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Occupational therapists are health professionals trained to help people overcome their limitations so they can live more independent lives. Occupational therapy (OT) for children and adults with vision impairment aims to maximise existing skills and offer new ways to do things. It also includes changes to the home and workplace, and training in the use of adaptive equipment. OT services offered by vision impairment organisations, such as Guide Dogs Victoria, are available for people of all ages and with all degrees of vision loss.
Practical changes at home and work
An occupational therapist may suggest a range of practical changes to the home and work environments for people with vision impairment. Such changes may include:
- Identification tags (colour-coded or tactile) fitted to equipment and items.
- Increased lighting and use of contrast.
- Aid equipment such as magnifiers and audio equipment – this includes training in the use of aids and equipment.
- Removal of clutter that could pose a safety hazard – for example, items stored on the floor or on benches.
Occupational therapy programs are individually tailored
Guide Dogs Victoria occupational therapy programs are offered free of charge, and can range in length from one day to several weeks. Where appropriate, training is done together with family members and associated rehabilitation professionals.
Programs designed for the individual can help the person with vision impairment to learn new skills and strategies including:
- Daily living skills such as cooking, personal grooming and banking.
- Specific skills required for new activities such as moving out of home, or starting a new job or leisure activity.
- Skills appropriate for a child’s age or development level.
Initial assessment
The Guide Dogs Victoria program is designed to meet the person’s individual goals. To help a person reach their maximum potential, their existing abilities are professionally assessed in the context of their work, school, home, leisure, general lifestyle and family situation. Various assessments may be done including:
- Sensory assessments – to work out how the person uses their remaining vision and other senses.
- Motor assessments – to define the person’s strength, coordination, range of movement and dexterity.
These assessments also help to make sure that the new skills offered fall within the person’s capability, for safety reasons.
Training programs
At Guide Dogs Victoria, training programs can be performed at the Training Centre in Kew or in the person’s home. Areas covered in training include:
- Personal care skills – showering, dressing, identifying clothes, grooming, shaving, applying make-up and managing medication.
- Domestic skills – meal planning, cooking, laundry, cleaning and how to respond to emergencies.
- Community skills – budgeting, banking, money handling and shopping.
- Communication skills – telephone use, computer skills, reading and writing.
- Social skills – learning to present oneself in a more confident manner, and learning how to listen for conversational cues.
- Personal wellbeing – fitness and relaxation.
Children’s Mobility Service
Occupational therapy can be offered together with other programs, such as the Children’s Mobility Service. This service aims to teach road safety and help the child to travel as independently as possible in different environments such as home, school and the local neighbourhood.
The Children’s Mobility Service at Guide Dogs Victoria offers mobility programs to children and teenagers with vision impairment. These programs can be done one-on-one, in a group or on a consultancy basis.
Orientation and Mobility instruction helps the vision-impaired student move confidently, safely and independently in their environments.
A program may cover:
- Self and sense - understanding your own body and body movement.
- Thinking and problem solving - how to use planning, memory and insight.
- Communication – develops social skills, body language and verbal communication.
- Safety – how to identify ‘stranger danger’ and ask for help.
- Exploration – how to use all your senses and identify objects and places.
- Environments – what to expect in different places such as the school, shops and the bank.
- Travel – move purposefully from one place to another including training on straight-line travel, timing and more.
- Traffic – strategies for traffic including crossing the road, footpaths and curbs.
- Mobility Aids – using canes, monoculars and other aids.
Where to get help
- Australian Association of Occupational Therapists Tel. (03) 9415 2900.
- Guide Dogs Victoria, Occupational therapy Tel. (03) 9854 4448.
- Guide Dogs Victoria, Children’s Mobility Service Tel. (03) 9854 4469.
Things to remember
- Occupational therapy for children and adults with vision impairment offers new strategies and alternative methods of doing things.
- Guide Dogs Victoria occupational therapy programs are offered free of charge, and can range in length from one day to several weeks.
- The Children’s Mobility Service aims to teach road safety and help the child to travel as independently as possible in different environments such as home, school and the local neighbourhood.
You might also be interested in:
Eyes explained.
Occupational therapy.
Vision loss - adapting everyday activities.
Vision loss - adapting to life with vision impairment.
Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.
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