Episode 4

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Published on:

2nd Feb 2026

Episode 4: How Do I Find Low Vision Optometrists & Rehabilitation Professionals in My Area?

Living with Vision Loss Podcast

How Do I Find Low Vision Optometrists & Rehabilitation Professionals in My Area?

Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT

Episode Type: Educational / Resource Guide

Duration: ~6 minutes

Episode Summary

In this episode, Dawn provides a step-by-step guide to finding low vision optometrists and rehabilitation professionals in your area. She shares specific websites and directories to locate a low vision optometrist, certified low vision therapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and other vision rehabilitation professionals. Dawn also explains how to access rehabilitation services through the VA for veterans and through state agencies for non-veterans, with real examples from Pennsylvania.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

  1. Two ways to find a low vision optometrist in your area
  2. How to search the ACVREP directory for certified rehabilitation professionals
  3. How veterans can access low vision rehabilitation through the VA
  4. How non-veterans can find their state agency for low vision services
  5. Why getting a low vision exam before rehabilitation services is essential

Who Is This Podcast For?

  1. People living with low vision or vision loss
  2. Family members and caregivers supporting loved ones with visual impairments
  3. Friends who want to understand how to help
  4. Healthcare professionals seeking to better understand low vision
  5. Occupational therapists and rehabilitation specialists

How to Find a Low Vision Optometrist

  1. Vision Council Foundation – Low Vision Prescriber Network

Go to the website and enter your location:

https://thevisioncouncilfoundation.org/finder/low-vision/

  1. American Optometric Association – Find a Doctor of Optometry

Enter your city, state, and zip code. Click "Special Emphasis" and scroll to select "Low Vision & Rehabilitation Vision":

https://www.aoa.org/healthy-eyes/find-a-doctor

How to Find Rehabilitation Professionals in Your State

Search the ACVREP (Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals) directory to find:

  1. Certified Low Vision Therapists (CLVT)
  2. Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialists (COMS)
  3. Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapists (CVRT)
  4. Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialists (CATIS)

Steps: Go to ACVREP.org > Select "Certificant Directory" > Enter the type of rehab professional > Enter your state or province.

https://www.acvrep.org

How to Access Rehabilitation Services – Veterans

Veterans can access low vision rehabilitation through the VA:

  1. BRS (Blind Rehab Service) – Helps veterans regain independence with vision loss
  2. VIST (Vision Impairment Service Team Coordinator) – Locate the VIST coordinator for your state on the VA website

http://www.rehab.va.gov/blindrehab/

How to Access Rehabilitation Services – Non-Veterans

Search for your state (not federal) agency. Use this search format: "state agency for low vision services in [your state]."

Examples:

  1. Pennsylvania: PA Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (BBVS) – Select the BBVS office directory for PA counties and contact numbers
  2. New Jersey: Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CBVI) – Select CBVI Services and Programs

Important Things to Consider

  1. All state agencies' websites and procedures for referral vary
  2. VA services have their own referral processes
  3. Low vision doctors can send your eye exam to the state agency and request rehab services
  4. Receive a low vision exam BEFORE rehabilitation services – Your exam contains pertinent visual information to help your therapists achieve your goals

About Your Host

Dawn Ciccarone, MS, OTR/L, CLVT is a Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT) and licensed Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience helping people with vision loss live independently. She works directly with patients in clinical settings, developing personalized strategies to help them accomplish the activities that matter most to them.

Connect & Subscribe

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to the Living with Vision Loss Podcast on your favorite podcast platform. Reach out to Dawn on LinkedIn with questions.

Resources & Quick Links

  1. Low Vision Prescriber Network: thevisioncouncilfoundation.org/finder/low-vision/
  2. Find a Doctor of Optometry: aoa.org/healthy-eyes/find-a-doctor
  3. ACVREP Certificant Directory: acvrep.org
  4. VA Blind Rehabilitation: rehab.va.gov/blindrehab/
  5. Dawn Ciccarone on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dawn-ciccarone

Keywords: find low vision optometrist, low vision doctor near me, vision rehabilitation professionals, CLVT, COMS, CVRT, CATIS, ACVREP, Vision Council Foundation, American Optometric Association, Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services, VA blind rehabilitation, VIST coordinator, low vision exam, state agency low vision services, low vision resources

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided on the Living with Vision Loss Podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, ophthalmologist, optometrist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment options. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have heard on this podcast.

Living with Vision Loss Podcast © 2025 | Become More Independent in Your Everyday Life

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About the Podcast

Living with Vision Loss
Helping people with low vision live more independently
I'm Dawn Ciccarone, a certified low vision therapist and occupational therapist, and I created Living with Vision Loss to share something that changed my life: hope.
For over 20 years, I've worked with patients who come to me after hearing nothing but "your vision won't get better." They've been struggling—some for 5 years, some for 20—not knowing that low vision therapy exists or that there are tools, apps, and techniques that can help them read again, regain independence, and live fuller lives.
What is low vision? It's vision that can't be corrected by glasses, surgery, or medication due to conditions affecting the retina—macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, and many others. But here's what most people don't know: you can learn to function with the vision you have.
On this channel, I answer the questions my patients ask me every day:

How do I read a book if I'm blind or have low vision?
What devices and apps can help me?
How do I adapt my environment?
What professionals can help me?
How do I maintain independence?

Whether you're a person with vision loss, a family member or caregiver, or a healthcare professional looking to learn more about low vision rehabilitation, this channel is for you. I break down complex topics into practical, actionable information—because no one should struggle in isolation when help is available.
My credentials include certification as a Low Vision Therapist and years of experience as an occupational therapist specializing in vision rehabilitation. I teach at an optometry school, lead technology support groups, and work with patients of all ages—from young people with genetic conditions to older adults with age-related vision loss.
Let's learn how to live with vision loss together.