Envision Conference - Low vision rehabilitation & research news

Low Vision Knowledge

Call For Presentations: Whether you are a vision scientist, an OD in private practice, an OT in a rehab hospital, an O&M at a private agency for the visually impaired, a TVI from a school district or an MD retinal specialist, we want to hear the challenges you've faced and solutions that have worked for you.

Multi-Disciplinary Topic Areas:

• Assistive Technology
• Optical Devices and Prescribing
• Contact Lenses as Component of Low Vision Rehabilitation
• Low Vision and Driving
• Geriatrics
• Vision Loss and Fall Prevention
• Diabetes Management
• Traumatic Brain Injury and Vision Loss – Neuro-Visual Rehabilitation
• Practice Management - Professional Issues
• Pediatrics, Early Intervention
• Orientation & Mobility
• Vision Replacement Strategies
• Clinical Practice Applications
• Employment for people who have vision loss or blindness
• Psychosocial Issues in Vision Loss
• Eccentric Viewing
• Disease Etiology
• Multi-Disciplinary Models of Low Vision Rehabilitation
• Adding Low Vision Rehabilitation to Your Practice
• Low Vision Research

 See "How To Submit a Presentation or Abstract" for more detailed information.

Submissions Deadline: Submit your proposals to Envision Conference 2012 Call for Presentations, addressing clinical interventions or research abstracts, now through March 19, 2012 via the online submissions form.

Envision Conference 2012 will take place September 12-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. To register or learn more about Envision Conference, visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.

2012 "Excellence in Education" Keynote Announced

Envision Conference is pleased to announce the Envision Conference 2012 "Excellence in Education" Keynote, Mary Warren, MS, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA.

Mary Warren, is an Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy and Director of the Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is the editor of a self-paced clinical course on low vision and co-editor of the textbook Occupational Therapy Interventions for Adults with Low Vision, both published by the American Occupational Therapy Association Press. She chaired the AOTA panel that developed specialty certification in low vision rehabilitation for occupational therapy practitioners. She has presented numerous workshops on low vision rehabilitation and on visual perceptual dysfunction following acute brain injury, and is an internationally recognized authority in this area. Her research has been published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy and she has contributed chapters to several rehabilitation textbooks including Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction. She is also the author of the Brain Injury Visual Perceptual Battery for Adults. Warren is a 2010 recipient of the UAB President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The Envision “Excellence in Research” Award will be presented to the individual, individuals or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding career, program, research outcome or effort in low vision research with national or international impact for people who are blind or low vision. The “Excellence in Research” Award will be presented at Envision Conference 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri. Please give an example of this research effort. Deadline for nominations is October 28, 2011. Nominate a colleague today!

Continuing Education Certificates Now Available: Envision Conference 2011 continuing education certificates are now available for download. Visit the continuing education page. You will need to enter your name and either registration number or badge number to download your records.

Envision Conference Call For Presentations: Submissions for clinical and research sessions are open now through March 19, 2012 via the online submissions form.

Register Today. Envision Conference 2012 will take place September 12-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. To register or learn more about Envision Conference visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.

Envision Conference On the Road

Envision Conference is hitting the road this week to promote our next annual meeting scheduled for September 12-15, 2012 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri.

First stop, Boston, Massachusetts for the 89th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Optometry, October 12 -15. Stop by booth #1834 at the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center to say hello. In addition to Boston, you will also find us at the Missouri Optometric Association annual conference October 13 - 15 at Chateau on the Lake in Branson, Missouri. Whether you find yourself in Boston or Branson, be sure and visit our booths to find out the latest information about Envision Conference.

Nominations: The Envision “Excellence in Research” Award will be presented to the individual, individuals or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding career, program, research outcome or effort in low vision research with national or international impact for people who are blind or low vision. The “Excellence in Research” Award will be presented at Envision Conference 2012 in St. Louis, Missouri. Please give an example of this research effort. Deadline for nominations is October 28, 2011. Nominate a colleague today!

