October, 2011

Month: October 2011

26
Oct
2011

Resources for Individuals with a Vision Loss

categories: Blindness & Visual Impairment

As we discussed in last week’s blog, once a person is diagnosed with a vision loss there are resources available to help people adjust. In fact, all eye care providers are required to report patients diagnosed with legal blindness so they can access resources.

In Massachusetts, there are about 35,000 residents who are legally blind and registered with the Commission for the Blind, the statewide resource for coordinating vision professional services.

Once a person is registered with the Commission, a case manager will meet with the individual and assist them in accessing services of their choice.

These may include:

Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist (COMS)
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT)
Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT)
Assistive Technology Specialist
Deaf/Blind Specialist
Rehabilitation Teacher
Vocational Counselor
Case manager
Children’s Rehabilitation Case manager

For additional information, contact the Commission for the Blind at
(617) 727-5550.

Additional Resources

Blindness & Vision Impairment Resources from (Mass. Dept. of Developmental Services)
This site provides resources for individuals with vision impairment, legal blindness or deaf/blindness and intellectual disability.
Resources include:

Daily Living with Vision Loss
Leisure, Communication, and Recreation Resources
Local & National Organizations Dedicated to Vision Loss
Product Catalogs of Aids & Appliances for Vision Loss
Eye Safety, Vision Care & Finding an Eye Care Provider

Professional Organizations / Vision Education / Certification

Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
is the professional organization of the blindness/vision loss field.

Northeast Chapter of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (NE/AER)

Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education
UMass Boston has certification and master programs for Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists (COMS) and Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT), as well as Teachers of the Visually Impaired.

19
Oct
2011

Understanding Vision Loss and Legal Blindness

categories: Blindness & Visual Impairment

Ever wonder what the term “legally blind” means?

There is much confusion about legal blindness, since most individuals who are legally blind have some functional vision and their eyes may look perfectly fine. Legal blindness ranges from low vision to total blindness.

Determining legal blindness

When describing a person’s vision, most people are familiar with the term, “acuity”, meaning how clear or blurred a person’s vision is compared to others. To be registered as legally blind in Massachusetts, an individual must have vision acuity of 20/200 or less in their better eye with the best possible correction (eyeglasses/contacts).

Let’s compare this to a person with 20/20 vision.

If an individual has 20/20 vision, they can see something at 200 feet clearly. If they have 20/200 vision, they must be only 20 feet away to see the same object as clearly as the individual who is 200 feet away.

The second measurement of legal blindness is a field loss of 10 degrees or less in the better eye. Other visual functions impacting vision loss are: Contrast Sensitivity, how clear or clouded the vision is; Motility, how the eyes move together or not and Cerebral vision, how the brain processes images. All these visual functions impact an individual’s vision impairment differently.

Causes and signs of vision loss

Low vision may be due to different eye diseases and/or health conditions. Some major causes of vision loss are Age Related Macular Degeneration, Diabetes, or Glaucoma (See illustrations below). Vision, once lost, cannot usually be restored so getting regularly eye exams is very important to keeping healthy vision. Most vision loss is gradual, painless and unnoticed until a significant vision loss occurs.

Signs of vision loss may include difficulty recognizing faces, inability to read road signs, and difficulty reading print. Complaints may range from ‘lights seem dimmer” or “it’s never bright enough”. Other signs may involve bumping or tripping over items; spilling or leaving food on the plate. For individuals with limited communication skills, new negative behaviors may indicate a recent vision loss.

Role of vision professionals

When telling an individual the news that they are legally blind, many doctors will say nothing can be done to ‘fix’ the person’s vision. This may be true, but there are also many vision professionals who make it easier for their patients transitioning into the world of vision loss.

In next week’s blog we will discuss resources and services available for someone with vision loss, to make it easier for you or someone you know.

12
Oct
2011

Top Ten List of DON’TS for Motorists

categories: Blindness & Visual Impairment

One of the major complaints I hear from pedestrians who are legally blind is that motorists don’t know how to react when they encounter a white cane user at a street crossing.

As a result, we have compiled a Top Ten List of DON’Ts for motorists when they see a pedestrian using a white cane or dog guide at street crossings.
(Adapted from a 1998 handout developed by James Hazard & Kathy Zelaya)

Top Ten List of DON’Ts for motorists

10. Don’t stop your car more than five feet from the crosswalk line or stop line.

9. Don’t yell out “It’s OK to cross”.

8. Don’t get impatient when waiting for a pedestrian who is visually impaired to cross. If the pedestrian places the long cane into the street, it usually indicates he or she will begin a street crossing. If the cane user takes a step back and pulls back the cane from the curb, it usually indicates the person will not be crossing at that time. Proceed with caution.

7. Don’t consider a “rolling” stop as a complete stop. A Stop sign means STOP!

6. Don’t turn right on red without coming to a full stop and always look for pedestrians. The RIGHT on RED Law requires drivers to come to a complete stop prior to making a right turn.

5. Don’t fail to stop for a pedestrian at all crosswalks whether or not there is a traffic signal or stop sign. Come to a full stop.

4. Don’t stop your car in the middle of the crosswalk.

3. Don’t pass another stopped car waiting for a pedestrian to cross the street.

2. Don’t wave to pedestrians who are using a white cane or dog guide to indicate that you are waiting for them. They CAN NOT see you.

1. Don’t Honk!

Remember to follow the Massachusetts White Cane Law: All Motorists, when they see a pedestrian who uses a dog guide or white cane at a street crossing, must come to a complete stop!

05
Oct
2011

White Cane Law Promotes Safety and Independence

categories: Blindness & Visual Impairment

This month we are pleased to introduce Meg Robertson, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist from the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind.

Have you heard about the White Cane Law?

Massachusetts, along with the rest of the country, has a White Cane Law. The Massachusetts White Cane Law states that all motorists, when they see a pedestrian using a guide dog or a white cane at a street crossing, must come to a complete stop.

The Orientation and Mobility Department at the Mass. Commission for the Blind is working to raise public awareness of the White Cane Law. To learn more come and celebrate International White Cane Day at the State House on Friday October 14, from 10-noon.

A symbol of independence

The white cane is a mobility device used by individuals who are legally blind to navigate safely around their communities. It is a symbol of independence, since anyone who is using a white cane is asserting their independence over blindness by continuing to travel within their communities.

There are different types of white canes used by individuals who are legally blind.
Cane choices depend on the individual’s vision impairment, age, height, gait, etc. The main types of white canes are a support cane type, and/or a long thin cane, which are white with red at the bottom of the cane.

Mobility devices offer a choice in support

Individuals who are legally blind but still have functional vision may use the support type cane to alert motorists that the pedestrian is legally blind. These canes can also assist with depth perception on stairs or curbs.

The more common used mobility device is a long white cane. This cane is used for independent travel and to avoid obstacles

Specialized training is needed for both types of canes as well as travel skills. This specialized training is provided by a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS). All individuals who need a white cane, should be evaluated by a COMS to be sure they get the correct cane and proper training.

A small percentage of people who are legally blind choose a guide dog as a different type of mobility device. Either way, all should receive Orientation & Mobility training with a long cane and street crossing skills before acceptance by a dog guide school. The White Cane Law applies to guide dog users as well.

For more information on white cane training or blindness, contact the Orientation and Mobility Department at the Commission for the Blind www.state.ma.us/mcb or 800-392-6450 x 626-7581 (Voice) or 800-393-6556/TTY.