ACVREP considering certifying occupational therapist for love vision and blindness
Good evening colleges, I am sitting in the orientation mobility specialist association meeting and listening to people worry about a news certification that may be coming through the Academy. Is anybody on our team seeing occupational and physical therapists stepping out of line and trying to teach orientation and mobility? this is the first that I heard it was a problem and the first I heard academy is considering certifications for occupational therapist in either blindness or low vision. Some COMS are already saying they are seeing paraprofessionals doing their jobs. they seem to be referring to occupational therapists and physical therapists. Is anybody on our team seeing this? I?m really not. A little concerned about what the Academy plans to certify and how robust the tests are but honestly, I?m just not seeing it in my area. It?s definitely something to watch but more to watch what the Academy is up to then watching occupational and physical therapists to see if they are stepping over a line. Even in Oklahoma where we have a training center accredited by NAC, using occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistance to teach braille and home management skills, even there they look to certified orientation mobility specialist for cane travel. I?m just not seeing these people step over the line. Am I isolated here in this state? Is there a lot going on and I don?t know? Curiouser and curiouser, Jane Lansaw NOMC Tulsa Oklahoma
Hello Jane and others,I have seen this happen in the school system in Nebraska. When this happens, I have mentioned to the person?that it is crossing professional lines. Together, we can best serve our student so we need to collaborate. I have a meeting next week with an OT to plan for a student with Batten?s Disease.Merry-Noel Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 7:00 PM, Jane Lansaw <widearc2000 at gmail.com> wrote: Good evening colleges, I am sitting in the orientation mobility specialist association meeting and listening to people worry about a news certification that may be coming through the Academy.? Is anybody on our team seeing occupational and physical therapists stepping out of line and trying to teach orientation and mobility?? this is the first that I heard it was a problem and the first I heard academy is considering certifications for occupational therapist in either blindness or low vision. Some COMS are already saying they are seeing paraprofessionals doing their jobs.? they seem to be referring to occupational therapists and physical therapists.? Is anybody on our team seeing this? I?m really not. A little concerned about what the Academy plans to certify and how? robust? the tests are but honestly, I?m just not seeing it in my area.? It?s definitely something to watch but more to watch what the Academy is up to then watching occupational and physical therapists? to see if they are stepping over a line.? Even in Oklahoma where we have a training center accredited by NAC, using occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistance to teach braille and home management skills, even there they look to certified orientation mobility specialist for cane? travel. I?m just not seeing these people step over the line. Am I isolated here in this state? Is there a lot going on and I don?t know? Curiouser and curiouser, Jane Lansaw NOMC Tulsa Oklahoma _______________________________________________ NOMC mailing list NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org http://lists.nbpcb.org/listinfo.cgi/nomc-nbpcb.org
I have run across this a few times, but not in an organized effort. I always explain to PT's and OT's especially, that they basically work with people from the neck down, and we work with them from the neck up, and there simply isn't enough overlap for either of us to attempt to do the other person's job, not without going through the required training anyway. In any case, they're not lining up for the LATech program as far as I can tell.
Jeff
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of Merry-Noel
Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 7:12 PM
To: Jane Lansaw <widearc2000 at gmail.com>; NOMC Mailing List <NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org>
Subject: Re: [Nomc] ACVREP considering certifying occupational therapist for love vision and blindness
Hello Jane and others,
I have seen this happen in the school system in Nebraska. When this happens, I have mentioned to the person that it is crossing professional lines. Together, we can best serve our student so we need to collaborate. I have a meeting next week with an OT to plan for a student with Batten's Disease.
Merry-Noel
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhonehttps://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Foverview.mail.yahoo.com%2F%3F.src%3DiOS&data=05%7C01%7Cjeff.altman%40nebraska.gov%7C7dd247a2d7204b89286408dab7afe2e2%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638024263319712311%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=8pANhjQJpBYmjCG6n237NUBzwEK%2BXXnxE6vdeRGWsTY%3D&reserved=0
On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 7:00 PM, Jane Lansaw
I have heard about this in areas where cane travel instructors are at a
shortage. Different skillset entirely, but done mostly out of desperation.