Continuing Education Certificates Now Available: Envision Conference 2011 continuing education certificates are now available for download. Visit the continuing education page. You will need to enter your name and either registration number or badge number to download your records.

Envision Conference Call For Presentations: Submissions for clinical and research sessions are open now through March 19, 2012 via the online submissions form.

Upcoming Professional Education: 

• Low Vision Grand Rounds: Vision Rehabilitation for Neurological Vision Loss, Thursday, October 27, 2011 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM, Wichita, KS. Bradley K. Farris, MD. CE- COPE, AOTA, ACCME.
• Behavioral Health and Low Vision Rehabilitation: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach, Saturday, November 12, 2011 8:00 AM - 12:45 PM, Wichita, KS. CE- AOTA, KS Behavioral Sciences Board.

Register Today. Envision Conference 2012 will take place September 12-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. To register or learn more about Envision Conference visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.

Envision Conference 2011: Resounding Success!

Thank You to everyone that made Envision Conference 2011 a resounding success for vision rehabilitation and research! Many hours of planning and executing went into designing the leading venue for low vision clinical education and research.

This conference is unique in its focus on low vision.The combination of research and workshop platforms is critical to those of us in the teaching field who are required to use information and strategies that are "research based". -Envision Conference 2011 attendee 

Send us Feedback. Your feedback can help Envision Conference continue to grow and better serve you as an attendee. Please take 10 minutes to complete our post-conference survey. To say thank you for your time, you can enter your email address into a drawing for $50 off Envision Conference 2012. Deadline for entry is Friday, October 7. Access the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EnvisionConference2011.

This was my first experience with Envision. It was a very rewarding experience and will help me in my efforts to provide the best low vision services to my patients. The team effort of disciplines was embraced by this conference and it was a great opportunity for networking and professional growth! The Envision Conference will be on my list of must attend conferences!  - Shirley Anderson, OTR/L, CLVT, Envision Conference 2011 attendee.

Exceptional Speakers. Many thanks are also due to the skilled presenters in clinical education and low vision research who helped to make this year's program the best to-date. Additional thanks to the Envision peer review committees who reviewed the hundreds of clinical education and research abstracts, that ultimately lead to the first rate program.

The quality of the speakers at Envision was exceptional. Many times it was difficult to choose between sessions occurring at the same time. -Envision Conference 2011 attendee.

One-Stop-Shop for Low Vision Resources and Services. Thanks to our exhibitors and sponsors, the Envision Conference 2011 Exhibit Hall was the place to be for special events and in between sessions. Leading edge low vision technologies were on demonstration for attendees to experience and add to their practices.

Ready for Envision Conference 2012. Registration for attendees, exhibitors and sponsors is already underway as we make plans to return to St. Louis, Missouri, September 12 -15, 2012. See you in St. Louis for Envision Conference 2012!

Important Dates

• March 19, 2012 – Deadline for Clinical Education and Research Submissions
• June 29, 2012 – Deadline for Early Bird Registration
• July 6, 2012 - Deadline for Advance Price Exhibitor Registration
• August 17, 2012 - Hotel Room Block Deadline
• September 12-15, 2012 – Envision Conference 2012 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark

Register Today. Envision Conference 2011 will take place September 12-15 in St. Louis, Missouri. To register or learn more about Envision Conference visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.

Vision Loss and Stroke

Vision Rehabilitation Following Stroke

Strokes, or cerebral vascular accident (CVA), occur in more than 795,000 people each year in the United States. Stroke causes more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease, and is also the third leading cause of death in the country. A stroke occurs when there is a disruption of blood flow in the brain. The effects of stroke depend on the part of the brain that is affected, and can include impaired body movement, speech or sensory function.

There are two different kinds of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) are like a “mini-stroke” that can occur when the blood supply to the brain is briefly interrupted. 

