Moving into our second year of Low Vision Clinics...

The New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is excited about its second year of providing Low Vision Clinics in the state of New Mexico. The first clinic was held in Las Cruces on November 9^th and 10^th, 2007. Ten children and their families hailing from Las Cruces, Gadsden Independent Public Schools, Roswell, and Silver City  participated. The response to this first clinic was so enthusiastic that a second Low Vision Clinic has already been scheduled in Las Cruces for January 25^th and 26^th, 2008. The third, and final, Low Vision Clinic of the year will be held in Santa Fe on March 7^th and 8^th to serve students and families from the northern part of the state.

Students with low vision have usable vision which can be improved with adaptive equipment such as handheld and monocular telescopes, computer software, closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs) and magnification devices. At a low vision clinic, students, families, doctors, and teaching teams work together to create a synthesis between the educational goals and the visual diagnoses. This synthesis helps student’s with visual impairments to access the information and technology in the world that surrounds them.  

The Low Vision Clinic examinations were performed by Dr. Kendra Powell from Artesia and Dr. Kara Hanson from Denver, Colorado. Linda Belyeu-Conklin and Kenneth Conklin, low vision device representatives, supplied and trained students on the use of CCTVs, electronic magnifiers and other low vision equipment. Tracy Mosbarger showed students how to use devices to more readily access materials requiring near vision. Linda Jordan, who was instrumental in introducing the pilot Low Vision Clinics last year, was able to join us from afar and lend her considerable expertise to the first successful clinic of the year.

A strong foundation for future Low Vision Clinics in the State of New Mexico continues to be built. A lending library has been created to provide student’s with an opportunity to check out and practice with the low vision devices deemed to be helpful. Training in the use of the low devices is being given to students, families, and teachers. This provides the student with extra support in developing skills to properly use any devices. Ideas to improve the quality of the services the clinic offers are continually being discussed. This ensures that New Mexico student’s with low vision can truly access learning.