Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists

Teach cane skills, including cane use with a guide, diagonal techniques, and two-point touches.

Train clients to use tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and propioceptive information.

Assess clients' functioning in areas such as vision, orientation and mobility skills, social and emotional issues, cognition, physical abilities, and personal goals.

Teach clients to travel independently, using a variety of actual or simulated travel situations or exercises.

Monitor clients' progress to determine whether changes in rehabilitation plans are needed.

Develop rehabilitation or instructional plans collaboratively with clients, based on results of assessments, needs, and goals.

Recommend appropriate mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, long canes, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).

Train clients with visual impairments to use mobility devices or systems, such as human guides, dog guides, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).

Collaborate with specialists, such as rehabilitation counselors, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, to provide client solutions.

Provide consultation, support, or education to groups such as parents and teachers.

Participate in professional development activities, such as reading literature, continuing education, attending conferences, and collaborating with colleagues.

Train clients to read or write Braille.

Train clients to use adaptive equipment, such as large print, reading stands, lamps, writing implements, software, and electronic devices.

Design instructional programs to improve communication, using devices such as slates and styluses, braillers, keyboards, adaptive handwriting devices, talking book machines, digital books, and optical character readers (OCRs).

Write reports or complete forms to document assessments, training, progress, or follow-up outcomes.

Refer clients to services, such as eye care, health care, rehabilitation, and counseling, to enhance visual and life functioning or when condition exceeds scope of practice.

Administer tests and interpret test results to develop rehabilitation plans for clients.

Teach independent living skills or techniques, such as adaptive eating, medication management, diabetes management, and personal management.

Obtain, distribute, or maintain low vision devices.

Identify visual impairments related to basic life skills in areas such as self care, literacy, communication, health management, home management, and meal preparation.