The two most common vision loss symptoms of stroke include hemianopia and diplopia. When a stroke injures the optic nerve, which sends information from the eyes to the brain, this creates a visual field deficit known as hemianopia. Hemianopia blanks one side or one quadrant (quadrantanopia) of the visual field in each eye. With diplopia, or double vision, the two eyes fail to work together properly.

The most common functional complaints include difficulty reading, walking, driving and bumping into things. Patients with hemianopia may have a tendency to veer or lean in one direction while walking. Vision rehabilitation can restore some of these functions, thereby improving the individual’s overall quality of life.

Vision rehabilitation following stroke is one of the many current vision rehabilitation and neuro-ophthalmic topics at Envision Conference addressing public health issues and identifying solutions to standards of care practice gaps. "Workshop on Prism Adaptation Therapy for Left Hemispatial Neglect After Stroke or Brain Injury, " presented at Envision Conference 2010 by Kevin Houston, OD, Kia Eldred, OD and Tonya Mennem, OTR/L, SCLV, CLVT was one of several sessions addressing vision rehabilitation interventions for patients with vision loss due to a stroke. Look for this session topic to be on the program again this year.

Share your Knowledge. Add to the currently existing evidence-based strategies for vision loss following stroke. We want want to hear the challenges you've faced and solutions that have worked for you. Deadline for Submissions, March 28: Submit your work addressing clinical interventions or research now through March 28, 2011 via the online submissions form.

Mark your calendars for Envision Conference 2011, September 21-24 in St. Louis, MO. To register or learn more about Envision Conference visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.

 

 

Contribute Your Expertise

Vision Rehabilitation and Research Submission Topics

In the recent issue of Visibility, Walter Whitley, OD, MBA, FAAO, succinctly described the interdisciplinary nature and challenges of vision rehabilitation: "From low vision specialists to occupational therapists to psychologists, we all must acknowledge the fact that we can't be all things to all patients. Vision rehabilitation specialists must work together to provide our patients with the best of all our services." The Envision Conference strives to meet the following outcomes through multi-disciplinary educational programing:

• Provide opportunities to build collaborations between low vision researchers, practitioners, educators and health care organizations.
• Identify strategies for addressing eye health at the local level.
• Facilitate a national and international exchange of vision rehabilitation information among individuals, groups and institutions.
• Explore diverse and innovative ways of translating vision research into action.
• Develop strategies for strengthening the role of low vision on the public health agenda.
• Address disparities in access to low vision care.
• Identify practice gaps in low vision care delivery methods.
• Provide opportunities and training to address national eye health epidemics (e.g. diabetes and diabetic retinopathy).

Multi-Disciplinary Topic Areas

Many program topics are selected to help meet these outcomes. Here is a partial list:

• Assistive Technology
• Optical Devices and Prescribing
• Contact Lenses as Component of Low Vision Rehabilitation
• Low Vision and Driving
• Geriatrics
• Vision Loss and Fall Prevention
• Diabetes Management
• Traumatic Brain Injury and Vision Loss – Neuro-Visual Rehabilitation
• Practice Management - Professional Issues
• Pediatrics, Early Intervention
• Orientation & Mobility
• Vision Replacement Strategies
• Clinical Practice Applications
• Employment for people who have vision loss or blindness
• Psychosocial Issues in Vision Loss
• Eccentric Viewing
• Disease Etiology
• Multi-Disciplinary Models of Low Vision Rehabilitation
• Adding Low Vision Rehabilitation to Your Practice
• Low Vision Research

The above topics cover many of the areas we receive submissions to the Envision Conference Call For Presentations. Whether you are a vision scientist, an OD in private practice, an OT in a rehab hospital, an O&M at a private agency for the visually impaired, a TVI from a school district or an MD retinal specialist, we want to hear the challenges you've faced and solutions that have worked for you.

