Falling in Love with Vision Therapy: A Transformational Training Experience

Introduction
They say that sometimes life takes an unexpected turn that leads you down a path you never imagined. That's exactly what happened to me when I attended a training event featuring a speaker, a fellow occupational therapist, who introduced me to the world of vision therapy. Little did I know that this experience would ignite a passion within me and reshape my perspective on rehabilitation. In this blog post, I want to share my personal journey of how I fell head over heels for vision therapy and recognized its crucial role in the realm of physical rehabilitation.

The Unforeseen Journey
Three years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a professional training event focused on a not so well-known approach in rehabilitation - vision therapy. With an open mind, I settled into my seat, curious to learn about this unfamiliar topic and how it could intersect with my work as an occupational therapist in physical rehabilitation.

The Speaker Who Opened My Eyes
As the speaker delved into the principles of vision therapy, I found myself captivated by the insights shared. Vision therapy, it turned out, is not just about helping individuals with vision impairments—it also plays a crucial role in physical rehabilitation. The speaker's examples and case studies highlighted the connections between vision, balance, motor skills, and overall functionality. I was intrigued by how vision therapy could address issues beyond the traditional scope of visual impairments.

Seeing the Need in Physical Rehabilitation
As the presentation unfolded, it became increasingly clear that vision therapy could bridge gaps in physical rehabilitation that I hadn't even realized existed. The speaker emphasized how certain visual deficits could hinder progress in motor skills and even contribute to challenges in activities of daily living. It was an "aha" moment for me—a realization that vision therapy could be the missing link in some of the rehabilitation cases I had encountered.

A Paradigm Shift
Leaving the training event, my mind was buzzing with newfound knowledge and excitement. The dots were connecting, and I saw the potential for vision therapy to revolutionize the way we approach physical rehabilitation. I started researching more about vision therapy, reading success stories, and understanding its underlying principles. The more I learned, the more convinced I became that integrating vision therapy into rehabilitation plans could yield remarkable results.

With my thirst for more knowledge, I found Salus University, a multi disciplines, health profession college in Pennsylvania that offered a post graduate certificate in remedial vision to occupational therapists. I immediately enrolled and spent my time during the difficult covid years, learning online and flying to Pennsylvania to attend clinical practicums. To my great honor, the classes were taught by Dr. Mitchell Scheiman, an optometrist and leader in binocular vision therapy (see the Cochrane meta study performed, in part, by Dr Scheiman). I completed the program with confident and excitement at starting my own vision therapy business.

A Passion Ignited
Fast forward to today, and I can confidently say that I love vision therapy. This unexpected journey has ignited a passion within me to explore this field further and advocate for its integration into rehabilitation programs. I'm excited about the possibilities and the profound impact that vision therapy can have on improving the lives of individuals undergoing physical rehabilitation.

Conclusion
Life has a way of surprising us, leading us down paths we never thought we'd tread. My journey from attending a training event to falling in love with vision therapy has been transformative. Witnessing the transformative benefits vision therapy has provided my patients in their day-to-day activities has renewed sense of purpose. As I continue to learn and advocate for this powerful approach, I'm reminded that sometimes the most unexpected experiences can lead to the most meaningful discoveries.