Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the
Blind and Visually Impaired, July 2016
Resolution Number 2016 - 1
Whereas the primary funding streams supporting specialized services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired are restricted to the special education and vocational rehabilitation systems; and
Whereas the only national program intended to offer specialized services to those people who are blind or visually impaired who are not ordinarily served by the special education or vocational rehabilitation systems, namely the Independent Living Services for Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) program, has been unconscionably under funded since its inception; and
Whereas 6.9 million Americans 65 years and older reported having a significant visual impairment, according to the 2015 National Center for Health Statistics, National Health Interview Survey; and
Whereas the services of many health and rehabilitation professionals are reimbursed by third-party programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance carriers, and
Whereas the services of most vision rehabilitation professionals qualified to provide specialized services to people who are blind or visually impaired are not currently reimbursable through third-party programs; and
Whereas for the last several decades, coordinated advocacy for Medicare
Reimbursement for such services undertaken by organizations of and for people who are blind or visually impaired, including AER, has been unsuccessful; and
Whereas expertise in health care management and administration is necessary for understanding the business of health care delivery and accessing third-party funding; and
Whereas this expertise in health care management and administration lies outside the preparation and experience of professionals, program administrators and others involved in the delivery of specialized services to people who are blind or visually impaired;
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) on this 23rd day of July, 2016, in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, that this organization, through its President and Executive Director, shall reach out to the leadership and public policy staff of the major national, regional and community-based organizations of and for people who are blind or visually impaired with whom AER may make common cause to invite them to participate in an "AER National Working Group on Third-Party Coverage for Specialized Services"
(working group) to consider and implement strategies to achieve third-party funding for the specialized services provided by vision rehabilitation professionals.
And be it further resolved that this national working group shall include the active participation of each of the AER divisions representing professionals for whom third party coverage is being sought.
And be it further resolved that this national working group shall seek the involvement of additional individuals and entities with expertise in health care management and administration to advise the working group concerning current reimbursement policy and process and how professionals can qualify for and access third-party funding.
And be it further resolved that the AER President or Executive Director and/or a representative that the President may appoint shall routinely participate in working group meetings, shall regularly report to the AER Board about such meetings, and shall put any working group recommendations before the AER Board for its consideration and approval prior to working group actions.
AER RESOLUTION 2002 - 07: COMS determine effective strategies of O&M instruction
WHEREAS each child or adult consumer who is blind or visually impaired is entitled to instruction that will enable the person to reach his or her greatest travel potential; and
WHEREAS the consumer who is blind or visually impaired is entitled to orientation and mobility instruction that is designed to meet his or her unique needs, abilities, and potential; and
WHEREAS the safety of the consumer who is blind or visually impaired is paramount in determining the manner in which services in orientation and mobility are provided; and
WHEREAS the structure and content of orientation and mobility services must therefore be based on knowledge and individual assessment of the consumer; and
WHEREAS certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS) are specially qualified to conduct assessments for the purpose of determining individual needs; and
WHEREAS instructional services that meet the specific needs of individual consumers typically are provided with a consumer to instructor ratio of one to one; and
WHEREAS at times instructional services can be provided in small groups when instruction is carefully planned to address each consumer's specific needs and safety; and
WHEREAS certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS) are specially qualified to determine the appropriate means for providing orientation and mobility services while considering safety and individual needs;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that on this 21st day of July, 2002, in the city of Toronto, Ontario, that the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) affirms that certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS), in consultation with the consumer, and when appropriate with the consumer's family, are recognized as the designated sole professionals responsible for making determinations regarding the environments in which orientation and mobility services are provided, and whether individual or group lessons are appropriate for teaching specific skills in accordance with individual need and safety.
AER RESOLUTION 2002 - 08: COMS determine appropriate O&M environments
WHEREAS child and adult consumers who are blind or visually impaired are entitled to orientation and mobility services that will enable them to reach their full travel potential; and
Return to O&M Division Resolutions considered
WHEREAS consumers with visual impairment who have some degree of available functional vision need to perceive and utilize information received by all their senses to travel safely and effectively; and
WHEREAS consumers who have available functional vision can benefit when they learn to use this vision for safe and effective travel; and
WHEREAS visual occlusion is one of several strategies available to teach consumers with functional vision to perceive and utilize non-visual information; and
WHEREAS, to travel safely and effectively, consumers with available
functional vision need to perceive and utilize both visual and non-visual information simultaneously; and,
WHEREAS many consumers with visual impairments who have available functional vision are unable to perceive and utilize visual and non-visual information simultaneously unless they receive specialized instruction to integrate the use of this information for travel; and
WHEREAS certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS) are specially qualified to evaluate a consumer's skills for using available functional vision and non-visual sensory information for travel; and
WHEREAS certified orientation and mobility specialists (COMS) are specially qualified to determine, based on evaluation, suitable and effective strategies for teaching consumers with available functional vision to perceive and utilize information received from all their senses, visual and non-visual, during travel;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that on this 21st day of July, 2002, in the city of Toronto, Ontario, that the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) affirms that the certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS), in consultation with the consumer, and when appropriate with the consumer's family, is the sole professional designated to determine when occlusion of available vision, instruction in the use of available vision, or a combination thereof, are effective strategies in the provision of orientation and mobility instruction.