# Presentation: 051943

## Healthy Vision Program: Making Vision a Health Priority Vision Rehabilitation

**Notes:**
[NOTE TO SPEAKER]

Customize this slide.  Consider adding—

The name of your organization
Your logo
Presenter’s name
Program date.

Develop your own introduction.

Include a compelling or personal story.

Tell the audience the purpose of this presentation, such as—

 To develop a community-wide program
 To address a particular vision concern in your community
 To help with your event or activity.

## The Healthy Vision Program is...

**Notes:**
SPEAKER’S TEXT

Healthy People sets forth health objectives for the Nation to achieve in the first decade of the new century. 

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People seeks to increase the quality and years of healthy life and to eliminate health disparities.  

The Healthy Vision Program encompasses the 10 vision objectives in Healthy People.

The goal of the Healthy Vision Program is to improve the eye health of the Nation through prevention, early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation.

## Vision is an essential partof everyday life.

**Vision is an essential part****of everyday life.**

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Vision is an essential part of everyday life.  It affects development, learning, communication, work, health, and quality of life. 

Millions of Americans have untreated visual impairments. 

Many people in our community are visually impaired, blind, or at risk for eye disease. 

Many people at risk do not get comprehensive dilated eye exams at appropriate intervals.  

People at risk often do not take appropriate precautions to protect and preserve their sight. 

People at risk need to know about the importance of taking care of their vision through early eye disease detection, timely treatment, and appropriate followup care; eye safety; and vision rehabilitation. 

Many people with visual impairments are not aware of vision rehabilitation services and devices that can help make the most of their remaining sight.

## The Healthy Vision Program includes...

- Examination and prevention
- Eye disease
- Injury and safety
- Vision rehabilitation

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Early detection and treatment of eye disease, as well as injury prevention, are important.

For people who have low vision, vision rehabilitation may greatly improve their quality of life.

## Healthy Vision Program: vision rehabilitation objectives

- Increase the use of rehabilitation services by persons with visual impairments.
- Increase the use of visual and adaptive devices by persons with visual impairments.

**Notes:**
[NOTE TO SPEAKER]

Include local statistics or anecdotes about the needs and benefits of vision rehabilitation in your community.

## What is vision rehabilitation?

- Vision rehabilitation helps people maintain their independence, live safely, and enjoy life even if they have a visual impairment that cannot be corrected with standard glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery.

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Through vision rehabilitation, people can maintain their independence.

## Vision rehabilitation services include...

- Clinical assessments to establish a vision rehabilitation plan
- Training
- Counseling

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Vision rehabilitation services are provided by a team of specialists. 

These specialists evaluate and assess vision in order to establish a vision rehabilitation plan, teach people new ways to do everyday tasks, and help them change their environment to make it safer and easier to get around. 

Vision rehabilitation services also include counseling to help people cope with vision problems.

## The vision rehabilitation team includes...

- Specialists in low vision
- Rehabilitation teachers
- Orientation and mobility therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Rehabilitation counselors
- Adaptive technology specialists

**Notes:**
SPEAKER’S TEXT

Many health care professionals play a role on the vision rehabilitation team.  The team often includes—

Specialists in low vision—ophthalmologists or optometrists who specialize in assessing functional vision loss and prescribes adaptive devices.
Rehabilitation teachers—trained educators who provide assistance in activities of daily living.
Orientation and mobility therapists—professionals who assist blind and visually impaired persons to achieve independent movement within home, school, work, and community settings.
Occupational therapists—licensed professionals who help evaluate the needs of people with visual impairments, make referrals, and decide on appropriate assistive devices.
Rehabilitation counselors—trained professionals who provide vocational counseling, service referral, and case management to help visually impaired persons adjust.
Adaptive technology specialists—professionals with expertise in computer hardware and software, and experience in working with persons with disabilities.

## Visual and adaptive devices include...

- Computers with large-print and speech output systems
- Talking watches and calculators
- Writing guides
- Magnifiers

**Notes:**
SPEAKER’S TEXT

Visual and adaptive devices are prescription and nonprescription devices that help people with low vision enhance their remaining vision.  Some examples include magnifiers, large-print books, check-writing guides, white canes, and telescopic lenses.

The picture on this slide shows a person using a writing guide so that she may write more legibly.

## How the Healthy Vision Program works

**How the Healthy Vision Program works**

- The Healthy Vision Program challenges individuals, communities, and professionals—indeed, all of us—to take specific steps to improve the eye health of people living in the United States through prevention, early detection, timely treatment, and rehabilitation.

