WA

Dr. Scheiman's enthusiasm for and expertise in vision therapy is engaging and valuable. This course certainly met all of my expectations. Also I really enjoyed that Dr. Scheiman presented the information as an optometrists with a good understanding of OT and OTs potential to VT because it is clearly demonstrated how to successfully interact within an interdisciplinary situation.

Amanda Shafer, Erie, PA

This class was one of the few classes that I did not have to fight with staying awake. I already had a pretty good base, but it helped to clarify and it was nice to see some of the techniques I am already ding. It also helped with what an OT can and cannot do.

Warrie Walser, Wichita, TX

I was never bored, Dr. Scheiman keeps it lively with great quips and interesting facts along with very understandable information on visual deficits. I truly appreciate the education.

Lisa Bliss, COTA/L, RSM/Cheney, WA

This was an excellent workshop - one of the best I have ever taken! It was well-organized, logical, comprehensive, and entertaining. I learned a great deal about the visual system, its impact on our clients' functional performance of daily living activities, ways to screen for visual problems, and a wealth of techniques for intervention. Very informative and practical - thank you!

Catherine Bennett, MS, OTR - Ventura, CA

I am grateful to learn more about how to treat visual problems - and I learned much more than I expected including how to look for and recognize visual problems and how they affect things. I wish I had known this several years ago. Dr. Scheiman has a great teaching style and I enjoyed the interspersed "other things" to help keep my concentration going.

Katharina Schwidtal/Hastings, NE

The materiel provided in this two=day workshop gave a great overview of the components of visual functioning, difference of remediation and compensation and normative data for screenings to help with generating referrals to get work-up/therapy/intervention. The lecture was informative and utilized intelligent humor, too! Mitchell was very generous with treatment ideas, compensation strategies, practical information. Fantastic workshop that empowered me immediately!

Alison Courson, OTR/L - National City, CA

I enjoyed the exposure to other aspects of visual behavior besides just low vision. The course was well structured and provided useable information that I can immediately apply. It was nice that you gave financial and reimbursement information. The handout was a very valuable resource. Great Course!

Brian Davies, OTR - Front Royal, VA

- Lots was learned and I appreciated your sense of humor. - Great value for the money. - Good structure of handouts. - Great presenter.

Silke Hamilton, Redondo Bach, CA

This course was excellent. The material is all well organized and easy to reference. Information is pertinent and practical for OTs practicing in a variety of settings. I really appreciated the bits of humor throughout the lecture. Overall, I found this course to be helpful and I look forward to applying what I learned as well as a developing a working relationship with the optometrist in our facility to better treat our clients.

Kathleen Daly/Portland, OR

Vision Education Seminars
151 Summit Lane
Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

800-985-1752
visionedseminars@comcast.net

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