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Career Counseling For People With Vision Loss
Career Counseling For People With Vision Loss
Lauri Dishman, M.A., LCPC Manager of Counseling Services Guild for the Blind
Purpose: To provide information on best practices when encountering clients who are blind or have vision loss.
Low Vision
Vision loss that may be severe enough to impede a person's ability to carry on everyday activities, but still allows some functionally useful sight. Examples: macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma
Legal Blindness
A level of visual impairment that has been defined by law to determine eligibility for benefits. It refers to central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the best possible correction, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less.
Total Blindness
The complete lack of form and visual light perception
Cataract
A condition in which the lens of the eye, which is normally clear, becomes cloudy or opaque.
Cataract
Macular Degeneration
Disease that causes dysfunction of the macula, the area in the middle of the retina that makes possible the sharp central vision needed for such everyday activities as reading, driving, and recognizing faces and colors
Macular Degeneration
Glaucoma
Disease in which the pressure of the fluid inside the eye is too high, resulting in a loss of peripheral vision. If the condition is not diagnosed and treated, the increased pressure can damage the optic nerve and eventually lead to blindness.
Glaucoma
Diabetic Retinopathy
Eye condition that results from the damaging effect of diabetes on the circulatory system of the retina. Changes in the tiny blood vessels of the retina can lead to vision loss.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Optometrist
A health care provider who specializes in refractive errors, prescribes eyeglasses or contact lenses and diagnoses and manages conditions of the eye as regulated by state laws. Ay also perform low vision examinations.
Ophthalmologist
A physician who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and is qualified to prescribe ocular medications and to perform surgery on the eyes.
COM (Contd)
Residual vision stimulation and training Human Guide Technique Locating Dropped Objects, trailing, Cane techniques Soliciting and Declining Assistance Utilizing Landmarks, search patterns, route planning, Analysis and identification of intersections and traffic patterns, techniques for crossing streets Using public transportation
Breakthrough Technology
Computer Software
JAWS (Freedom Scientific) ZoomText (Ai Squared) I Zoom Portable Screen Magnification (No installation needed)
Text to Digital
Zoom-Ex (ABISee)
Audio Files
Victor Reader Stream (Humanware)
Video Magnification
Acrobat (Enhanced Vision)
Model of Successful Work Experience for Employees Who are Visually Impaired
Golub Study
Golub Study
Surveyed employers of workers with visual impairments who demonstrated great success on the job. Through data analysis of results, was able to devise an integrative model of successful employment. Includes 7 steps that employers can take and 7 steps employees can take to ultimately generate success for both parties.
Using words instead of actions to let the worker with visual impairment know whats going on. Understand the proper etiquette when encountering someone who is blind or visually impaired.
Its the responsibility of the person with vision loss to ameliorate the awkwardness.
The Counselors Role: Encourage clients to be open with fellow workers.
References
American Foundation for the Blind; Glossary of Eye Conditions; www.afb.org Blasch, Wiener, Welsh; Foundations of Orientation and Mobility, Second Edition; AFB Press 2000; p 750. Academy for Certification of Rehabilitation and Education Professionals, www.acvrep.org/Rehabilitation_Teaching.html Golub (2006); A Model of Successful Work Experience for Employees Who are Visually Impaired: The Results of a Study; Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness Photos provided by Lighthouse International, ABISee, Humaware, and Advanced Vision.
Contact Information
Lauri Dishman, M.A., LCPC Manager of Counseling Services Guild for the Blind 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700 Chicago, IL 60601 312-236-8569 lauri@guildfortheblind.org www.guildfortheblind.org