Professionals That Help
Case Manager/ Social Worker (LMSW, CMSW, MSW, SW)*
A professional who oversees an individual's progress, as in rehabilitation teaching, that includes planning, implementation, and monitoring the service program from assessment through closure.
Low Vision Clinician
An ophthalmologist or optometrist with special knowledge of low vision and optical devices.
Low Vision Therapist (LVT)*
A professional who provides education on vision loss, explanation of eye reports , perform functional vision assessments, provide training to maximize use of vision, and demonstrate and issue low vision devices to meet client needs and goals.
Ophthalmologist
A physician (MD) who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of all impairments and diseases of the eye.
In addition to performing comprehensive eye examinations and measuring refractive errors (i.e., irregularities in the size or shape of the eyeball or surface of the cornea), the ophthalmologist prescribes medications, eyeglasses, and contact lenses; performs surgery; and provides other types of treatment.
Optician
A technician who, upon prescription from an ophthalmologist or optometrist, prepares eyeglasses by grinding lenses, fitting them into frames, and adjusting the frames to the wearer. In some states, opticians also supply contact lenses upon prescription.
Optometrist
A primary health care provider who holds an advanced degree in optometry and who diagnoses, manages, and treats conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system as regulated by state law. The optometrist measures refractive errors, prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses, and may also provide vision training.
Low Vision Optometrist*
The low vision optometrist provides clinical exams, counseling specific to the eye condition, explanation of eye reports, special attention to overall heath of the eye, updated eye-glass prescriptions and medication prescriptions.
Orientation and Mobility Specialist (OMS)*
A professional who trains people with visual impairment to familiarize themselves to new surroundings and travel independently, indoors and outdoors; and instructs clients in the use of specialized travel devices.
Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (VRT)*
A professional whose primary goal is to instruct persons with visual impairments to utilize adaptive skills to help them to cope with the demands of everyday life, primarily in the areas of communication, personal management, home management, leisure time, movement in familiar environments, and low vision; other roles include case management tasks, such as making referrals and advocating for clients' rights, and administrative tasks, such as educating the public about blindness.
Certified (COMS, CVRT, CLVT)
A professional who has been endorsed authoritively as having met specfic requirements of the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP), holding appropriate doumentation, and offically on record as qualified to perform the aforementioned function or practice the specified skill.
Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW)
A licensed professional of social work who possess special knowledge of social resources, human capabilities, an unconscious motivation that plays in determining behavior, and is directed at helping people to achieve more adequate, satisfying, and productive social adjustments. The application of social work principles and methods includes, but is not restricted to: counseling and using applied psychotherapy of a nonmedical nature with individuals, families, or groups; providing information and referral services; providing or arranging for the provision of social services; explaining or interpreting the psychosocial aspects in the situations of individuals, families, or groups; helping communities to organize, to provide, or to improve social or health services.
Certified Master of Social Work (CMSW)
A certified professional of social work who's professional activity includes helping individuals, groups, and families or larger systems such as organizations and communities improve, restore, and or enhance their capacities for personal and social functioning by applying the professional application of social work values, knowledge, principles, and methods.
Master of Social Work (MSW)
A professional who is generally required to provide therapeutic services to individuals, families or groups in a clinical setting.
*Denotes professionals currently on staff at MAB