Submission Deadline Approaches

Submissions are open through March 28, 2011. We invite you to share your valuable field experiences, research proposals and clinical applications with your colleagues. Submission is easy via the online submissions form. See "How To Submit a Presentation or Abstract" for more detailed information.

Mark your calendars for Envision Conference 2011, September 21-24 in St. Louis, MO. To register or learn more about Envision Conference visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.

On "Excellence in Research"

Recently, Envision completed a professional education needs assessment survey for low vision rehabilitation and research. Conducted Nov. 5th through Dec. 16th, 2010, the survey yielded 229 valid responses. The survey responses received were from a multi-disciplinary cross-section of optometrists, ophthalmologists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation therapists, teachers of the visually impaired and vision researchers. Not surprisingly, there were a number of both clinical and research professionals who weighed in on the topic of vision rehabilitation research.

Two open-ended survey questions addressed the question of research in particular: What practice gaps do you see within the vision rehabilitation and research fields? and What information or research is currently lacking in the education activities in which you participate? Several repeated examples from responses to these questions included: Research related to age-related vision rehabilitation outcomes; research-based outcomes showing effectiveness/success of training such as adaptive diabetes self-management; evidence-based practices for vision rehabilitation in general; many research studies have too small of a sampling; outcome studies demonstrating the effectiveness of low vision rehabilitation programs on patients' functional status; translating research into action; and practical, applied research that leads to clinical practice interventions.

One clear take-away from this survey is the need to support vision rehabilitation research. Particularly in the area of large, outcomes-based studies on the effectiveness of vision rehabilitation interventions. Envision Conference is calling on you, if you are involved in vision research or know someone who is, to contribute to "Excellence in Research." Submissions for research abstracts are open now through March 28, 2011 via the online submissions form.

Mark your calendars for Envision Conference 2011, September 21-24 in St. Louis, MO. To register or learn more about Envision Conference visit the website at www.envisionconference.org or contact Michael Epp, Director, Professional Education, at michael.epp@envisionus.com. For updates from Envision Conference, follow us on Twitter (@EnvisionConf) or find us on Facebook.

Make a Difference. Share Your Low Vision Kowledge!

There is Still Time to Submit!

Have you considered submitting a presentation proposal to share your knowledge and experience of low vision rehabilitation or vision research with your peers? With the delivery of low vision care requiring a multi-disciplinary team, chances are you have valuable field experiences, research proposals and clinical applications to share. Whether you are vision scientists, an OD in private practice, an OT in a rehab hospital, an O&M at a private agency for the vision impaired, a TVI from a school district or a MD retinal specialist, we want want to hear the challenges you've faced and solutions that have worked for you. For more details see Call For Presentations on our website.

Envision Conference Call for Presentations Deadline March 29

The deadline for program submissions is fast approaching. The Envision Conference Call for Presentations falls into two categories: Clinical education submissions, which incorporate practical information that low vision practitioners and educators need to succeed professionally and that encourage discussion of professional concerns and views; and research presentations, which are abstracts submitted for panel presentations, or a research poster submission, in the area of visual research that are associated with the field of low vision. Multiple submissions are encouraged and submissions by a presenter to both the clinical education and research presentation categories are accepted.

Visit www.envisionconference.org to learn more. Contact Michael Epp, Director of Outreach and Continuing Education at michael.epp@envisionus.com or (316) 440-1515 with any questions about clinical education or research submissions.

Important Dates:

• March 29, 2010 - Deadline for clinical education and research submissions and edits
• April 30, 2010 - Clinical education and research presentation selection notification
• July 9, 2010 - Deadline for presentation media and handouts
• September 22-25, 2010 - Envision Conference 2010 at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio, Texas

Overview of Submitting Presentations and Abstracts

Key Items for Envision Conference 2010 Submissions

The Envision Conference Call for Presentations falls into two categories: Clinical education submissions, which incorporate practical information that low vision practitioners and educators need to succeed professionally and that encourage discussion of professional concerns and views; and research presentations, which are abstracts submitted for panel presentations, or a research poster submission, in the area of visual research that are associated with the field of low vision. Multiple submissions are encouraged and submissions by a presenter to both the clinical education and research presentation categories are accepted.

