Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired People (ROVI)

A ROVI helps in a range of ways, from developing coping strategies tailored to the individual, to supplying either high or low-tech aids. Often a ROVI is the first professional someone with vision difficulties meets who is concerned with helping them manage everyday life, rather than focusing on the medical aspects of their sight.

There are a number of different types of vision impairment, which can occur at any age. Because St Dunstan’s helps ex-Service men and women, we deal with adults who have lost their sight, rather than those who have congenital (present from birth) conditions. Causes of adult vision loss include: 

• Macular Degeneration
  The macular is the part of the eye that deals with detail and lets us discriminate between small things, like the letters on this page. This condition mainly affects older people. Because their field of vision remains, they can often move around well, but find many everyday tasks frustrating.
• Retinitis Pigmentosa
  This usually (but not always) affects the eye in the opposite way to macular degeneration. The outside part of the eye which deals with movement and light adaptation is lost and there is a gradual effect of tunnel vision, so that the person can distinguish detail, but only in a very small area. They may still be able to read, but moving around, especially in bad light, can be very difficult.
• Glaucoma
  This is caused by a raising of pressure within the eye and has similar effects to Retinitis Pigmentosa.
• Trauma
  This can cause loss of sight and is often accompanied by other injuries experienced by people serving in the Forces in conflict areas.

Adjusting to sight loss is rarely easy, for a number of reasons. The period of adjustment varies from person to person, and is often influenced by the circumstances and type of vision loss. One common reaction is a sense of isolation.

ROVIs have a key role in training sessions, held at our rehabilitation centres at Sheffield and Ovingdean. Similar sessions will take place at our third centre in Llandudno, due to open in 2010. These include the Introductory Week where a group (usually between 9 and 12 individuals) of newly signed-up St Dunstaners spend seven days at one of the centres. During this time they can:

• Learn about activities and aids which can help them
• Try adapted sports
• Find out about craft activities
• Discover how IT can work for them
• Attend talks and discussions about sight loss and St Dunstan’s
• Share experiences with the rest of the group and discover that many of the frustrations they experience are not unique.People who attend our introductory weeks invariably leave with increased confidence and a more optimistic outlook.

A ROVI normally works with two people during the week, and will be their main point of contact over that time. The unique character and needs of each individual are taken into account and solutions are tailored accordingly.
Something that is right for one person may not work as well or at all for others.

The ROVI’s work is in four main areas: 

1. Orientation and Mobility
The ROVI considers solutions such as:

• New high-tech aids, such as specially designed GPS systems
• Working with a cane
• Maximising existing vision
• Techniques such as scanning or eccentric viewing
• Supplying glasses with different colours or degrees of light absorption to reduce glare and increase acuity of vision
• Working with carers, who are encouraged to attend, to develop the best guiding techniques.

2. Independent Living Skills (ILS)
The ROVI will help the person identify ways of dealing with everyday tasks such as identifying clothes and working in the kitchen. These are demonstrated and discussed and include:

• Tactile markers on household appliances
• ‘Talking’ microwaves, weighing scales, or even tin lids
• Improving lighting and maximising contrast

3. Communications and Low Vision
Braille is the method of communication most associated with loss of or impaired vision, but is just one technique. ROVIs are qualified to teach Braille and other embossed script but also discuss other communication aids such as:

• Large print diaries
• Frames to make writing easier
• Players for the new generation of talking books
• Specially designed mobile phones

After Introductory Week further training may be recommended, either in a training centre or at the client’s home. The length and nature of the training will depend on the client’s needs. Mobility training, for example, is often better done at home, so local routes and techniques can be developed simultaneously.

Home visits by ROVIs are increasing and ROVIs need to be prepared to travel where health or responsibilities make it difficult for the client to travel.

ROVI’s also liaise and work with local service providers to try and ensure that the client gets the best service possible.