When confronted with vision loss, most adults initially turn an eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) for help, but it's important to note that many different kinds of vision rehabilitation services are available and go far beyond what your family doctor, ophthalmologist, or optometrist may provide.

Below are interviews with, and profiles of, vision rehabilitation professionals.

An interview with study authors Kaye Olson, John McElheron, and Nancy Pilorget Meet Kaye Olson, John McElheron, and Nancy Pilorget, authors of the Coping with Vision Loss Study, which investigates the wide range of coping strategies used by adults and older adults who are blind, visually impaired, and have low vision. Read the interview
Doctor OD An Eye Doctor tells the Story of His Own Journey through Vision Loss	Tom Miller Executive Director of the Blinded Veterans Association
Kathy Zubrycki Director of Training and Admissions at Guiding Eyes for the Blind	Don Golembiewski M.A., CVRT, Director of Outreach at the Hadley School for the Blind
Carol Eaton M.Ed., CVRT, Adult Services Supervisor at the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired	Bryan Gerritsen M.A., CLVT, Certified Low Vision Therapist in Utah
Joyce Shoemaker Retail Operations Manager at the SightConnection Store	Dona Sauerburger M.A., COMS®, Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Lisa-Anne Mowerson M.A., CVRT, TVI, Author of "Safety in the Home" downloadable resources	Stephanie Stephens Van M.A., CLVT, VRT, Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
Elizabeth Lee LMSW, Intergenerational Program Director at VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired in New York	Dawn Backer CLVT, Rehabilitation Manager at the South Dakota Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Sioux Falls
Benjamin M. Freed, O.D. Low Vision Optometrist with the Homebound Eye Care Program at the State University of New York College of Optometry	Dawn Pickering OC(C), COMT, CLVT, Professional Practice Leader, Low Vision Services, CNIB (formerly known as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind).
Barbara Hunt Chief of Voluntary Services at the Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans' Administration (VA) Hospital in Chicago, Illinois

Vision Rehabilitation Professionals: Join the Discussion

Featured Discussion: Using Stimulus Funds to Strengthen the Profession: Read the article by John M. McMahon, CVRT, CLVT and weigh in with your thoughts on using government stimulus funding to attract and educate new vision rehabilitation professionals.

Stay Informed About Health Care Reform

The American Foundation for the Blind presents a comprehensive overview of the current status of health care reform and legislation, including drug label information, low vision devices and other medically necessary assistive technology, and coverage for services offered to Medicare beneficiaries by orientation and mobility specialists, vision rehabilitation therapists, and low vision therapists.

HealthReform.gov keeps you up-to-date on the status of health care reform, legislation, events, and policy throughout the nation.

Conference Information

John J. Kelly Vision Consulting, LLC provides an updated listing of local, regional, and national United States conferences and events within the vision rehabilitation and education fields.

The Fourteenth International Mobility Conference (IMC14) will be held in Palmerston North, New Zealand from February 13-17, 2012. The call for papers has been issued. Visit the conference web site at www.imc14.com for full details.