Legislation Introduced to Fund Preparation and Ongoing Professional Development Promoting Vision Rehabilitation

October 23, 2007

On Thursday, October 4, Representative Gene Green (D-TX-29) and other leading members of the House Congressional Vision Caucus, introduced the Vision Preservation Act (H.R. 3750, hereafter VPA), which promotes and expands the federal investment in vision loss prevention and screening. The legislation, which has been advocated principally by Prevent Blindness America, has been introduced in the Congress in the past. However, the bill introduced this week includes important provisions which have not been part of the bill text previously and which significantly compliment the aims of the legislation. At the invitation of our colleagues at Prevent Blindness America and with cooperation from other leading organizational providers of vision-related rehabilitation and medical services, AFB prepared these provisions which, if enacted by Congress, should add vital resources supporting the preparation of new professionals with specialized expertise in vision rehabilitation for older people with vision loss, as well as help to provide ongoing continuing education for such professionals.

Specifically, the newly added provisions are intended to foster greater availability of high quality interdisciplinary course curricula and continuing education programs offered through university programs and agencies serving people with vision loss. The provisions would also establish a new grant program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fund such entities for those purposes.

Progress of the bill can be tracked at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.03750:. Advocates are encouraged to urge their House Representatives to cosponsor this much-needed legislation.

The provisions read as follows:

SEC. 6. VISION REHABILITATION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

(a) Authority- The Secretary of Health and Human Services (in this section referred to as the `Secretary') may make grants to eligible institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations for the purpose of activities described in subsection (b) relating to vision rehabilitation professional development.

(b) Use of Funds- The Secretary may not make a grant to an institution of higher education or a nonprofit organization under this section unless the institution or organization agrees to use the grant for the following:

• (1) Developing and offering preparatory and continuing education training opportunities (incorporating state-of-the-art approaches, technologies, and therapies to meet the unique needs of older adults with vision loss) in--
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    (A) geriatrics among vision rehabilitation professionals, including professionals in the vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility, and low vision therapy fields; and
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    (B) vision rehabilitation among occupational therapists and others in related rehabilitation and health disciplines.
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  (2) Conducting, and disseminating the findings and conclusions of, research on the effectiveness of preparatory and continuing education training under paragraph (1).
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  (3) Developing and disseminating interdisciplinary course curricula for use in the preparation of new professionals in vision rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and related rehabilitation and health disciplines.
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  (4) Educating physicians, nurses, and other health care providers about the value of vision rehabilitation, to increase appropriate referral by such professionals for the full range of vision rehabilitation services available to older individuals with vision loss.

(c) Eligibility- To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an entity shall be a university, academic medical center, national or regional nonprofit organization, community rehabilitation provider, or allied health education program, or a consortium of such entities, that--

• (1) offers or coordinates education or training activities among professionals described in subsection (b)(1); or
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  (2) agrees to use the grant to expand its capacity to coordinate such activities.
  

(d) Distribution of Grants- In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that grantees offer or coordinate training for current and emerging professionals--

• (1) from a variety of geographic regions and a range of different types and sizes of settings and facilities, including settings and facilities located in rural, urban, and suburban areas; and
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  (2) serving a variety of populations of older individuals with vision loss, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income individuals, and other underserved populations.
  

(e) Application- To seek a grant under this section, an entity shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

For more information, contact:

Mark Richert
Director, Public Policy
American Foundation for the Blind
202-822-0833 mrichert@afb.net