Sports and Recreation for the Visually Impaired Service Member and Veteran
UPDATES IN SPECIALTY CARE Focus on Capabilities Not Disabilities– Sports and Recreation for the Visually Impaired Service Member and Veteran Bobbi L. Hillen, LCSW; Felix M. Barker II, OD, MS; Imelda V. Llanos, MS, OTR/L; Mary G. Lawrence, MD, MPH; Donald A. Gagliano, MD, MHA; and the Vision Center of Excellence Technologies Assessment Working Group* Because most activities of daily living are visually guided, effective visual rehabilitation strategies require the use of a variety of adaptive techniques and technologies that take full advantage of the individual’s capabilities. This is especially true of service members and veterans who, because of their injuries, would like to continue to participate in sports, recreational and athletic activities, and competitions. ervice members of the U.S. (DoD) and the Department of Vet- deliver a sufficiently coordinated and Armed Forces and veterans erans Affairs (VA) serve the visually robust set of services. This has led to are affected by many visu- impaired, although since WWII, it the establishment by Congress of the Sally disabling conditions, in- has been the primary responsibility DoD/VA Vision Center of Excellence cluding combat eye injury, traumatic of the VA’s Blind Rehabilitation Ser- (VCE) (See “DoD/VA VCE”), to bet- brain injury (TBI)-related visual dys- vice to provide most of the rehabili- ter enable effective visual rehabilita- function, and age-related eye diseases. tation services to active duty service tion of all of our wounded service Patients with significant losses of members and veterans who are visu- members and heroes with disabilities. central vision, peripheral vision, or ally impaired.
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