Including occupational therapy in low vision rehabilitation.

An estimated 3 milhon Americans are currently hvmg wIth low v[Sion, a number that is expected to increase to 6 million bv the year 2030 (Orr, 1992) The majority of these persons are older and generally otherwise healthy adults struggling to maintain their independence and remain In their own homes (Orr, 1992). They are not blind and most will never completely lose their vision, but their lives are often severely compromised by their inability to clearly see visual detail such as printed words, colors, and facial features. Although occupational therapists have been involved in the rehabilitation of persons with vision loss since the inception of the profession in 1917, we have never played an extensive role in low vision rehabilitiHion. However, just because our profession has not been involved in providing low vision rehabilitation services does nOt mean that persons with low vision have gone unserved. The needs of persons with vision loss have been met by Other health care professionals practiCing in the community-based programs, schools, state vocational services. and Veterans Administration (VA) medical cemer programs that make up the nationwide blindness system (Orr, 1992). The professionals proViding these services include optometrists. rehabilitation teachers, and orientation and mobility specialists. They are well educated and trained. and they provide comprehensive services. Although a limited number of occupational therapists have always been employed within the blindness system, the majority of therapists praCticing in this country have had only minimal contan with, or awareness of. the services available for persons with vision loss. One reason for thiS minimal awareness is that, with the exception of Rehabilitation