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By working together, people in communities like ours can improve the eye health of people living in the United States. 

Together we can help more people learn about the importance of eye health and getting appropriate care when they need it.  

[NOTE TO SPEAKER] 

As appropriate, add one or more of the following statements—

I encourage you to integrate the Healthy Vision Program into your current programs, special events, publications, and meetings. 

I encourage you to use the Healthy Vision Program framework to guide worksite health promotion activities and community-based initiatives. 

I urge schools, colleges and universities, and civic- and faith-based organizations to undertake activities to further the eye health of all members of our community. 

As health care providers, you can encourage your patients to pursue healthy lifestyles and to participate in community-based programs. 

## You can help

- Begin at home
- Become an advocate
- Start something in your community

**Notes:**
SPEAKER’S TEXT

The Healthy Vision Program is designed to help you determine what you can do—in your home, community, business, or state—to integrate the Healthy People vision objectives into current programs, special events, publications, and meetings.  You can help improve the eye health of people living in the United States. 

Here are some suggestions—

Begin at home.  
Make vision a personal health priority for you and the people you care about.  Take every opportunity to protect and preserve your own vision and that of your loved ones and the people in your community.  Get comprehensive dilated eye exams at intervals appropriate for your age and other risk factors.  Use protective eyewear at work, home, and play.  Check out the vision insurance plan where you work, or see whether you are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid vision coverage. 

Become an advocate. 
You can become part of the national effort to reduce visual impairment with early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation by making vision a health priority wherever you work, learn, play, or worship.

Select a vision objective as the focus for your business or organization. 
Of the 10 Healthy Vision Program objectives, your business or organization can choose one to focus on.  For example, health centers can take an active role in getting the messages out about glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataract.  Much can be done to help reduce visual impairment and blindness.  Start anywhere and find an opportunity to make a difference.  

## You can help

- Use the Healthy Vision Program resources
- Add the logo to yourWebsite
- Identify partners to work with you

## Share in the success of the Healthy Vision Program

**Notes:**
SPEAKER’S TEXT

I was invited to talk about the Healthy Vision Program and to enlist your help in developing a community-wide effort.  We need to encourage our friends, neighbors, families, and coworkers to make vision a health priority.

Even if you are not ready to become involved in a broader program, start something.  A regular eye health program for yourself and your family is a good place to start.  Every person, business, or organization that makes vision a health priority is helping to reduce visual impairment and blindness. 

Now, I ask you to think about others who would be able to help us with our effort. 

[NOTE TO SPEAKER]

Personalize this portion of the discussion by telling the audience about a Healthy Vision Month activity or event you may be planning for May.  Encourage the audience to explore the Healthy Vision Program materials.

SPEAKER’S TEXT

The opportunities to promote the Healthy Vision Program are unlimited.  Take time to check how well you are doing—
Track the number of materials distributed to your audience.
Scan local newspapers and magazines.  Monitor radio and television programs to learn whether and how often your program receives coverage.
Track the number of people who respond as a result of your activities.  For example, count the number of people who stop by your booth at a health fair or mall, or the number of people who attend an informational presentation about the Healthy Vision Program. 
Ask people how they heard about your activity. 

## Visit the Healthy Vision Website_x000b_ _x000b_http://healthyvision2010._x000b_nei.nih.gov/

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You can get the latest information about the Healthy Vision Program by visiting the Website. 

## Join the Healthy Vision Consortium

- _[http://healthyvision2010.nei.nih.gov/about_hv/join.asp](http://healthyvision2010.nei.nih.gov/about_hv/join.asp)_

## Contact the National Eye Institute

- National Eye Institute
- National Institutes of Health
- 2020 Vision Place
- Bethesda, MD 20892–3655
- Telephone: 301–496–5248
- E-mail: _2020@nei.nih.gov_
- Website: _www.nei.nih.gov_

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You can contact the National Eye Institute for more information and resources.

##  Make Vision a Health Priority

**Notes:**
[NOTE TO SPEAKER]

A sample closing is included.  Use this one or develop your own.

SPEAKER’S TEXT

In closing, I want to thank you for coming to learn more about the urgent need in our community to make vision a health priority.  

Until this subject came to my attention, I personally had no idea vision impairment and blindness could be prevented by getting comprehensive dilated eye exams and by using protective eyewear.  

Join me in helping others understand the risks to and benefits of healthy vision.  With your help, the future of the Healthy Vision Program is looking great!