06/04/2023
(Sharing the message from ACVREP in case it was buried in anyone's email)
INVITATION FROM ACVREP BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO LISTENING SESSION REGARDING OT CERTIFICATION
ACVREP has scheduled a listening session with members of the Board of Directors to hear views from the field concerning ACVREP’s in-development certification for occupational therapists (OTs). The session will be on April 17 from 5 to-6 30 p.m. ET at the following Zoom link.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUrfuCoqDgpE9cqLWn6LO7xyjEgPpDiGWl1
Important information follows, please read in full the update from the Board prior to the session-
ACVREP empowers the field by providing credentials that demonstrate certificants’ professional qualifications and devotion to their craft. The new certification approved by the ACVREP Board of Directors for Occupational Therapists (OTs) aligns well with ACVREP’s mission and vision to ensure that all individuals who are blind or have low vision receive services from highly qualified professionals. It also aligns well with ACVREP’s strategic plan to advance professional competency internationally through certification. Developing the new certification to embrace an expanded field of recognized service providers is not replacing nor duplicating any of the existing professionals or their certifications, but rather expanding the number of professionals qualified to provide vision rehabilitation.
Why is ACVREP creating a new certification for OTs?
After an extensive review of the current certifications, the following are some of the factors that prompted the launch of the new certification.
1. Many individuals with vision loss encounter OTs when being treated for other medical issues. An OT that has this new certification will also be able to address the individual’s vision loss needs, which ensures that individuals receive services from qualified providers regardless of the context of their care.
2. Based on research that is being developed in the field, by 2030, 15 million people over the age of 65 in the US, alone, will need services for vision loss. In the aging population, there are often complex health issues in addition to and that sometimes predominate over co-occurring vision loss. OTs are trained to address the complex needs of older adults.
3. OTs with a strong knowledge base in the field of vision rehabilitation are currently recognized as providers in the medical model nationally and internationally. Providing a certification that will enhance OTs’ skillset to address vision-specific needs furthers ACVREP’s mission of ensuring that individuals who are blind or have low vision receive quality services, particularly because many countries outside the US use OTs to provide vision loss rehabilitation.
4. OTs’ scope of practice and education differs from that of the other professionals in this field. Existing ACVREP certifications do not build on the OT body of knowledge, scope of practice and experience that OTs bring to rehabilitation. It is important to have an alignment between the OTs education and certification.
What is the process for developing a new certification?
As with all the other certifications, ACVREP uses the tool of certification to advance professional competency. ACVREP follows recognized best practices for the development of a new certification. This includes the development of a subject matter committee (SME) that will work on developing the scope of practice, body of knowledge, code of ethics, applied/clinical competencies, eligibility criteria, and a rigorous certification exam. When the SME has all of the components developed, they are presented to the Board of Directors to approve for the very critical step of Posting for Public Comment. It may take a year or longer for the criteria to be developed and posted for public comment. Critical Input from vision professionals and consumers is sought during the public comment period before the certification criteria is finalized.
ACVREP does not publish the Scope of Practice draft before all of the criteria are available as it is important to determine that the proposed Scope of Practice is supported by the Body of Knowledge and the demonstrated applied skills. Likewise, it is important to ensure that the Eligibility Criteria for the certification verify that the applicant has the specialized knowledge and demonstrated skill required before they can sit for the certification exam.
Is this new certification replacing/duplicating any of the current existing ACVREP certifications?
It will not replace nor duplicate any of the existing ACVREP certifications. The new certification focuses on the specific work of OTs including the different populations they generally serve and the contexts in which they provide care.
What is the status of the new OT certification at this time?
The ACVREP Board has named the SME for the new OT certification (list follows) and can share the following information at this time:
• The certification will only be for OTs working with adults with vision loss.
• It will require advanced vision loss education and practical experience that builds on the applicants’ OT body of knowledge, scope of practice and experience.
• It will not include teaching braille literacy. That need will be referred to CVRTs.
• It will not include introduction or training in the use of white cane for travel. That need will be referred to COMS
Subject Matter Expert Committee Members for the New OT Certification in Blindness and Vision Loss
Beth Barstow, PhD, OTR/L, SCLV, FAOTA
Director, Low Vision Rehabilitation Graduate Certificate Program
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Alabama
Nilima Tanna, OTR/L, SCLV, CLVT
University of California, Irvine.
California
Anne T. Riddering, PhD, OTR/L, CLVT, COMS
Director, Center for Vision and Neuro Rehabilitation
Department of Ophthalmology, Henry Ford Health.
Michigan
Keith Gentry, EdD, OTR/L, SC-FES, SCLV
Faculty and Practitioner - Neurologic Specialty
Radford University, Lewis Gale Medical Center.
Virginia
William Hixon, OTR/L, CVRT, COMS
Senior Director of Rehabilitation,
Visions Services for the Blind
New York
Jenice Heck, MMC, OTR/L
Chief Operating Officer
Lighthouse Louisiana.
Louisiana
Kristen Shifflett, OTR/L, SCLV, CLVT
Practitioner
Wilmer Eye Institute, John Hopkins University.
Maryland
Omar Mohiuddin, OTR/L, MS, MPH, CLVT
Practitioner, Vision Rehabilitation & Performance Clinic
Duke Eye Center.
North Carolina
Melva P. Andrews, OTR, CLVT, MBA
Practitioner, Lions Low Vision Center of Texas, Department of Ophthalmology
Adjunct Clinical Faculty, Department of Occupational Therapy, UT Health San Antonio.
Texas
Cheri Harbour, MS, OTR/L, SCLV
Practitioner, North Mississippi Retina Center.
Mississippi
Linda Goodwin, OT/L, SCLV, C-GC (certified grief counselor)
Private Practice, Retinal Consultant.
Florida
Teresa Guolla, OTReg. (Ont.), MHA, BSc. OT.
National Lead, program development and clinical integration
Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada
Ontario, Canada
Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Share Your View with ACVREP Board of Directors re OT Certification. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.
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