Visual Impairment Program
- Children and Youth

Clientele:

Children and adolescents between 0 and 17 years of age (or 18 to 21 years of age if still attending high school) with a vision loss.

Services offered:

• Assessment of functional vision, visual skills training and ocular health assessment as determined by a specialized optometric evaluation and equipment related to child developmental level
• Psychosocial support and counseling for the child and his/her family
• Assessment and training for autonomy in activities of daily living
• Assessment and training in orientation and mobility
• Assessment and training in communication skills
• Assessment and training in the use of technical aids and adapted computer aids
• Consultation and support for integration into daycare, school, and leisure activities

A multidisciplinary team of professionals work in collaboration with the client/parents/family from the following disciplines:

• Occupational Therapy
• Optometry
• Orientation and Mobility
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Special Care Counseling
• Vision Rehabilitation

Types of interventions:

• Individual interventions
• Individual and family counsellin
• Group interventions

Services are offered:

• At the MAB site
• In the Child’s environment (home, daycare, school)

Other services and partnerships:

• Braille book lending library
• Services for Assistive Technology: Vision Impairment
• Technical Aids Boutique
• Philip E Layton School, a specialized English Montreal School Board school housed at the MAB site
• Employment Service
• Camp Massawippi Summer camp, a fully adapted residential summer camp located in the Eastern Townships
• Camp Massawippi Day camp, a fully adapted day camp, located at the MAB site
• Viomax, a partner offering adapted sports and day camp activities at the Mackay site
• Partnerships and referrals to Community Resources

To access services:

• To be eligible for services, a person must have a specific diagnosis related to vision impairment and report persistent and significant difficulties in executing life habits, as a result of the vision impairment.
• Eligibility for the RAMQ funding program for aids and devices requires that a client have a visual acuity in the better eye after correction of <20/70 or <6/21, or whose visual field in each eye is less than 60° in the 180° and 90° meridians after correction with the appropriate ophthalmic lenses.
• The referral source must include a copy of a recent eye report (<1 year) as well as any other pertinent medical and professional report (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Optometry, etc.)along with the Request for Services Form (DSIE) for professionals working within the Health and Social Services Network.
• All documents must be sent to Admissions.

For more information:

Patty Ferraresi, Program Manager
– pferraresi@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Telephone: 514-488-5552, ext. 2600
E-mail: info@mabmackay.ca