When children and adults apply for disability benefits and claim that a visual impairment has limited their ability to function, the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) is required to determine their eligibility. To ensure that these determinations are made fairly and consistently, SSA has developed criteria for eligibility and a process for assessing each claimant against the criteria. Visual Impairments: Determining Eligibility for Social Security Benefits examines SSA's methods of determining disability for people with visual impairments, recommends changes that could be made now to improve the process and the outcomes, and identifies research needed to develop improved methods for the future. The report assesses tests of visual function, including visual acuity and visual fields whether visual impairments could be measured directly through visual task performance or other means of assessing disability. These other means include job analysis databases, which include information on the importance of vision to job tasks or skills, and measures of health-related quality of life, which take a person-centered approach to assessing visual function testing of infants and children, which differs in important ways from standard adult tests.

Presents an overview of the issues associated with the assessment of young children's vision for optometrists and optometry students. A practical rather than scholarly guide, which includes both experimental data and step-by-step instructions on how to use the techniques. Topics include the importance of early visual assessment, ocular health, contrast sensitivity, and eye movements. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Cerebral visual impairment (also known as cortical visual impairment, or CVI) has become the most common cause of visual impairment in children in the United States and the developed world. Vision and the Brain is a unique and comprehensive sourcebook geared especially to professionals in the field of visual impairment, educators, and families who need to know more about the causes and types of CVI and the best practices for working with affected children. Expert contributors from many countries represent education, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility, ophthalmology, optometry, neuropsychology, psychology, and vision science, and include parents of children with CVI. The book provides an in-depth guide to current knowledge about brain-related vision loss in an accessible form to enable readers to recognize, understand, and assess the behavioral manifestations of damage to the visual brain and develop effective interventions based on identification of the spectrum of individual needs. Chapters are designed to help those working with children with CVI ascertain the nature and degree of visual impairment in each child, so that they can "see" and appreciate the world through the child's eyes and ensure that every child is served appropriately.

The ability to see deeply affects how human beings perceive and interpret the world around them. For most people, eyesight is part of everyday communication, social activities, educational and professional pursuits, the care of others, and the maintenance of personal health, independence, and mobility. Functioning eyes and vision system can reduce an adult's risk of chronic health conditions, death, falls and injuries, social isolation, depression, and other psychological problems. In children, properly maintained eye and vision health contributes to a child's social development, academic achievement, and better health across the lifespan. The public generally recognizes its reliance on sight and fears its loss, but emphasis on eye and vision health, in general, has not been integrated into daily life to the same extent as other health promotion activities, such as teeth brushing; hand washing; physical and mental exercise; and various injury prevention behaviors. A larger population health approach is needed to engage a wide range of stakeholders in coordinated efforts that can sustain the scope of behavior change. The shaping of socioeconomic environments can eventually lead to new social norms that promote eye and vision health. Making Eye Health a Population Health Imperative: Vision for Tomorrow proposes a new population-centered framework to guide action and coordination among various, and sometimes competing, stakeholders in pursuit of improved eye and vision health and health equity in the United States. Building on the momentum of previous public health efforts, this report also introduces a model for action that highlights different levels of prevention activities across a range of stakeholders and provides specific examples of how population health strategies can be translated into cohesive areas for action at federal, state, and local levels.

Emphasizing the need for collaboration and cooperation across medical, education, rehabilitation, and social service disciplines, this volume provides a primary reference tool for those engaged in work related to low vision rehabilitation and service delivery. It provides information about the funct.

This book follows 3 case studies of children with cerebral palsy: mild, moderate, and severe, from infancy to adulthood. Traditional frames of reference from medical, educational, and developmental models are presented to create a functional approach to the assessment and management of the motor components of vision. The wire coil bound edition of 210 pages contains 134 photographs and illustrations which help to clarify normal and atypical development of vision, and suggest ways to integrate intervention programs into home, school, and community activities.

Vision impairment is a long-term condition caused by disorders of the eye, optic nerve, and brain. Using evidence-based knowledge, theory, and research, this book provides practical guidance for practitioners who are involved in the care and management of children with long-term vision impairment and disability. The book is divided into four sections following the ICF-CY model: (1) eye disorders, vision and brain, (2) child development and learning from birth to older childhood, (3) habilitation, orientation, reading and assistive technologies and (4) social relationships and participation in everyday contexts. International team of experts present up to date vision and neuroscience research and assessment and management approaches. Multidisciplinary approaches for improving function, learning and activity in children with vision impairment. New approach to childhood vision impairment with a focus on assessment, function and participation. Covering all vision disorders and levels of vision impairment, including eye disorders, cerebral vision impairment and complex disability. A useful resource for developmental/and neurodisability paediatricians and clinicians including clinical, neuro- and educational psychologists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists; paediatric ophthalmologists and eye clinic staff; mobility/habilitation specialists, educationalists of vision impairment and others; community family support and social care workers.