HOW TO MAKE YOUR PRACTICE INCLUSIVE OF PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES- Communicating Effectively
People with intellectual disabilities are one of the most underserved groups in the world. Because of a range of systemic challenges, including inadequate provider training and inaccessible facilities, they have less access to quality health care and health promotion programs. As a result, people with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience dramatically higher rates of preventable health issues.
What is an Intellectual Disability?
Inclusive Health Principles and Strategies: Communication
Treating People with Intellectual Disabilities with Respect
As an example, in 1998, Special Olympics International added the program, Opening Eyes, which grew out of a need for athletes with an intellectual disability get screenings to assess and improve their eye health. With the support of Lions Club International, Essilor and Safilo, athletes are given free prescription eyewear and a referral to an optician in their home area if deemed necessary. The results of athlete eye screenings have led to the following statistics:
23% have never had an eye exam
16% have an eye disease
36% need new prescription glasses
People with intellectual disabilities or those whose disabilities directly affect speech, hearing, or sight are more likely to have communication difficulties. Unless a communication barrier is obvious, it is best not to assume one exists unless the patient, a family member, or other caregiver tells you about the barrier. Even when a communication difficulty exists, the exact barrier and the best way to address it often varies.
If you would like to learn more on how to make your Practice Inclusive of People with Intellectual Disabilities, visit Special Olympics’ website to find more resources: CLICK HERE
CCP WORKSHOP AT VISION BRITISH COLUMBIA Victoria, October 5-6, 2019
The OAC and the College of Opticians of British Columbia (COBC) have been working in close collaboration to offer you a two-day event this Fall :
Saturday, October 5, 2019 Start completing your Continuing Competency Program (CCP) assessment (Core, Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses and Refracting sections), or select your learning goals and build your plan with the help of the COBC.
Sunday, October 6, 2019 You will be able to earn a minimum of 6 CE Credits/Hours and for those opticians who have been switched over to the new Continuing Competency Program (CCP), all education sessions will be mapped.
BRING YOUR BUSINESS INTO FOCUS: WHY OPTICIANS NEED BOOKKEEPING By Bob Wang, ctrl by Deloitte leader for the British Columbia region
Most opticians agree that bookkeeping is a necessary part of running a business. Yet with so many demands on your time, I’m willing to bet that bookkeeping often falls to the bottom of your to-do list. It shouldn’t. The reality is, by staying on top of your books, you actually set your business up for success. Without it, you expose your business to risks.
Deloitte is looking for three Opticians for a pilot program that provides FREE bookkeeping for 3 months. For more information, contact bobwang@deloitte.ca.
The Opticians Association of Canada (OAC) is presently inviting Licensed Opticians in Newfoundland & Labrador AND Ontario who are interested in representing the interests of Opticians, both locally and nationally, at the table of the OAC Board of Directors. The election will be processed anonymously online by Simply Voting.
If you are a MEMBER in good standing with the Opticians Association of Canada and have a keen interest in serving Opticians in Canada, please consider offering your name or nominate one of your colleagues.
The Newfoundland & Labrador nominations can be submitted until Thursday, October 17th.CLICK HERE for more information.
The Ontario nominations can be submitted until Thursday, October 24th. CLICK HERE for more information.
The Government of Quebec has demonstrated its awareness of children’s vision problems by establishing a vision screening program in primary schools and by providing support to families who purchase eyeglasses or contact lenses for their children. The message is clear: vision is important! The Ordre des opticiens d’ordonnances du Québec applauds this fine initiative!
The program, entitled Mieux voir pour réussir (See Better to Succeed), provides a $250 reimbursement following the purchase
of eyeglasses or contact lenses for children under the age of 18, provided the following criteria are met:
The child must first undergo a vision exam at an optometrist’s or have a copy of a recent prescription (prescriptions from an ophthalmologist are also accepted);
The reimbursement is given only for the purchase of eyeglasses or contact lenses prescribed by a recognized professional and prescribed to correct the child’s vision;
This is a flat rate reimbursement: it does not vary based on the cost of the eyeglasses or contact lenses;
Only eyeglasses and contact lenses purchased as of September 1, 2019, from a vision professional authorized to sell opthalmic lenses in Quebec are eligible.
For additional information, please contact the Régie de l’assurance maladie Québec (RAMQ) and CLICK HERE.
Contact Lens Spectrum Magazine - September 2019 - Page 25 TAKE A TURN WITH SOFT TORIC LENSES FOR ASTIGMATISM “In the United States, approximately 30% of contact lenses fit are for the correction of astigmatism. However, 47% of patients seeking contact lens wear have astigmatism of -0.75D or greater in at least one eye. In addition, astigmatic patients experience better visual acuity with lenses that correct astigmatism compared to when they wear spherical lenses.
There seems to be a discrepancy between the contact lens correction that patients need and the contact lenses that practitioners actually fit. One of the reasons for this discrepancy may be the perception that toric contact lenses are complicated and time consuming to fit.
Fitting toric contact lenses for astigmatism does not need to be difficult. There are a few simple factors to consider when managing astigmats that will ensure successful contact lens wear for theses patients.” CLICK HERE to read more
OAC UPCOMING EVENTS Details and registration available on OACLIVE.CA
VISION BRITISH COLUMBIA | OCTOBER 5-6, 2019 | VICTORIA, BC VISION SASKATCHEWAN | OCTOBER 27, 2019 | SASKATOON, SK
Our mailing address is: Opticians Association of Canada 2706-83 Garry Street Winnipeg, MB R3C 4J9 Canada
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