DEVELOPMENT OF A PEER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM FOR ADULTS WITH LOW VISION
BETHANY SANECKI , OTD , KATRINA STRATTON , M . S ., OTR / L , MONIKA ROBINSON , DROT , OTR / L , LISA KNECHT-SABRES , DHS , OTR / L
THERE ARE MORE THAN 12 MILLION ADULTS IN THE UNITED STATES LIVING WITH VISION IMPAIRMENT , RANGING FROM MILD DEFICITS TO LEGAL BLINDNESS ; THIS POPULATION IS PROJECTED TO DOUBLE BY 2050 ( VARMA ET . AL , 2016 ). VI- SION IMPAIRMENT IS DEFINED AS A LESSENED ABILITY TO SEE OBJECTS CLEARLY , RESULTING IN SOME INDIVIDUALS EXPERI- ENCING FEW EFFECTS IN THEIR DAILY LIFE , WHILE OTHERS MAY EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT BARRIERS TO FUNCTIONING ( CHOU ET . AL 2013 ). AS THE UNITED STATES POPULATION AGES , RELATED DISEASES SUCH AS MACULAR DEGENERA- TION , DIABETIC RETINOPATHY , GLAUCOMA , AND CATARACT HAVE BECOME THE MOST COMMON CONDITIONS CAUSING VISION IMPAIRMENT ( CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION , 2015 ).
Vision deficits have a profound effect on a person ’ s engagement in ADLs , IADLs , work , and leisure occupations , resulting in the need for compensatory strategies such as using adaptive equipment and assistive technology , or requiring assistance from another person ( Blaylock , Barstow , Vogtle , & Bennett , 2015 ). Over the last year , many individuals have experienced changes in their typical habits and routines , especially in terms of social participation due to the pandemic . However , even prior to COVID-19 , individuals with visual impairments were particularly at risk for experiencing decreased social participation and social isolation , compared to their sighted peers , due to a variety of environmental barriers ( Brunes , Hansen , & Heir , 2019 ).
Comprehensive low vision programs , which include professions of ophthalmology , optometry , and occupational therapy , have been effective at improving functional participation and quality of life for people with low vision ( Liu & Chang , 2020 ). Occupational therapy practitioners empower clients to incorporate self-management skills into their daily lives and provide education on the use of low vision tools to improve engagement in valued occupations ( Natasi , 2020 ). They also provide interventions that support participation in daily life activities that are affected by vision deficits . For instance , interventions related to reading are often included , as this is a necessary task in many areas of occupation including ADLs , IADLs , work , leisure , and social participation . Furthermore , education and training regarding magnification , prescription glasses , lighting , and appropriate use of contrast are provided within the context of one ’ s occupations and environments to increase occupational engagement ( Kaldenberg & Smallfield , 2019 ).
Spectrios Institute for Low Vision , located in Wheaton , IL , recognizes the importance of providing holistic care to support clients ’ participation in valued roles and occupations . Spectrios staff members noted that some clients struggle to adapt to their visual changes , resulting in progressive challenges in their daily life . A variety of reasons for these struggles were identified , including lack of awareness about available resources , difficulty accepting the progressive nature of their condition , or a pessimistic outlook on the future . In order to address these identified concerns and to enhance the support available to the low vision community in Illinois , the occupational therapist at Spectrios , who is also one of the authors of this article , Katrina Stratton , partnered with a doctoral student at Midwestern University , Bethany Sanecki , to develop a peer mentorship program aimed at increasing client ’ s adaptability and participation in their roles and daily occupations .
This program provided patients receiving occupational therapy services with the opportunity to connect with a peer mentor , someone who has demonstrated resilience and adaptability when experiencing a certain condition , allowing them to provide insight and understanding to support another person ’ s adjustment to a similar experience ( Sweet , Noreau , Leblond , & Martin Ginis , 2016 ). Support from peers who are also living with vision loss has been found to enhance a person ’ s acceptance of their condition and feelings
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Illinois Occupational Therapy Association | 2021 ISSUE 1 22