Program Themes

Sub themes (** indicative themes and content)

1.     Environmental accessibility

  • New strategies and technology for barrier-free environments (indoors and outdoors)
  • Guidelines for accessible public transportation
  • Strategies developed regarding the «green trend» (e.g., silent cars, extended curbs, cyclists)
  • Effective strategies for universal accessibility

2.     Intervention for the older population

  • Effective intervention programs and strategies for this growing population
    •  impact of early intervention, group intervention, and fall prevention programs (e.g., exercise programs and home adaptations)
    • adapted strategies for the geriatric clientele
  • Development of visual perception and eccentric viewing for travel
  • Rehabilitation strategies and age-related cognitive processes

3.     O&M rehabilitation for physical, cognitive, behavioral, and / or sensory impairments

  • Rehabilitation strategies for specific impairment areas (e.g., cochlear implants and street crossings)
  • Neurological vision rehabilitation programs following acquired brain injury (ABI) (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke), including scanning therapy and strategies for visual perception, hemianopsia, and spatial neglect

4.     Intervention / approach in rehabilitation and O&M

  • Intervention with different clienteles (infants and children, adults, people with retinitis pigmentosa, deaf blind, etc.)
  • Value of use of an ecosystemic model in planning individual services
  • Innovation in service delivery models
  • Professional preparation programs

5.     Guide dogs intervention and present challenges

  • Experiences with specific or challenging clienteles (e.g., children, wheel chair users)
  • Innovative guide dog training techniques
  • Expanding the dog skills to address challenges in today’s environment
  • Guide dog users in the electronic age

6.     Driving rehabilitation programs

  •  Role of the O&M practitioner in the driving rehabilitation program
  • Driving simulators
  • Challenges within the rehabilitation program (e.g., hemianopsia, older clientele)

7.     Working together: the interdisciplinary approach

The value of an interdisciplinary approach for improved rehabilitation outcomes. Possible areas of interest:

  • The elderly population
  • Barrier-free environments
  • Accessible technology
  • Transportation

Disciplines may include: ophthalmology, optometry, vision therapy, audiology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychosocial disciplines, engineering, architecture, urban planning, etc.

8.     Orientation and Mobility in different countries

  • Sharing of information on services profiles in different countries
  • Tricks and astute strategies in a variety of environments (e.g., remote areas in Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America, remote Northern regions, etc.)
  • O&M challenges around the world and the role of the World Blind Union in 190 countries.

9.     Innovative technologies

  • Innovative high tech and low tech technology for O & M, such as:
    1. intelligent phone applications, such as IPhone and IPad
    2. virtual environments for the development of perception and orientation
    3. use of technology in planning O&M services
  • Use of game technology in cognitive rehabilitation

10.     Medical advancements

  • Overview of the state of the art in visual prostheses (implants and non-surgical devices)
  • Approaches to functional vision assessment and intervention