by Charles H. Crawford
I am pleased to share with you the policies endorsed by ACB and others at a recent meeting of the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB). The statements speak for themselves as evidence of our guiding principles upholding consumer choice and best practices in rehabilitation training and service provision. Joint Statement on Critical Issues Facing Specialized Rehabilitation Services For People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
We the undersigned organizations endorse the following principles: Use of Visual Occlusion in Orientation and Mobility Instruction
We believe that programs providing instruction in independent travel to individuals with functional/usable vision are most effective when they recognize the importance of using both visual and non-visual techniques to travel safely and efficiently. For some individuals, blindfolding may be an effective method for teaching reliance on the use of other senses; however, we believe the best practice is to incorporate instruction in the use of remaining vision so that individuals will learn to use both visual and non-visual information simultaneously. While we believe that the use of visual occlusion is an appropriate instructional technique for some individuals, it must not be mandated as a condition for the receipt of any services. Additionally, when occlusion is to be used, it should be provided with the prior expressed consent of the individual receiving instruction. The professional orientation and mobility specialist, in consultation with the consumer and when appropriate the consumer's family, should determine whether and how to make use of visual occlusion. Certification
We support certification of professionals meeting the unique and individual needs of consumers with visual impairments. To be meaningful, such certification must require satisfaction of relevant post-secondary education, practice-based skills acquisition, and adherence to a Code of Professional Ethics. These criteria are designed to ensure that certified professionals possess a relevant and measurable knowledge base, competencies, and skills to provide individually tailored services. A certification program's adherence to this combination of criteria assures a level of professional quality which cannot be guaranteed by minimal practice-based criteria alone.
The certification program of service providers in the blindness and low vision field administered by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) meets these criteria. In addition, the ACVREP maintains full recognition with the National Certification Commission (NCC), a non-profit external reviewer of certification programs. To ensure adherence to meaningful standards, we believe that any organization that purports to certify professional service providers should be similarly recognized by the NCC and/or other comparable independent reviewing or accrediting bodies. Use of Dog Guides
The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and laws in all 50 states guarantee access to public accommodations and to the programs and services of state/local government by people who are blind or visually impaired who may use dog guides. This guarantee extends to participation in any and all education and vocational rehabilitation programs and services. The use of a dog guide therefore is the individual choice of a consumer which must be honored. Statement Endorsed by: American Council of the Blind American Foundation for the Blind Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired Blinded Veterans Association National Council of Private Agencies for the Blind and Visually Impaired.