Regardless to which category a person submits, there are a few key items needed for each submission:

• Select an instruction level. Is your submission introductory, intermediate or advanced?
• Enter three learning objectives. Learning objectives should be written in a way that reflects the instructional format and delivery method being used for the presentation. Objectives are participant-centered (e.g., “By the end of this program, learners will be able to…”) and describe to learners exactly what knowledge and skills they are expected to demonstrate as a result of the learning activity.
• A program description will be used to market the presentation. It is a short distillation and overview of the presentation, emphasizing the relevance and interest of the topic to participants. This is different than an abstract.
• An abstract is needed for research presentations and poster submissions. Abstracts should include a hypothesis, purpose or objective, research methods, results or expected results, discussion, a conclusion and future directions of research.
• Include your curriculum vitae (CV). The CV, unlike a résumé, which summarizes experience relevant to a particular career objective, details the educational and scholarly experience relevant to an academic or practitioner's career. A CV's focus is on academic achievements, speaking engagements, publications and research experience.
• A short biography of the presenter for the conference program. The biography is a short distillation of the information in the CV, emphasizing the presenter's experience to the related presentation topic.
• The presentation outline is a breakdown of what a speaker will present, in the order it will be presented. The outline will be the framework a reviewer can use to determine what you will discuss and how.

These key items are important to the review selection committees and for gaining continuing education accreditation for your presentation. More details can be found at the Envision Conference website and the link to the Submissions Guidelines.

Visit www.envisionconference.org to learn more. Contact Michael Epp, Director of Outreach and Continuing Education at michael.epp@envisionus.com or (316) 440-1515 with any questions about clinical education or research submissions.

Important Dates:

• March 29, 2010 - Deadline for clinical education and research submissions and edits
• April 30, 2010 - Clinical education and research presentation selection notification
• July 9, 2010 - Deadline for presentation media and handouts
• September 22-25, 2010 - Envision Conference 2010 at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio, Texas

Envision Conference Online Submissions - Now Even Easier!

Submit your Presentations and Abstracts Online

As the deadline draws near for submitting presentations, abstracts and posters for the Envision Conference 2010 program, we are pleased to announce that the process for submitting your proposals has become even easier. We are always looking to build a better Envision Conference and strive to make internal improvements based on your feedback. Now, submitting multiple proposals for new and returning presenters has become less labor intensive for data entry. Once a profile is created, we remember you!

This means that once you have created a login account and submitted your basic information, the online submissions form will self-populate across multiple submissions and formats, including clinical education, research and poster presentations. If you have submitted this basic information for any of the past Envision Conferences, you are already in the system and only need to edit the information you want. It will also work if you are submitting for multiple presenters/authors, once the original information has been submitted by you. We do ask for an updated Curriculum Vitae, but otherwise, most of the redundancy for the basic information needed for the submission process is taken care of. If you have presented in the past, it is important to login with the submissions login account you previously created. If you have forgotten your login password there is link you can click to have the information emailed to you.

So what are you waiting for? Submit today for your presentations, abstracts and posters to be considered for Envision Conference 2010!

Visit www.envisionconference.org to learn more. Contact Michael Epp, Director of Outreach and Continuing Education at michael.epp@envisionus.com or (316) 440-1515 with any questions about clinical education or research submissions.

Important Dates:

• March 29, 2010 - Deadline for clinical education and research submissions and edits
• April 30, 2010 - Clinical education and research presentation selection notification
• July 9, 2010 - Deadline for presentation media and handouts
• September 22-25, 2010 - Envision Conference 2010 at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel, San Antonio, Texas