Vision Rehabilitation Therapist  What They Do

Provides therapy to patients with visual impairments to improve their functioning in daily life activities. May train patients in activities such as computer use, communication skills, or home management skills.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.


A person in this career:

  • Teaches cane skills including cane use with a guide, diagonal techniques, and two-point touches.
  • Trains clients to use tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and propioceptive information.
  • Assesses clients' functioning in areas such as vision, orientation and mobility skills, social and emotional issues, cognition, physical abilities, and personal goals.
  • Teaches clients to travel independently using a variety of actual or simulated travel situations or exercises.
  • Monitors clients' progress to determine whether changes in rehabilitation plans are needed.
  • Develops rehabilitation or instructional plans collaboratively with clients, based on results of assessments, needs, and goals.
  • Recommends appropriate mobility devices or systems such as human guides, dog guides, long canes, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).
  • Trains clients with visual impairments to use mobility devices or systems such as human guides, dog guides, electronic travel aids (ETAs), and other adaptive mobility devices (AMDs).
  • Provides consultation, support, or education to groups such as parents and teachers.
  • Collaborates with specialists, such as rehabilitation counselors, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, to provide client solutions.

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Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books, papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Certified Low Vision Therapist -- Works closely with eye care professionals to assist persons with vision loss in the proper acquisition and use of low vision aids.
  • Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) -- Responsible for helping clients who are visually impaired, and who may have other disabilities, acclimate to their physical environments.
  • Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) -- Teaches compensatory skills including pre-braille and braille instruction, communication skills, and study skills to people who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Orientation and Mobility Instructor --