Provides for the licensing of vision impairment specialists

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic28
• Republican10

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Roxanne J. Persaud says this is needed

Vision loss does not have to be devastating. Full independence can be achieved when there is access to highly qualified vision rehabilitation professionals (VRPs). A significant number of the more than one million individuals with vision loss are empowered, self-sufficient and able to navigate through their lives independently due in part to the special- ized services they received when they needed them. However, too many New Yorkers who acquire a visual impairment due to aging or an accident do not receive the training and services that would enable them to make the transition from newly visually impaired or blind to an active and productive life with a disability. This is due in large part because vision rehabilitation professionals are not yet licensed by the State of New York and thus, access to VRPs is severely restricted; moreover, doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions. Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half of the 20th century because the numbers of people with a visual impair- ment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind them- selves, and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disa- bilities. Licensure is the final step to correct the wrongs of the past by making every effort to ensure that those who become blind have access to the highest quality of specially trained rehabilitation profes- sionals. To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), individuals who are either blind or sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by an accredited certifying body. The number of New Yorker with vision loss has grown due to many factors. The aging of the baby boomer generation and longer life expectancies have lead to age-related vision loss from macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. Low birth weight babies are surviving but often with vision loss and other disabilities. Sports, workplace incidents, traumatic brain injuries, and other accidents cause vision loss in youth and adult populations. The need for vision rehabil- itation services has burgeoned proportionately. With pressure on government and private resources for expensive home health care and other supportive services, money can be saved and quali- ty of life can be improved by granting these highly qualified profes- sionals licensure. VRPs work with persons of all ages with vision loss. The goal is to teach each individual with vision loss to return to being self-reliant in almost every activity of daily life using adaptive tech- niques and equipment. This could include teaching the consumer to read and write Braille, to use a long cane for independent mobility, to use a talking bill identifier or "talking" speech software to access technolo- gy. By licensing vision rehabilitation professionals, the general public and people of all ages with vision loss will be more likely to learn about the services available; access the training that leads to independence and employment; be referred by the general social service and medical community; receive high quality and comprehensive vision rehabilitation services, and encourage a sufficient number of professionals to enter the field of vision rehabilitation. Licensure ensures that professionals who provide these services will possess the highest level of specialized skills, expertise and experi- ence. Through establishing standards of practice that licensure brings, both sighted and blind individuals who become licensed VRPs can help to empower consumers to live successful and independent lives.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.