Professionals Collaborating for the Treatment of Their Visually Impaired Clients

Vision rehabilitation is at the heart of the "independence movement." This movement is one where individuals have an increased focus on doing things for themselves. They do not want to depend on others, if it is at all possible. The choices made by parents, teachers, and students reflected many values, of which the desire for independence was one of the strongest. The desire for independence appeared repeatedly during the interview and observations. The large number of elective courses in American high schools and the ability of teachers to devise their own interpretations of the curriculum are other examples of the desire for independence that appears to characterize participants in education in the United States. (Ashwill, 1999, p. 4)

So, how and why should there be a focus on vision rehabilitation in the first place? It is simply because it caters to the visually impaired community's desire for independence. The focus on rehabilitation will be growing stronger in the coming years because of the increasing number of adults with permanent vision loss due to macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy and diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, those who once could perform tasks independently are forced to rely on others for assistance. That is, until they enter the rehabilitation process. Individuals emerge with newfound self-confidence and become independent once again. In order for this process to be successful, the members of the client's care team need to work together. This article will provide a model to promote effective communication between the participants involved with a client's care.