In the isolated cases that I have known about, the OT were not overstepping
because they wanted to, and it was supposed to be a temporary measure until
an O&M instructor was found. Merely anecdotal evidence though. However,
across the board, in k-12 settings, due to the teacher shortages, they are
lowering the standards needed to be an educator, so I'm sure special
education is also taking an unfortunate hit as well.
Warm regards,
Colin Wong
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of Altman, Jeff
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2022 5:55 AM
To: Merry-Noel <owinm at yahoo.com>; Jane Lansaw <widearc2000 at gmail.com>; NOMC
Mailing List <NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org>
Subject: Re: [Nomc] ACVREP considering certifying occupational therapist for
love vision and blindness
I have run across this a few times, but not in an organized effort. I always
explain to PT's and OT's especially, that they basically work with people
from the neck down, and we work with them from the neck up, and there simply
isn't enough overlap for either of us to attempt to do the other person's
job, not without going through the required training anyway. In any case,
they're not lining up for the LATech program as far as I can tell.
Jeff
From: NOMC
A few years ago, some therapists from a rehabilitation unit at the
University of Maryland reached out concerning what they could do for newly
blinded patients who would eventually need a cane. Myself and some other
folks from the local chapter here went out and done a continuing education
presentation for them regarding the function of the cane, types of long
canes and the basics of how they are used. While I don't think most
therapists have the necessary specialized knowledge and experience teaching
O&M in the way we know is quality, I would think it couldn't hurt for them
to know the basics so that if a cane is given, it's at least a proper one.
Dezman
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of
s.colin.wong at gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2022 1:10 PM
To: 'Altman, Jeff'
I think we are lucky that the therapists in your area reached out to you. Most of them don?t. I just want to watch out and make sure the Academy isn?t doing something crazy. Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 27, 2022, at 5:04 PM, jackson.dezman at gmail.com wrote:
? A few years ago, some therapists from a rehabilitation unit at the University of Maryland reached out concerning what they could do for newly blinded patients who would eventually need a cane. Myself and some other folks from the local chapter here went out and done a continuing education presentation for them regarding the function of the cane, types of long canes and the basics of how they are used. While I don?t think most therapists have the necessary specialized knowledge and experience teaching O&M in the way we know is quality, I would think it couldn?t hurt for them to know the basics so that if a cane is given, it?s at least a proper one.
Dezman
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of s.colin.wong at gmail.com Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2022 1:10 PM To: 'Altman, Jeff'
; 'Merry-Noel' <owinm at yahoo.com>; 'Jane Lansaw' <widearc2000 at gmail.com>; 'NOMC Mailing List' <NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: Re: [Nomc] ACVREP considering certifying occupational therapist for love vision and blindness I have heard about this in areas where cane travel instructors are at a shortage. Different skillset entirely, but done mostly out of desperation. In the isolated cases that I have known about, the OT were not overstepping because they wanted to, and it was supposed to be a temporary measure until an O&M instructor was found. Merely anecdotal evidence though. However, across the board, in k-12 settings, due to the teacher shortages, they are lowering the standards needed to be an educator, so I?m sure special education is also taking an unfortunate hit as well.
Warm regards, Colin Wong
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of Altman, Jeff Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2022 5:55 AM To: Merry-Noel <owinm at yahoo.com>; Jane Lansaw <widearc2000 at gmail.com>; NOMC Mailing List <NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: Re: [Nomc] ACVREP considering certifying occupational therapist for love vision and blindness
I have run across this a few times, but not in an organized effort. I always explain to PT?s and OT?s especially, that they basically work with people from the neck down, and we work with them from the neck up, and there simply isn?t enough overlap for either of us to attempt to do the other person?s job, not without going through the required training anyway. In any case, they?re not lining up for the LATech program as far as I can tell.
