Are you new to VT? Curious about what it is? Perhaps you’re interested in what it promises, but have no idea where to start?
Think of VT like you might think of Occupational Therapy (OT) or Physical Therapy (PT). It is broad and and deep, and highly effective for those who need it. In it’s own way, Vision Therapy is also helpful for those who don’t need it, per se. Vision, like our other abilities, can be tuned, tweaked, and made more effective by means of orthoptics and smart prescribing, and through therapeutic activities and exercises. Sports Vision, for example, helps athletes kick, throw, swing, and target better. Behavioural/Developmental Optometry can take seemingly intractable problems and turn them around, such as with strabismus and amblyopia, or help children meet the standards of behaviour we set for them.
As with anything, the voyage of a thousand miles begins with one step. That first step is here. If you feel lost or have no idea where to start, drboulet.com is here to help along the way and point you in the right direction. Always rely on your good judgment and refer clients when you are unsure or have questions or would like to consult with a VTOD to learn more. Parents will respect that you refer out and have a broader interest in their child’s well-being. VTOD’s generally will refer parents back to referring OD’s for spectacles and other retail items. Use this list to find people who can help and teach you as you climb the clinical ladder to get to where you are comfortable addressing some areas of vision therapy.
You are encouraged to pursue formal training through reading, Regional Clinical Seminars (RCS), and various events held around the world on an annual basis, such as through NORA, COVD, and OEP. Local practitioners can also collaborate to bring in guest speakers and trainers to pursue ‘official’ VT accreditation.
There are also many great videos and online resources out there. I’ll post these as I find them and a moment to do so. LearningManagement.ca is a source of sample activities that can provide some insight. For now, consider looking these up to start. Excellent material covering a broad range of topics. Obviously, there are too many to list here, but I’ve found these to be especially helpful.
- Applied Concepts in Vision Therapy
- Optometric Management of Vision-Related Learning Problems, Scheiman/Rouse
- Visual Diagnosis and Care of the Patient With Special Needs
- Also browse the OEP Store: http://oepf.org/products
- COVD meetings can be found: http://digivisionmedia.com/lectures/covd/
- NORA http://backcountryrecording.com/pages/2013-conference-order-forms
You are strongly encouraged to OEP, COVD and NORA. After you enroll, you’ll get a stack of great information and books to look over.