Memo in Support A.6179 (Lupardo)/S.3880 (Griffo)
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the licensing of licensed orientation and mobility specialists and licensed vision rehabilitation therapists
We strongly support A.6179A/S.3880A which creates licensure for Vision Rehabilitation Professionals (VRPs), including Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (VRTs) and Orientation & Mobility Specialists (O&Ms) in New York. Every day, advances in science, medicine and nutrition are helping New Yorkers survive risky births and live longer. Surviving a low birth weight or living to 100 years means more people experience some type of vision loss. As the number of New Yorkers with visual impairments continues to increase, the number of VRTs and O&Ms needed to serve them must also. The New York Vision Rehabilitation Association (NYVRA) includes a great number of our state's providers and consumer groups of vision rehabilitation services and consumer groups and strongly believes that the best way to increase participation people with visual impairments in this important profession is licensure. VRTs and O&Ms have been providing valuable services to New Yorkers with visual impairments of all ages for decades. These professionals teach in homes and enjoy a great deal of trust as they teach vulnerable older adults as well as impressionable youth. This trust should be protected through the State licensing board. NYVRA recognizes that there are other professions that provide other vital services to New Yorkers with visual impairments. The creation of this license will not infringe upon the scope of practice of any other professionals, but rather will improve access to services for the growing population with vision loss. Listed below are some examples illuminating why licensure will standardize the services, enhance the profession and increase the number of blind and sighted professionals who provide the services.
1. Demographic Imperative: As we live longer, more of us experience vision loss. The population of visually impaired New Yorkers will spike in the next 20 years as the baby boomers age. There are many more visually impaired persons of all ages in New York than have been previously identified and served. Today, 1 in 6 adults over 45 years of age experience some form of vision impairment. Babies at risk are surviving at birth but experience disabilities including vision loss.
2. Establish standards: Licensure and the standards that come with it will insure that people with vision loss receive the same quality of service in all parts of the state by qualified professionals.
3. Credentials of Credibility: No one can deny the valuable services that VRTs and O&Ms have been providing for decades. This credential will increase referrals from other professionals who identify people with vision loss in need. Licensure would increase public knowledge of the availability of this service.
4. Independence: Visually impaired New Yorkers who get the services they need from VRTs and O&Ms lead more independent lives. VRTs and O&Ms train visually impaired persons how to manage and navigate through their lives efficiently, safely and independently.
5. Reduction of Injuries: A national study indicates that older adults who experience an acuity loss greater than 20/30 the risk of death from all causes increases to 60% and it more than doubles to 120% in the area of death by trauma more than half from falls related to decrease visual acuity.
2. VRTs and O&Ms provide training to the blind and visually impaired population that greatly reduces the risk of falls and injuries. For the foregoing reasons, we urge passage of this vital legislation and the creation of a VRT and O&M license in the State of New York.
