Results from a survey of occupational therapy practitioners in low vision rehabilitation

The purpose of this study was to provide practitioners working in low vision rehabilitation with a means for comparing service provision, including assessment, intervention, and program evaluation strategies, across a range of treatment facilities in the United States. Occupational therapy practitioners providing low vision services (N = 34) completed an online survey to address: (1) practitioner backgrounds in occupational therapy and low vision, (2) design, type, and location of practice, (3) client diagnoses and demographics, (4) referrals to and from occupational therapy, (5) types of assessments used, (6) types of interventions provided, and (7) follow-up and program evaluation procedures. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all items. Results suggest that practitioners seek adequate continuing education; use a combination of self-designed and standardized assessment procedures, and both remedial and compensatory intervention strategies; frequently refer to other low vision professionals; and provide services primarily to older adults through a medical rehabilitation model.