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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Barry S. Kran, OD, FAAO, Specialty and Advanced Care, New England College of Optometry/NE Eye Institute, 1255 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215, 774-249-8476, kranb@neco.edu and Darick W. Wright, MA, COMS/CLVT, Low Vision Clinc, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 N Beacon Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

Individuals with disabilities tend to receive less and/or inferior care than those without disabilities. A collaborative clinic between the New England Eye Institute and the Perkins School for the Blind has, for over twenty years, strived to meet the needs of students on campus and increasingly individuals with disabilities from throughout New England. By focusing on this population, the NEEI/Perkins clinic is the only known clinic in New England, as well as one of two clinics associated with a US school for the blind, that strives to exclusively meet the visual needs of this population.

The trans-disciplinary approach at NEEI/Perkins utilizes an optometrist as well as a vision educator who is present and participates throughout the evaluation in order to provide a cohesive report addressing both visual function and functional vision. Aside from direct care, breaking barriers for this population at NEEI/Perkins includes clinical instruction for both optometry students and other vision professionals, providing continuing education for practicing optometrists and vision professionals and advocating for the needs of our patients in a variety of forums. Clinical training helps to prepare future professionals to provide services more proximal to the patient/client. The collaborative model is emphasized by team lecturing which is provided nationally and internationally. Case examples seen in our program will illustrate the issues individuals face in receiving eye care and reinforce the necessity to change the way we deliver care to individuals with special needs.

Learning Objectives:

• To articulate a trans-disciplinary model of vision care involving collaboration between educators and optometrists
• To outline the need to improve care for this population by breaking current barriers

Keywords: Community-Based Partnership, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation