National Rehabilitation Awareness Week

Released on: August 28, 2013, 8:25 am
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Industry: Healthcare

-- /EPR NETWORK/ -- National Rehabilitation Awareness Week is celebrated annually the third week of September. During this week, according to the National Rehabilitation Awareness Foundation, we celebrate the powers of rehabilitation and share the message that through rehab there is hope, achievement and success! This year's Rehab Week celebration, September 15-21, provides a wonderful opportunity to highlight one of the least known, highly skilled rehab professionals, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRTs).

CVRTs may be one of the best kept secrets for anyone experiencing a vision loss from eye diseases such as macular degeneration. CVRTs often work in state agencies or non-profits, hold a Master's Degree and professional certification in Vision Rehabilitation. In most states, CVRTs work for agencies serving consumers who are blind or visually impaired, or state departments of Education or Labor.

CVRTs may provide training in a client's home or a rehabilitation facility, working on adaptive daily living skills (ADLs) used at home, in the work place, and school. ADLs may include such skills as reading, personal finance, home and business management, computers and technology, cooking, and leisure activities, to name a few. An individual plan is developed with each person to reach their rehab goals.

Most private insurance and Medicare do not cover CVRTs. Funding is provided through a combination of Federal and State programs such as DBVI. This means that clients receive most vision rehab services, with a CVRT, at no-out-of-pocket cost ! In addition, a doctor's referral is not required to receive services.

Today's Vision Rehabilitation Therapist certainly recognizes the power of rehabilitation to restore renewed independence for client's with a wide range of vision loss. CVRTs maintain a broader array of tools, technology, and resources to work with clients as they explore new skills for adapting to vision loss or low vision. To locate a  vision rehabilitation therapist in your area go to the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals at http://www.acvrep.org/directory.php.

Steven Kelley CRC, CVRT is a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist at The Iris Network in Portland, Maine and maintains the website LowVisionTech.com. Contact him at skelley@theiris.org.

Contact: Steven Kelley CRC, CVRT

 207-774-6273 X3327

Email: skelley@theiris.org

 

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