ST LOUIS SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND

VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES: INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO THOSE WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED DUE TO MACULAR DEGENERATION, DIABETIC RETINOPATHY, GLAUCOMA, CATARACT, TRAUMATIC HEAD INJURY AND OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS. REHABILITATIVE NEEDS ADDRESSED INCLUDE HOW TO BEST USE REMAINING VISION; MEDICATION MANAGEMENT; DAILY LIVING SKILLS TRAINING; PREVENTION OF INJURIES; EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES (INCLUDING ADJUSTMENT AND DEPRESSION); ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION; AND CAREGIVER SUPPORT. GROUP SERVICES ADDRESS PSYCHOLOGICAL, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL ISOLATION ISSUES AFFECTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO LIVE IN A SAFE, HEALTHY AND INDEPENDENT MANNER. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE REFERRED BY THEIR OPHTHALMOLOGIST OR OTHER EYE CARE SPECIALIST AND MANY ARE DIAGNOSED WITH MULTIPLE EYE CONDITIONS. INDIVIDUALS RECEIVE VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES FROM THE SOCIETY'S STATE OR NATIONALLY CERTIFIED AND/OR LICENSED LOW VISION THERAPISTS, ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SPECIALIST, SOCIAL WORKERS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONALS. INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING, VARIOUS AIDS, EQUIPMENT, DEVICES, AND ADAPTIVE TECHNIQUES ARE USED TO ASSIST THE INDIVIDUAL IN ADJUSTING TO VISION LOSS OR BLINDNESS IN ORDER TO RESTORE OR MAINTAIN INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY LIVING ACTIVITES. SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT THE SOCIETY'S OFFICES AS WELL AS IN-HOME. BECAUSE MOST INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT ABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO THEIR VISION LOSS, THE SOCIETY OFFICES WERE PURPOSELY LOCATED ALONG KEY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. IN ADDITION, THE SOCIETY PROVIDES TRANSPORTAION ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS, REGARDLESS OF INCOME, HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUALIZED VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES. BECAUSE MOST VISION REHABILITATION SERVICES AND LOW VISION AIDS ARE NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE OR MEDICARE, DEVICES OR OTHER VISION REHABILITATION AIDS CAN BE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT REDUCED COST IF THERE IS AN INABILITY TO PAY.

THROUGH THE ORGANIZATION'S LOW VISION CLINIC (DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC) AND LOW VISION SERVICES, EVALUATIONS ARE PROVIDED BY A LICENSED DOCTOR OF OPTOMETRY AND CERTIFIED LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST. FUNCTIONAL EYE EXAMS ADDRESS WAYS TO BEST UTILIZE REMAINING VISION AND HOW TO PREVENT ADDITIONAL VISION LOSS. THE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS SEEN IN THE LOW VISION CLINIC ARE EXPERIENCING VISION LOSS DUE TO AN AGE-RELATED EYE CONDITION. ADAPTIVE VISION AIDS AND EQUIPMENT ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN COMPLETING DAILY LIVING TASKS INCLUDING MANAGMENT OF TAKING MEDICATION, READING, AND COMMUNICATION. OVER 250 DIFFERENT LOW VISION AIDS ARE AVAILABE AND ARE PROVIDED TO INDIVIDUALS AT NO CHARGE IF INDIVIDUALS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD SUCH DEVICES. IN-HOME FOLLOW UP BY THE LOW VISION THERAPIST OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE LOW VISION TRAINING AND ENSURES THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BEST USE RECOMMENDED LOW VISION EQUIPMENT/AIDS. TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO ANY INDIVIDUAL NEEDING HELP IN GETTING TO THE DREWS LOW VISION CLINIC.