This is associated with Appropriation ID #3460030000.

Program Overview

Through the Older Blind Program, the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI) provides rehabilitation services for Vermonters over the age of 55, no longer on a vocational track, to compensate for vision loss.  Studies show the earlier such intervention occurs, the more independent an individual remains and is far less likely to experience falls or leave their current place of residence. These services include:

• Teaching individuals to understand their visual impairment and its medical implications.
• Teaching individuals to maximize their functional vision and independence.
• Teaching adaptive skills of daily living and use of assistive technology, to compensate for vision loss (i.e., cooking cleaning, organization, money management, time management, reading, writing, braille, etc.)
• Teaching adaptive skills for travel in the home and community. This assists to prevent falls and promote community integration. (I.e., traveling with a long white cane, public transportation, room familiarization, protective techniques, etc.)
• Assisting individuals through the seven stages of adjustment to vision loss (like the 5 stages of grief) through direct instruction and participation in Peer Assisted Learning and Support Groups (PALS).

Participation in these services is voluntary and no client is ever charged for receiving vision rehabilitation services. Clients who cannot afford to purchase recommended aids and devices such as magnifiers, labeling tools, white canes, etc. can access up to $125 worth of assistive devices under the grant funding. Thus, no Vermonter is denied either services or equipment to help them accommodate for vision loss.

Staff and Partners

VABVI has four offices providing services to the entire state of Vermont. There are four Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (3 of which facilitate PALS groups), two Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists, one Vision Rehabilitation Therapist Assistant, one PALS facilitator and one Director of Adult Services. An Intake Specialist fields calls and referrals and provides callers with information on additional state and community resources that may be of benefit to clients and other professionals in the community. VABVI strives to work closely with:

• State Department of Disabilities, Aging, and Independent Living,
• State Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired
• State Department of Libraries: Audio Braille Large Print and Electronic Library (ABLE Library – partnered with the Federal Library of Congress, National Library Service)
• Vermont Councils on Aging
• Vermont Center for Independent Living
• Support and Services at Home (SASH)
• Other agencies across the state to meet all our clients’ needs.

Recent Developments and Accomplishments

During FY22, VABVI returned to in person Peer Assisted Learning and Support (PALS) Groups, while maintaining procedures to mitigate the spread of VOVID-19 and other illnesses. No cases of Covid-19 or its variants were reported to have been transmitted between clients and staff in the PALS groups or through direct services. We held our annual technology conference virtually once again in 2022 as the variants were on the rise for COVID-19. The virtual event allowed clients to still hear about developments in technology and several informational sessions instructed them in ways to use high- and low-tech devices to remain independent in their homes and connected with the community. Several webinars were held throughout the year as well to provide clients with periodic updates and information related to vision loss. Many clients continued to experience symptoms of social isolation from the fallout of the pandemic, and we worked to mitigate their isolation using assistive technology to help them connect to their family and community. During the lifting of restrictions, we carefully collaborated with sister agencies to try and identify any clients who developed vision loss during those restrictions and may not have known about our services.

Future Directions

At present, more than 13,000 Vermonters are currently blind or visually impaired and statistics show by 2030 there will be 30,000. As baby boomers age, they are developing vision loss but are much more comfortable with technology to support them in tasks of daily living. Manufacturers, recognizing this, have made products that include accessibility to help people with vision loss, such as the iPhone. This new ageing population recognizes the benefit of such features but requires direct instruction to know how to use them. The State of Vermont authorized an increase in funding beginning in 2022 to address this need. We are very excited to utilize this additional funding to address this critical need, which will reduce social isolation among our senior population and connect them with the world to reach their goals.

Vermonters over the age of 55 with vision loss.

Results

How we measure quality and performance in this program

• Teachers, in collaboration with the clients, identify goals related to assistive technology, orientation and mobility, skills of daily living or communication.
• Throughout the instruction, progress on set goals is tracked and measured as either completed or removed from the plan at the client’s request or if situations change in their life for reasons other than vision loss.
• Clients are asked if their confidence in their ability to maintain their lifestyle has increased stayed the same or decreased because of the services they received.

•           Measures of how much: # served, units of service

• Hours of Orientation and Mobility, Rehabilitation and Peer Assisted Learning and Support Provided
  • FY 19 = 5501
  • FY 20 = 3846
  • FY 21 = 2303
  • FY 22 = 2340
• Numbers of clients who received training in assistive technology.
  • FY 19 = 737
  • FY 20 = 638
  • FY 21 = 538
  • FY 22 = 578
• Numbers of clients who received training in orientation and mobility.
  • FY 19 = 172
  • FY 20 = 140
  • FY 21 = 92
  • FY 22 = 93
• Numbers of clients who received training in communication skills.
  • FY 19 = 830
  • FY 20 = 658
  • FY 21 = 549
  • FY 22 = 583
• Numbers of clients who received training in skills of daily living.
  • FY 19 = 338
  • FY 20 = 274
  • FY 21 = 214
  • FY 22 = 214