A report from "Sharing Visions" Conference

held at The W. Ross Macdonald School for the Visually Impaired and Deafblind

November, 2004

A successful poster session and information table for CHARGE Syndrome Canada was held during the conference.

Winner of the CHARGE Syndrome Canada draw for the Walter Gretzky autographed hockey bench was Murray Heibert of Kitchener, ON. He was delighted, "I've never won anything before!"  Murray is a scout...perfect!

Here is Walter Gretzky signing the bench!

Dr. Rick Wiggins

The conference opened with keynote speaker Dr. Rick Wiggins from the Sight Enhancement Center, University of Waterloo.  Dr. Wiggins demonstrated some of the key principals in functional vision evaluations.  Parents and professionals were reminded to read all the evaluation reports on file, and bring them to a functional vision evaluation.  The specific source of the reports is a very important consideration, as well as the technique used for the evaluation and the age of the individual at the time of the report.

• a functional vision report should take several hours, several visits, and also include requests to video tape further both home and at school
• sometimes working on the floor with Elmo; using a fly vs. a raisin; and a big red ball are all the tools necessary for that day
• many aspects of vision need to be recorded, using a variety of techniques.  It is not just a question of assessment of visual acquity.

Gabreile DelBianco

Spoke on stress, fatigue, and understanding the challenges of parents and professionals living or working with children who are blind or visually impaired.

• This motivational session reminded us to fill 'the jar' first with our own needs--like the sand that fits between all the stones in the jar, there is always room!

Ann Gloyn - Education Specialist

Strategies for children who have many medical, developmental, or educational implications require specific evaluations and screening in all the sensory areas This should include the understanding of functional vision/hearing/tactile/ as well as olfactory and vestibular sense.  Evaluation needs to consider sensory processing factors; as well as look at the efficiency and ability to integrate the senses.  An understanding how the loss in one sense can impact upon the other senses needs needs to occur. 

Specific evaluation can lead to strategy where "thinking outside the box" may be necessary, and ordinary ways of learning are challenged. An example is the child that better takes in information while at his desk bouncing on the big red therapy ball; or the child who needs a 'sqeeze ball' to roll about in order to attend to auditory information. 

Professionals and parents need to be open to the development of new systems and approaches, and certainly look to implement individualized techniques.  Use all available networks and resources from an international and research based perspective.