Anchor Center for Blind Children & University of Colorado Department of Ophthalmology hosted the Vision 2023 Denver Conference in July!

Vision 2023 Denver, a global conference created by International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation (ISLRR), offered a unique experience to connect low vision professionals with multidisciplinary specialities to collaborate on new therapies under one roof. Conference attendees made a stop at Anchor Center for tours of the facility and many of our staff presented at the event. Topics presented included:

 

Supporting Young Children with Brain-Based Visual Impairment in Clinical and Educational Settings, Presented by Dr. Cathy Smyth (Anchor Center’s Director of Research) with Dr. Lauren Mehner – Participants learned about challenges that brain-based visual impairment poses for young children ages birth to six, experienced visual simulators to understand brain-based visual impairment when attempting targeted tasks, and discussed research and a protocol to recognize and diagnose brain-based visual impairment in a clinical setting.

Making It Easier: Using Simple Phrases to Improve Educational and Clinical Services for Families, Presented by Dr. Cathy Smyth – Discussion about the achievements and challenges experienced by an organization that provides clinical and educational services for young children with visual impairment and their families. In an attempt to look closely at the use of internal language throughout our facility, we have discovered strengths and needs to address quality in our services.

Using a Transdisciplinary Approach to Support a Student with Low Vision in a Preschool Environment, Presented by Anchor Center Panel: Kathryn Tower, MA CCC-SLP, Mindy Doyle-McCall, PT, Alicia Knoll, PT, Gina Higbie, MS, OTR/L, Laura Ganguli, MT, Kelly Mitchell, HT – Participants learned strategies that can be used to support the educational needs of young children with low vision in the classroom and will have a stronger understanding of how a transdisciplinary model benefits a young student with low vision in a preschool setting.

Elise Darrow – Anchor Center’s CVI Manager & Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment, presented: Bridging the Divide: Clinical and Educational Services for Children with CVI (Co-Authers: Cathy Smyth, Ph.D. and Melody Furze, Ph.D.) – When visual challenges are identified early and both treatment and specialized interventions are implemented, children have better outcomes (Bardin, 2004; Lueck & Dutton, 2015). TSVIs administer functional vision and CVI-specific assessments. These assessments are done consistently by highly specialized staff and provide educators, families, and clinicians with important information about the child’s vision-specific challenges and abilities. This holistic approach also allows for comprehensive educational and skill-building program development.

A few of the reviews provided by attendees include:

“Truly one of the best conferences I have attended. Appreciated the multi-disciplinary and international aspects.”

In all, there were 28 comments specific to Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) content presented by Anchor Center staff including one attendee from South Africa reaching out to us afterward for CVI resources to try to start an early invention CVI program. “Improved knowledge on CVI and early intervention has inspired me to look into implementing an early identification program in our city in South Africa.”