<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Professionals working in the field of vision impairment face high expectations from the people they support. To meet this expectation, it is critical that professionals have a broad and in-depth knowledge of vision. This paper presents an overview of the two key entities that underpin an understanding of vision – visual function and functional vision. The contemporary professional literature is reviewed to present an examination of vision as a primary and essential sense, to develop an understanding of the dual components of vision and common approaches to vision assessment, and the key models that conceptualise vision in relation to the person and their environment.
</abstract>

Exploring the dualism of vision – visual function and functional vision

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The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) is comprised of over 90 member organizations, whose purpose is to serve people who are blind or vision impaired around the world, by training and providing Guide Dogs.
Member organizations have been accredited against agreed international standards and are re-assessed every five years.
The IGDF facilitates a sharing of knowledge, experience, highest quality standards, methodologies, and help for new or existing schools wanting to improve the quality of their operations. This takes place through a biennial seminar which is attended by around 300 delegates from all corners of the globe.
Presentations based on the following abstracts were offered to delegates at the most recent seminar, held in Sydney, Australia (September 13–16, 2018).
</abstract>

Abstracts of the 2018 International Guide Dogs Federation (IGDF) Seminar

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Background: Some major visual disorders damage the central retina and to compensate for the loss of a functioning fovea, those affected use their remaining peripheral retina to accomplish daily tasks. This results in the formation of an unstable, non-central fixation point, which compromises ability to detect obstacles and acquire visual information from the environment. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a measurable (and significant) difference in balance ability and fall risk between visually impaired people with stable fixation and those with unstable fixation.
Method: Individuals (<italic>n</italic> = 44) with a visual acuity of >20/400 in the better eye and a diagnosis of a retinal disorder affecting the macula were recruited for this study. Fixation stability was determined using the Mirametrix Eye Tracker and participants were then divided into two groups: stable fixation and unstable fixation. Functional balance was measured using the Timed Get-Up-and-Go (TUG) and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Balance confidence was assessed using the Activities-Specific Balance (ABC) Scale.
Results: Performance on the TUG test was significantly different between the groups, with the poor-fixation group having a slower TUG time than the stable-fixation group, <italic>t (42)</italic> = −1.763, <italic>P</italic> = 0.043. Subjects with poor fixation stability scored lower on the ABC scale and on the BBS compared to the stable fixation group, but the difference was not significant.
Significance: Based on the TUG, those with unstable fixation are at a higher risk of falls compared to individuals with stable fixation. Given fixation stability is a visual factor that can be trained and improved upon, these findings warrant further research into the relationship between fixation stability and balance.
</abstract>

The influence of fixation stability on balance in central vision loss

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The Dutch Mobility Conference was held in Zeist, The Netherlands on the November 30, 2018 and attended by over 250 Dutch-speaking O&amp;M instructors. Organized by Koninklijke Visio, Bartimeus and De Robert Coppes Stichting, the aim of the conference was to share knowledge, new points of view and to socialize. The following abstracts were presented as presentations and workshops at the conference.
</abstract>

Abstracts of the 2018 Dutch Mobility Conference

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The manuscript reports a case study of a design-based research effort to create an app that promotes body awareness among students with visual impairments (VIs) and additional disabilities. Since 2012, a multidisciplinary team has been developing and testing an app called “Body Awareness through Movement and Music,” designed to help children with VIs and additional disabilities improve their body awareness. The app is embedded with features grounded in structured movement routine (SMR) theory. The research effort examines whether a well-designed, intuitive user interface can support improved body awareness of students with VIs and multiple disabilities when used within the itinerant teaching model. A prototype of the app was presented at an international conference where attendees reacted positively to the possibility of using the tool to support body awareness. The prototype was used in a case study with one participant through a multi-sensory approach, with consistency and repetition. Initial findings indicate use of the app provided a SMR that enabled the participant to exhibit appropriate behavior.Keywords
</abstract>

The Development of an Application that supports Body Awareness for Children with Visual Impairments and Additional Disabilities

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The Southeastern Orientation and Mobility Association (SOMA) started more than 50 years ago with informal gatherings of O&amp;Ms, and has grown to annual/ biannual conferences hosting hundreds of O&amp;Ms. Until 2016, when SOMA was incorporated and a board was established, SOMA conferences were organized entirely by individuals who volunteered at the final session of the previous conference.SOMA’s unique traditions include: an emphasis on hands-on workshops (SOMA conferences were the first to feature feet-in-the-street sessions); introducing new ideas (this year’s SOMA unveiled the establishment of the O&amp;M Specialist Association); having a general session ‘Exhibitors’ Highlight’ to preview the vendor tables; offering each session twice so that participants have a greater selection; and welcoming and mentoring newbies doing their first presentation.The most recent SOMA conference, held December 8–11, in Tampa, Florida, USA, had 40 presentations done by 48 presenters – the following abstracts summarize some of these presentations.
</abstract>

Abstracts of the 2018 Southeastern Orientation and Mobility Association (SOMA) Conference

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The purpose of this commentary is to identify the key differences between the term Habilitation and Rehabilitation. Using historical and contemporary understandings, this commentary aims to disentangle these two terms from a developmental perspective. It is argued that these two concepts are distinct and should be appropriately reflected in international literature and practice.
</abstract>

What's in a word? Distinguishing between Habilitation and Re-habilitation

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 14 (2023): Issue 1 (December 2023)

Volume 13 (2022): Issue 1 (December 2022)

Volume 12 (2021): Issue 1 (January 2021)

Volume 11 (2020): Issue 1 (January 2020)

Volume 10 (2019): Issue 1 (January 2019)

Volume 9 (2020): Issue 1 (January 2020)

Volume 8 (2017): Issue 1 (January 2017)

Volume 7 (2017): Issue 1 (January 2017)

Volume 6 (2013): Issue 1 (January 2013)

Volume 5 (2012): Issue 1 (January 2012)

Volume 4 (2011): Issue 1 (January 2011)

Volume 3 (2010): Issue 1 (January 2010)

Volume 2 (2009): Issue 1 (January 2009)

Volume 1 (2008): Issue 1 (January 2008)

Vision Rehabilitation International

Vision Re/habilitation International is a journal intended to provide a forum for scholarly exchange among people dedicated to and involved any work relating to vision habilitation and rehabilitation of people who are blind or vision impaired. Articles considered for publication include:   original research, with practical relevance to the O&amp;M of people who are blind or vision impaired,  critical reviews of substantive areas,  theoretical position papers,  descriptions, reviews, or evaluations of innovative instructional approaches,  conceptual papers, comprehensive reviews, case studies, and policy analyses.  The editors also aim at providing a forum for discourse, debate, and critical analyses on any aspect of O&amp;M, for example, existing philosophies, policy, or practice.  Open Access Policy  This journal provides immediate open access to its content under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license users are free to share the work (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format), if the contribution is properly attributed and used for non-commercial purposes. The material published in the journal may not be altered or build upon.  ABOUT SOCIETY  Vision Re/habilitation International is supported by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT.  Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the leading provider of Guide Dogs and orientation and mobility services that enable people with vision impairment to travel safely and independently. Each year university trained Orientation and Mobility specialists work with around 4,000 people of all ages to help them achieve their mobility goals.  Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is a Registered Provider under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process.