Best Practices for Visual Processing Deficits in Early Intervention Identified Through Advancement of Clinical Skills and Dissemination of Information

Abstract

Vision plays a critical role in a child’s learning and engagement with their environment, daily activities, and play. Occupational therapists contribute to visual processing in early intervention by addressing sensory processing through education, intervention, and collaboration. Research has shown that children with visual processing difficulties often experience developmental delays that affect their occupational performance. Barriers to identifying these difficulties include a lack of parental education on vision-specific skills and limited occupational therapy training on visual processing conditions, symptoms, treatment options, and referral processes. This capstone project involved collaboration with two sites to connect the expertise of teachers of blind and low-vision students with occupational therapy outreach in Indianapolis. The project aimed to educate caregivers and providers on visual processing in early intervention and foster relationships between organizations for improved collaboration. Results indicate that mentors were satisfied with the implemented handouts and recognized the value of making these resources accessible within the site’s virtual platform.