[visionrehabtherapist] Re: What do you think about the new ACVREP Certification requiremetns?
- From: Patty Arnold- Rutkoff <parnold@xxxxxxxx>
- To: aer vision rehab therapist listserve <visionrehabtherapist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:35:50 -0700
Hi Lisa,
While I agree something needs to be done to be prepared for the
increasing need for CVRT's, I don't feel the new proposed changes are
adequate or clear. I saw nothing requiring any kind of internship or
even mentorship under a CVRT. It also was not clear to me if ACVREP
would require at least some of the same type of proof of coursework/
training as it presently requires under category 3, e.g. college
courses, Hadley courses such as the Human eye course, etc, or if
everything was dependent solely on the test.
Personally I recently began using a VRT Assistant who completed the
lighthouse VRT assistant training, but I use her in the correct
manner, where I do the initial assessment, do some of the training,
and have her do some of the training according to her skills. She
already knew a lot about the blindness field, as she is V.I. herself
and has been our part time receptionist for many years, and is
excellent with people. I know some would argue that there are/will be
those agencies who will not use VRT assistants properly; I have no
control over that, but I am very pleased with my VRT Assistant. Seems
to me one CVRT should only have one or two VRT assistants, otherwise
it could become more like being a case manager, not a CVRT.
I do not have a problem with some type of grandfather clause for
those who have been working in the field many years, if proof of some
coursework and mentorship under a CVRT could be shown., and if the
current core areas continue to be used. The current category 3 seems
pretty good for those who don't go through university VRT programs,
but if this is not meeting the need perhaps some tweaks could be
made to that. In my mind though the way ACVREP's proposed changes
stand now, someone new to the field could work for awhile under a
person with little to no knowledge of Vision Rehab Therapy, read some
books, pass the test, and bide their time to become certified with
little contact with a CVRT. Hopefully something that assures actual
contact with other CVRT's and certain coursework could be worked out
before implementing changes.
Take Care,
Patty Arnold
On Jan 15, 2009, at 6:49 PM, l.mowerson@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
First of all, I must say, I have been in the field for over 20 years
now. I have served in AER as a state chair of RT, as national RT
division, on the AER Board of Dirctors, and helped to organize the
1999 Rt conference. I am quite proud to be a CVRT.
However, when I saw the postponement today I was upset! I think it
was a good and brave move on the part of ACVREP to move in the
direction of two levels of certification. Prior to 1986, there were
BA's with ceritification in the field of blindnes for VRt, O&M amd
TVI. unfortunately grant funding and univeristy support moved away
from these low incident programs (translation, low interest and low
enrollments) to Master's level programming were they could be tagged
onto existing higher student programs. To my fellow professionals
that believe this two track system will water down the profession and
lessen our programs, I say get real! With only 6, count them 6,
universities in all of the US offering VRT training, 1 offering LV
and whoopie, 20 offering O&M how the HELL are we going to prepare
enough professionals to meet the shortage! With the growing older
adult populations growing and demending our serives, the younger
multi-impaired population growing and retirements occurring at a
rapid pace, we are opening the flood gates to agencies and
adminstrations to offer jobs to unqualified similiar professions. We
can't wait for people to 'discover" the "ideal" in training and
certification.We have no professional career ladder of an assistant,
like nursing with aides, LPN and RN or OT with COTA's. We say to
interested professionals, especially ethnic or disabled individuals,
come back in 6 years after you get a Masters! With track certifcation
we are aligning with teaching and state certification requirements.
We are offering individuals a chance to learn about our professions,
work in our professions with appropriate guidance and with more
training reach the "ideal".
To ACVREP on postponing the implimentation, My first reaction,
whimps! It needs to be done, should have been done years ago and
offers the only I hope of beefing up a profession on its way obscurity.
Respectfully,
Lisa-Anne Mowerson
On Jan 15, 2009, at 6:49 PM, l.mowerson@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
First of all, I must say, I have been in the field for over 20
years now. I have served in AER as a state chair of RT, as national
RT division, on the AER Board of Dirctors, and helped to organize
the 1999 Rt conference. I am quite proud to be a CVRT.
However, when I saw the postponement today I was upset! I think it
was a good and brave move on the part of ACVREP to move in the
direction of two levels of certification. Prior to 1986, there were
BA's with ceritification in the field of blindnes for VRt, O&M amd
TVI. unfortunately grant funding and univeristy support moved away
from these low incident programs (translation, low interest and low
enrollments) to Master's level programming were they could be
tagged onto existing higher student programs. To my fellow
professionals that believe this two track system will water down
the profession and lessen our programs, I say get real! With only
6, count them 6, universities in all of the US offering VRT
training, 1 offering LV and whoopie, 20 offering O&M how the HELL
are we going to prepare enough professionals to meet the shortage!
With the growing older adult populations growing and demending our
serives, the younger multi-impaired population growing and
retirements occurring at a rapid pace, we are opening the flood
gates to agencies and adminstrations to offer jobs to unqualified
similiar professions. We can't wait for people to 'discover" the
"ideal" in training and certification.We have no professional
career ladder of an assistant, like nursing with aides, LPN and RN
or OT with COTA's. We say to interested professionals, especially
ethnic or disabled individuals, come back in 6 years after you get
a Masters! With track certifcation we are aligning with teaching
and state certification requirements. We are offering individuals a
chance to learn about our professions, work in our professions with
appropriate guidance and with more training reach the "ideal".
To ACVREP on postponing the implimentation, My first reaction,
whimps! It needs to be done, should have been done years ago and
offers the only I hope of beefing up a profession on its way
obscurity.
Respectfully,
Lisa-Anne Mowerson
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