[visionrehabtherapist] Re: VRCs...what should They know?

From: "Doug Rose" <dougdrose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <kfarrow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:51:06 -0800

Hi Sarah and others.  I think Kendra speaks to the main issue here.  This idea
of making a list of what to know is a loaded question.  You have no doubt good
intentions but approaching it with a list may be doing a disservice to all
concerned.  Some may be misled by you giving them a list.  Since you have all
the certifications you know firsthand what is involved in helping people be
successful.  Just think about the kinds of areas you cover with O&M, and vision
rehab services.  Your audience might be better served by making sure they are
familiar with blindness specialists like yourself and when it is appropriate to
enlist their services.  They would do the same for other disabilities.  The
best counselors I had as a rehab client used common sense and intuition about
what is needed.  The best quality or strategy I would impress upon them is to
know their clients.  Assess where they are in their adjustment level.  Enlist
the help of specialists at the appropriate time.  Expose them to some
successful visually impaired people.  Perhaps this is part of what you are
planning to do.

Thanks for promoting the field

Be well.

Doug McKinleyville Low vision Support Group (The bumpers) (707) 839-0588

Senior Center without Walls program telephone support group (The Eyes Have It)

<mailto:dougdrose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> dougdrose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<http://pages.suddenlink.net/dougdrose> http://pages.suddenlink.net/dougdrose ;

From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Farrow, Kendra
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 1:32 PM
To: visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Re: VRCs...what should They know?

Hi Sarah,

At Mississippi State University we have a graduate certificate program that is
for VR counselors to learn the essentials called Vision Specialist in
Vocational Rehabilitation Certificate program. It includes 4 courses. These
courses are: Physiology of the Eye, Assistive Technology, Resources, and a
Practicum. There is a lot packed into these four courses, so just giving you
the titles does not really give the program justice. Since these courses equal
12 graduate credits, I don’t think the answer to your question is simple. They
need to learn a lot to be an effective counselor to a blind/visually impaired
consumer.

We have RSA funding just like the VRT and O&M programs to sponsor VR counselors
to attend our program. Our program begins in January and includes 2 on-line
courses during the spring semester followed by a 3-week on campus experience.
The final two courses are again on-line and conclude in early August. We accept
applications from June 1 to October 1 each year. Please visit our website, or
contact me directly if you want some more information.

http://www.blind.msstate.edu/training/training/vision-specialist/ ;

Hope this is helpful.

Kendra

Kendra Farrow

Research & Training Associate

The National Research & Training Center on Blindness & Low Vision

Mailstop 9741

P.O. Box 6189

Mississippi State, MS  39762

Phone: 662-325-8694

Fax: 662-325-8989

kfarrow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

www.blind.msstate.edu <http://www.blind.msstate.edu/>

<http://blind.msstate.edu/>

Figure 1: Logo for Mississippi State University

From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Sarah Bussey
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 3:00 PM
To: visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] VRCs...what should They know?

Hello!

What do you feel is the most important thing for a Vocational Rehabilitation
Counselor to know when they receive a person on their caseload who is blind or
visually impaired?

I am working on putting together a list of  need to knows for VRCs who have
never had the experience!

Thanks for your thoughts!

SB

--

Sarah D. Bussey

Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist

Certified Teacher of Students with Vision Impairments

Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist

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References:
- [visionrehabtherapist] VRCs...what should They know?
  - From: Sarah Bussey
- [visionrehabtherapist] Re: VRCs...what should They know?
  - From: Farrow, Kendra

[visionrehabtherapist] Re: VRCs...what should They know?

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