Essential Occupational Therapy Competencies for Low Vision and Blindness.

Area of Science:

• Occupational therapy
• Vision rehabilitation
• Public health

Background:

• Low vision and blindness affect individuals across all life stages.
• Occupational therapists (OTs) frequently encounter clients with vision loss in diverse practice settings.
• Developing essential competencies is crucial for OTs to effectively address vision loss concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define core competencies for occupational therapists serving individuals with low vision and blindness.
• To establish a foundational understanding of necessary skills for vision rehabilitation within occupational therapy.

Main Methods:

• A three-phase modified Delphi methodology was utilized, incorporating online surveys and focus groups.
• Participants included individuals with low vision/blindness, low vision experts, and OTs from various practice areas.
• Data analysis involved iterative consensus-building through quantitative and qualitative methods, including expert review.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive 51-item competency framework was developed.
• The framework is organized into six distinct domains, outlining essential skills and knowledge.
• Consensus was reached on the critical competencies required for effective practice.

Conclusions:

• The established competency framework serves as a basis for developing standardized curricula in Canadian occupational therapy programs.
• This framework will guide the creation of targeted educational resources for OTs.
• It promotes consistent and high-quality vision rehabilitation services across the profession.