Jeff
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of Merry-Noel Sent: Wednesday, October 26, 2022 7:12 PM To: Jane Lansaw <widearc2000 at gmail.com>; NOMC Mailing List <NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org> Subject: Re: [Nomc] ACVREP considering certifying occupational therapist for love vision and blindness
Hello Jane and others, I have seen this happen in the school system in Nebraska. When this happens, I have mentioned to the person that it is crossing professional lines. Together, we can best serve our student so we need to collaborate. I have a meeting next week with an OT to plan for a student with Batten?s Disease. Merry-Noel
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 7:00 PM, Jane Lansaw <widearc2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
Good evening colleges, I am sitting in the orientation mobility specialist association meeting and listening to people worry about a news certification that may be coming through the Academy.
Is anybody on our team seeing occupational and physical therapists stepping out of line and trying to teach orientation and mobility? this is the first that I heard it was a problem and the first I heard academy is considering certifications for occupational therapist in either blindness or low vision. Some COMS are already saying they are seeing paraprofessionals doing their jobs. they seem to be referring to occupational therapists and physical therapists. Is anybody on our team seeing this? I?m really not.
A little concerned about what the Academy plans to certify and how robust the tests are but honestly, I?m just not seeing it in my area. It?s definitely something to watch but more to watch what the Academy is up to then watching occupational and physical therapists to see if they are stepping over a line. Even in Oklahoma where we have a training center accredited by NAC, using occupational therapists and certified occupational therapy assistance to teach braille and home management skills, even there they look to certified orientation mobility specialist for cane travel. I?m just not seeing these people step over the line. Am I isolated here in this state? Is there a lot going on and I don?t know?
Curiouser and curiouser,
Jane Lansaw NOMC Tulsa Oklahoma _______________________________________________ NOMC mailing list NOMC at lists.nbpcb.org http://lists.nbpcb.org/listinfo.cgi/nomc-nbpcb.org
I appreciate this thread.
I have considered efforts herein described in some ways as COMS trying to go after Medicare and Medicaid funds for their services, a manifestation of the medical model theory of O&M. Outside of handing a newly diagnosed blind patient a cane and demonstrating very basic ways of holding, carrying, and using it, I agree with others that it breeches professional boundaries. Periodic attempts to establish licensure, in my opinion, attempt to find a home for practitioners in the medical field.
All of these schemes are designed to address the very real and critical professional shortage problem. This is particularly acute in the educational system. I also happen to believe that it is somewhat a casualty of the piling on of credentials which has the natural effect of limiting the pool of qualified O&M professionals, quite the opposite intent to solve the problem. Part, and only part of the solution, it seems to me, is to open more areas of acceptance of our certification to participate in these interdisciplinary teams such as in the school systems and Veterans Administration. IN full disclosure, I may admittedly be basing my assumptions on dated information, being away from the field of late.
Best,
Maurice
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> On Behalf Of s.colin.wong at gmail.com
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2022 13:10
To: 'Altman, Jeff'
From what I've heard, AER has been on a kick for at least the past few years to train and see more people provide at least some O&M services ? they called them O&M assistants or something along those lines. So I'm not surprised to hear this. In a school where I'm currently working, their PT did temporarily try to step in and provide and assess the child's travel skills, but it seems it was because the Commission for the Blind would or could not give adequate instruction.
Carley Mullin, NOMC, NCRTB
________________________________
From: NOMC <nomc-bounces at lists.nbpcb.org> on behalf of Peret, Maurice <MPeret at nfb.org>
Sent: Friday, October 28, 2022 9:09:23 AM
To: Colin Wong
participants (7)
-
carleymullin＠gmail.com -
jackson.dezman＠gmail.com -
jeff.altman＠nebraska.gov -
MPeret＠nfb.org -
owinm＠yahoo.com -
s.colin.wong＠gmail.com -
widearc2000＠gmail.com