Editorial

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

This study explored experiences with functional vision changes resulting from adult-onset vision conditions. The impact of glare, light-to-dark adaptation, depth perception, night blindness, and contrast sensitivity are examined for the way participants perceive their effects on willingness to engage in independent travel.
Two interviews were conducted with 13 participants. These consisted of structured and semi-structured, open-ended questions to determine the impact of functional vision changes on mobility and pedestrian travel. Qualitative, open and a priori coding was used to derive themes and categories for the most significant functional vision considerations among participants.
This study revealed changes in functional vision impact participants’ perceived safety and were of concern when considering independent travel. Orientation and mobility (O&amp;M) services were denied to some participants who had surrendered driving privileges and were considered vision impaired, but not legally blind, even though issues with functional vision impacted safer travel.
The impact of functional vision changes on individuals with adult-onset vision impairment was found to affect participant mobility. Agencies serving this population can provide clients with safer travel options when all functional vision changes are considered beyond acuity and field of vision loss.
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The impact of functional vision changes on independent travel for individuals with adult-onset visual impairment

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The purpose of this study was to provide initial validation of the Orientation &amp; Mobility Visual Impairment Scale of Service Intensity of Texas (O&amp;M VISSIT) intended for use by orientation and mobility (O&amp;M) specialists to determine a recommended type and amount of O&amp;M services for students on their caseloads based on each student’s identified needs. The validity and reliability of the scale were calculated using a mixed-methods survey research design, with purposive expert sampling. The O&amp;M VISSIT was found to be significantly valid in social and content validity and moderately valid in consequential validity. The O&amp;M VISSIT is a moderately reliable tool to assist determine the appropriate type and amount of O&amp;M services for all students on the O&amp;M specialist’s caseload.
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Development and Initial Validation of the <italic>O&amp;M VISSIT</italic> for Orientation and Mobility Specialists to Determine Service Intensity

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Despite the high risk of falls for older people with vision impairment, adherence to exercise-based fall prevention programs is low. We investigated the attitudes of older people with vision impairment to fall prevention programs as well as home modifications. This was completed through focus group and semi-structured interviews with 19 community-dwelling people aged ≥63 years with vision impairment. The results indicated that participants did not attribute falls to vision impairment, nor consider themselves appropriate candidates for a fall prevention program. Participants also reported such barriers as competing priorities, transport issues and comorbidities. It is recommended that exercise-based fall prevention programs cater to the unique challenges of this population, such as delivery in home by Orientation and Mobility Specialists.
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Acceptability of fall prevention strategies for older people with vision impairment

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

Transition programs for students with vision impairment require the facilitation of more than navigational orientation and mobility (O&amp;M) skills. Facilitating the student with vision impairment to interpret and gather information about the socio-cultural and learning spaces of the new school is a key component of regional O&amp;M specialist programs. Transition from a primary to a secondary school campus separated by approximately 800 km (490 miles) requires a re-imagining of O&amp;M. The authors discuss the development and trial of an innovative transition program for one student with low vision from Far North Queensland.
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Virtual O&amp;M: A far north queensland innovation

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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.

Vision Rehabilitation International

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

Editorial

The impact of functional vision changes on independent travel for individuals with adult-onset visual impairment

Development and Initial Validation of the O&M VISSIT for Orientation and Mobility Specialists to Determine Service Intensity

Acceptability of fall prevention strategies for older people with vision impairment

Virtual O&M: A far north queensland innovation

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