CIAO Seminars - Neuro-Vision Remedial Rehabilitation for All Ages

COURSE MENU

Course Description

Neuro-vision rehabilitation is a rapidly evolving specialty within occupational therapy and allied health professionals, offering advanced strategies to address visual system dysfunction. This intermediate course provides an in-depth exploration of visual processing, from foundational neurological pathways to the integration of spatial processing and remediation of visual efficiency skills. Participants will gain a clear understanding of why and how to assess and treat visual deficits that contribute to symptoms such as double vision, blurred vision, dizziness, and impaired balance. Designed for clinicians working with both pediatric and adult populations, the course emphasizes the practical application of neuro-vision rehabilitation across various diagnoses and age groups. Participants will learn to integrate the visual system with vestibular and somatosensory input using evidence-based treatment techniques to improve functional outcomes. By the end of the course, attendees will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to effectively identify, target, and treat visual system deficits, ultimately enhancing client participation in daily life activities.

COURSE LEVEL: Intermediate

ATTENDANCE:

Attend as part of the LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE in Gulf Breeze, Florida - Studio audience seats are limited - so register today!
Attend via LIVE STREAM from anywhere around the world. Live stream participants will login to access the event from their computer.

NOTE:

This live event is streamed in real time.
Course agenda is in Central time, please adjust for your time zone
Registrants who attend the live broadcast will be able to interact with instructor.
All registrants will have access to the broadcast recording for 14 days.
A group may view the course together, however each attendee must be individually registered in order to receive CE credit.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:

Attend/view entire course
Pass multiple choice quiz (80% min score)
Complete online course evaluation

CEUs:

OTs - Participants who need live hours for state license renewal must attend in real time yet, will still have access to the recording for 14 days.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Describe at least one theoretical model that supports the use of neuro-vision rehabilitation in occupational therapy practice.
Explain the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between occupational therapists (OTs) and optometrists (ODs) in vision rehabilitation.
Differentiate between accommodation, vergence, and ocular motor functions.
Describe the role of the dorsal stream in the development of visual efficiency skills and explain how to effectively engage it in therapeutic interventions.
Recognize visual system red flags associated with specific neurological and developmental conditions.
Identify standardized and non-standardized assessments for evaluation accommodation, vergence, saccades, and pursuits.
Formulate measurable, functional goals for pediatric and adult clients with various diagnoses.
Outline the progression and clinical grading of interventions targeting visual efficiency skills.
Design integrated treatment activities that engage the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems.

Amber Fessler

OTD, MS, OTR/L

Amber Fessler, OTD, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist of eighteen years residing in Rapid City, SD. She
graduated from the University of Mary with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2004 and completed her
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy with a specialty certification in Remedial Vision Rehabilitation from Salus University in
2020. Amber has a diverse clinical background in pediatrics having worked in early intervention, public school, outpatient,
and vision therapy clinic settings. Currently, she is the owner and occupational therapy practitioner of a private practice
focusing on pediatrics with learning-related vision deficits in close collaboration with optometry doctors. She is a
contributing author for book chapters in the upcoming 4th Edition of Understanding and Managing Vision Deficits: A Guide
for Occupational Therapists and published research on occupational therapy and optometry collaboration in the care of
pediatric patients in the Vision Development and Rehabilitation journal.

Suzanne Briggs

OTD, OTR/L

Suzanne Briggs, OTD, OTR/L, earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Salus University in 2023, along with a certification in remedial vision rehabilitation. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Alumni Association Award for Top Graduate. Suzanne is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and has an interest in research related to remedial vision and acquired brain injury. She also holds a Level 2 fellowship with the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), which promotes collaboration among multiple disciplines to achieve successful outcomes for patients with neurological diagnoses.

Suzanne developed a passion for vision rehabilitation while working with patients who have acquired brain injuries and vision limitations. This passion motivated her to further her education in remedial vision. She has developed the remedial vision program at her clinic and offers treatment in collaboration with neuro-optometrists. Her patients also benefit from her extensive knowledge of mCIT, stroke recovery, and concussion management. Suzanne has been a guest lecturer at local brain injury support groups and universities. She recently presented a course on remedial vision at the Occupational Therapy of Colorado Association annual conference in 2024, as well as at VISCON 2024 and 2025: Vision Rehab Summit. She completed research on occupational therapy-led remedial vision, which was published in the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy in October 2024. She also presented a poster about the study at several conferences, including the NORA Annual Conference in 2023, the AOTA Rehabilitation Conference in 2024, and the AOTA Inspire Annual Conference in 2024. Additionally, she presented her research at the 36th Annual Rocky Mountain Interprofessional Evidence-Based Practice Symposium in 2024.

Suzanne is the clinic director at Colorado Springs Neurological Associates (CSNA) Therapy Center, where she provides evidence-based treatments for vision deficits. She aims to further the role of occupational therapy in remedial vision through research, education, and patient care.

Live Stream is 30 minute lunch

Day 1

08:00 - 08:30

Speaker Introduction/Course Objectives - Occupational Therapy’s Scope and Role in Vision Rehab, OTPF-4, State Practice Acts

08:30 - 09:15

Models and Theory - Three-Component Model of Vision, Skeffington’s Four Circle, Bi-modal Model of Vision

09:15 - 10:00

Vision System - Dorsal Stream

10:00 - 10:15

Break

10:15 - 11:00

Vision System - Central-peripheral visual field, Near Triad

11:00 - 11:30

Fixation

11:30 - 12:00

Saccades - Definition, Pathway

12:00 - 12:30

Lunch

12:30 - 01:30

Saccades - Evaluation, Treatment

01:30 - 02:45

Pursuits - Definition, Pathway, Evaluation, Treatment

02:45 - 03:00

Break

03:00 - 03:30

OT/PT and OD Collaboration -Facilitators and Barriers, How to build a relationship with ODs

03:30 - 04:15

Strabismic Disorders - Definitions, OD progression of therapy, OT/PT role

04:15 - 04:30

Questions and Ending day 1

Day 2

08:00 - 10:00

Accommodation - Definition, Diagnoses, Evaluation, Treatment, Questions

10:00 - 10:15

Break

10:15 - 12:00

Vergence - Definition, Diagnoses, Evaluation

12:00 - 12:30

Lunch

12:30 - 01:30

Vergence - Treatment, Questions

01:30 - 02:15

Layering-Treatment, Questions/Wrap up

Delivery VIA:

Live By Request - This course is available to come to you! Contact us to see how easy that can be. mail@ciaoseminars.com
Live Stream - This course is live streamed from the CIAO Studios. Watch and interact with the instructor from wherever you are or join us as part of the studio audience in sunny Gulf Breeze, FL. Included with each Live Stream registration is access to the course recording for the 14 days immediately following the broadcast.

Contact hours pre-approved for:

13 Hours
CIAO is an AOTA Approved Provider #4119 (1.3 AOTA CEUs)
CIAO is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. AOTA Course approval ID#16135
This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (13 PDUs)
CIAO is an Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy
Approved for:
15.5 Hrs. OT/COTAs in FL (CE Broker #20-1374477)
13 Hrs. Registered with CEBroker for OT/COTAs in AL, AZ, GA, LA, MS, SC, TN

Course meets requirements for:

OT/COTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, LA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT,

OT/COTAs in NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.

The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.

CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)

Reviews

Thank you Suzanne and Amber! You guys rock. Really help me to build a systematically understanding of remedial therapy.