[visionrehabtherapist] Re: Visual Impairment Specialist?
- From: Terrie Terlau <tterlau@xxxxxxx>
- To: "Polly.Abbott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" <Polly.Abbott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, "visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:03:28 +0000
Polly,
Although I am a researcher and not a professional working in the field, I have
the same concern that you do. Clearly, when working with someone who has low
vision, VRT may have some validity as a title in that you do teach the person,
among other things, to use vision more effectively. I really wish, though, that
the title was Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Therapist, VIRT. This would say
much more clearly what all of you do.
Best,
Terrie
From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Polly Abbott
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2013 10:58 AM
To: visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Visual Impairment Specialist?
Hello VRTs,
I attended the AFB Leadership conference/AER Illinois state conference this
past weekend. AFB awarded the M.C. Migel Medal to Kay Ferrell.
http://www.afb.org/section.aspx?FolderID=1&SectionID=47&DocumentID=6215
During her acceptance speech she made a point that has had me thinking about
what I do ever since. She said we are not "vision professionals" and that we
do not do "vision rehabilitation". She said we are actually "visual impairment
specialists". This really resonated with me. "She's right!" I thought, "My
area of expertise is blindness."
I am happy to call myself a CVRT and I am not looking for change at this time
but I notice it takes many words to explain what I do to clients, families, and
especially professionals outside the field. Our profession is already
suffering from a low profile. I wonder if we complicated our status further by
choosing VRT as our title. Kay Ferrell's comment, I confess, had me yearning
just a wee bit for a professional title that clearly stated what I do to the
layman.
My apologies to Kay Ferrell if I have misinterpreted the point she was trying
to make at the time. Whatever she meant to say has certainly been thought
provoking to me.
Polly Abbott CVRT
Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
Director of Rehabilitation Services
Second Sense
65 E. Wacker Place Suite 1010
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 236-8569
www.second-sense.org<http://www.second-sense.org/>
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