Vision loss occupational therapy Better Health Channel
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Occupational therapy services offered by vision impairment organisations, such as Guide Dogs Victoria, are available for people of all ages and with all degrees of vision loss.
Programs are goal focussed and are designed to meet the needs of each individual to learn new skills and strategies. These include:Daily living skills such as cooking, personal grooming and bankingLife planning and goal setting, moving out of home, or starting a new job or leisure activityProviding guidance on socially appropriate behaviour and activityAssessing and providing age-appropriate skills training.
Various assessments may be done including:Sensory assessments – to work out how the person uses their remaining vision and other sensesMotor assessments – to define the person’s strength, coordination, range of movement and dexterity. These assessments also help to make sure that, for safety reasons, the new skills offered fall within the person’s capability.
A program may cover:Self and sense – understanding your own body and body movementThinking and problem solving – how to use planning, memory and insightCommunication – developing social skills, body language and verbal communicationSafety – how to identify ‘stranger danger’ and ask for helpExploration – how to use all your senses and identify objects and placesEnvironments – what to expect in different places such as the school, shops, employment and community services, such as the bank or chemistTravel – move purposefully from one place to another, including training on straight-line travel, timing and moreTraffic – strategies for traffic including crossing the road, footpaths and curbsMobility aids – using canes, monoculars and other aids.
Vision loss - occupational therapy
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Occupational therapy for children and adults with vision impairment offers new strategies and alternative methods of completing activities of daily living.Orientation and mobility instruction helps the vision-impaired individual to move confidently, safely and independently in their environments.On this page
Occupational therapists are health professionals trained to help people overcome their limitations so they can live more independent lives. Occupational therapy for children and adults with vision impairment aims to maximise existing skills and offer alternative, easier ways to do things. An occupational therapist can also suggest changes to the home and workplace, and training in the use of adaptive equipment.Occupational therapy services offered by vision impairment organisations, such as Guide Dogs Victoria, are available for people of all ages and with all degrees of vision loss.
Practical changes at home and work
An occupational therapist may suggest a range of practical changes to the home and work environments for people with vision impairment. Such changes may include:Identification tags (colour-coded or tactile) fitted to equipment and itemsIncreased lighting and use of contrastAid equipment such as magnifiers and audio equipment – this includes training in the use of aids and equipmentRemoval of clutter that could pose a safety hazard – for example, items stored on the floor or on benches.Occupational therapy programs are individually tailored
The Guide Dogs Victoria occupational therapy programs are offered free of charge, and can range in length from one day to several weeks. They can be performed at the training centre in Kew or in the person’s home. Where appropriate, training is done together with family members and associated rehabilitation professionals.Programs are goal focussed and are designed to meet the needs of each individual to learn new skills and strategies. These include:Daily living skills such as cooking, personal grooming and bankingLife planning and goal setting, moving out of home, or starting a new job or leisure activityProviding guidance on socially appropriate behaviour and activityAssessing and providing age-appropriate skills training.
Initial assessment
The Guide Dogs Victoria program is designed to meet the person’s individual goals. To help a person reach their maximum potential, their existing abilities are professionally assessed in the context of their work, school, home, leisure, general lifestyle and family situation.Various assessments may be done including:Sensory assessments – to work out how the person uses their remaining vision and other sensesMotor assessments – to define the person’s strength, coordination, range of movement and dexterity. These assessments also help to make sure that, for safety reasons, the new skills offered fall within the person’s capability.
Training programs
Areas covered in training programs include:Personal care skills – showering, dressing, identifying clothes, grooming, shaving, applying make-up and managing medicationDomestic skills – meal planning, cooking, laundry, cleaning and how to respond to emergenciesCommunity skills – budgeting, banking, money handling and shoppingCommunication skills – telephone use, computer skills, reading and writingSocial skills – learning to present oneself in a more confident manner, and learning how to listen for conversational cuesPersonal wellbeing – fitness and relaxation.Mobility services for all ages
Occupational therapy can be offered together with a specialised range of mobility programs. Orientation and mobility instruction helps the vision-impaired individual to move confidently, safely and independently in their environments, including home, school, workplaces and the local neighbourhood. Mobility programs are offered to people of all ages on a one-on-one, group or consultancy basis.A program may cover:Self and sense – understanding your own body and body movementThinking and problem solving – how to use planning, memory and insightCommunication – developing social skills, body language and verbal communicationSafety – how to identify ‘stranger danger’ and ask for helpExploration – how to use all your senses and identify objects and placesEnvironments – what to expect in different places such as the school, shops, employment and community services, such as the bank or chemistTravel – move purposefully from one place to another, including training on straight-line travel, timing and moreTraffic – strategies for traffic including crossing the road, footpaths and curbsMobility aids – using canes, monoculars and other aids.