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“Focus” on Vision Impairment & Blindness Conference:
Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Vision Loss 
Tuesday, October 7, 2025

 

Vision Beyond 20/20: Exploring Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)
Presenter:  Jem Martin, OD, FAAO
Assistant Professor of Optometry, New England College of Optometry
Attending Optometrist, NECO Center for Eye Care Perkins School for the Blind
​NECO Center for Eye Care Commonwealth

• This lecture will review Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) with an overview of epidemiology, risk factors and associated conditions, and then review signs and symptoms potentially related to CVI in a case-based approach.  

 

Adults Living with Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and the Impact on Daily Life
Presenters: 
Ali Mahady
Manager of Outreach and Engagement, CVI Center at Perkins School for the Blind
 
Tina Zhu Xi Caruso
CVI Advocate, Adult with CVI, Photographer  

• CVI is a common cause of blindness and low vision, yet it is poorly understood and largely underdiagnosed. It often co-occurs with other medical diagnoses, including Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, developmental delay, autism, and genetic anomalies. Learn when to suspect CVI, some general support and adaptations, and hear directly from an adult with CVI, Tina, who will share her personal CVI story.

 

Community Connections in Physical Education
Presenters:        
Megan O’Connell-Copp
Adapted Physical Education Teacher
 
Kelsey Linsenbigler
Adapted Physical Education Teacher     
Perkins School for the Blind

• At Perkins, we prioritize building strong partnerships with the community to provide enriching, inclusive experiences for all our students. Community fitness and recreation classes help to build a student's toolbox to promote independence and awareness of community-based education experiences. This class was designed to bridge students' physical education with real-world recreational and fitness opportunities, giving them hands-on experience in community settings like local community centers, parks, fitness centers, and accessible sports programs. Throughout this presentation, we will also discuss how some of the following promote independence, bridge between school and the community, and can meet the needs of each individual student: customized equipment, specialized instruction, environmental modifications.

 

Accessible Games and Art for Adults who are Blind or DeafBlind
Presenter:          
Megan LaFlam, MSW
DeafBlind Employment Specialist.
Helen Keller National Center

• Accessible leisure activities do not have to be complex or expensive. They also can be age appropriate, fun, interesting and creative. Leisure activities can include painting, mazes, card games, board games, and so much more! Want to learn more about accessible art and games? Join Megan at her presentation on Accessible Games and Art for Adults who are Blind or Deafblind to learn how to make leisure activities accessible for all consumers!

 

Find Your Own Beat
Presenters: 
Lisa El-Lakis, MT-BC/Music Therapist I  
​
Amanda Allen, OTA/L
DDS/Hogan Regional Center

• Through the use of the Drums Alive program and drumming activities, individuals are encouraged to engage in self-expression, movement/exercise, group participation, peer/self-awareness and build a sense of community with the shared experience of drumming.

 

​Common Retinal Disorders in Aging Adults   
Presenter:          
Xuejing Chen, MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Boston University

• This session will provide an accessible overview of the most common retinal diseases affecting aging adults, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal vein occlusions. We will discuss how these conditions impact vision, how they may present in individuals with intellectual or communication challenges, and what caregivers and clinicians can do to support early recognition, treatment access, and quality of life.

 

What the Caregiver Needs to Know About the Patient’s Adaptive Eye Exam
Presenter:          
​Dorothy Tolls, OD
Center for Adaptive Eye Care, Southeastern MA
MCPHS Eye & Vision Center, Worcester MA
Holyoke Health Vision Center, Holyoke MA

• Caregivers play an important role in eye care for patients with developmental disabilities.  Understanding of patients’ visual needs and exam outcomes is vital for ensuring effective care.  This lecture will discuss the caregiver’s role in the adaptive eye exam and the impact of exam findings on caregiving.

 

Keynote:  Melissa Pepin, MS, ATP
 “Assistive Technology for Vision Loss”

• The goal of assistive technology is to assist people to be as independent as possible at home, in the community and/or at work.  There is a range of assistive technology devices from no/low tech to high tech. It is important to understand the levels to be more successful when choosing assistive technology.  This presentation will discuss levels of assistive technology, show examples of technology at each level and discuss resources available for various technology and services.

 

DIY – Using Everyday Items to Make Assistive Technology
Presenter: 
Melissa Pepin, MS, ATP, RESNA certified ATP
Director of AT and Therapy Services, LifeStream, Inc

• Assistive Technology can be expensive.  Sometimes, we have things in our environment that can be used or modified to meet the Assistive Technology needs of people with vision loss and intellectual disabilities. Sometimes we can use items purchased at a Dollar Tree.   Using Teresa Willkomm’s “Make Stuff and Love People”, participants will make a portable scan and read station.