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History
- Referred to higher education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Provides for the licensing of vision impairment specialists
In Assembly Committee · Higher Education · Sponsor Donna Lupardo
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, the social services law, the limited liability company law and the partnership law, in relation to the licensing of vision impairment specialists; and providing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose
This bill would ensure the safety of persons who are blind or partially sighted by licensing the trained vision rehabilitation professionals who work with them to restore their independent functioning within the home, the school, the workplace and the wider community.
Summary of provisions
Creates a new article 168 in the Education law.
Read the full memo (792 words)
§ 8900 Introduction.
§ 8901 Sets out definitions used in the article.
§ 8902 Outlines the use of the titles.
§ 8903 Outlines the State Board for vision impairment specialists.
§ 8904 Spells out the requirements for a license with a specialization as an orientation and mobility specialist.
§ 8905 Spells out the requirements for a license with a specialization as a vision rehabilitation therapist.
§ 8906 Establishes limited permits.
§ 8907 Explains the exempt persons.
§ 8908 Outlines special provisions.
§ 8909 Separability provisions.
Also amends the Education, Social Services, Partnership, and Limited Liability Law; provides for an effective date of 18 months after it shall have become a law, with provisions.
Justification
Vision does not have to be devastating. Full independence can be achieved when there is access to highly qualified vision rehabilitation professionals (VRPs). A significant number of the more than one million individuals with vision loss are empowered, self-sufficient and able to navigate through their lives independently due in part to the specialized services they received when they needed them.
However, too many New Yorkers who acquire a visual impairment due to aging or an accident do not receive the training and services that would enable them to make the transition from newly visually impaired or blind to an active and productive life with a disability. This is due in large part because vision rehabilitation professionals are not yet licensed by the state of New York and thus, access to VRPs is severely restricted and doctors do not refer patients to unlicensed professions.
Vision Rehabilitation Professionals were marginalized in the first half of the 20 century due in part because the numbers of people with a visual impairment were small, the workers for the blind were largely blind themselves and there was widespread discrimination of all people with disabilities. Licensure is the final step to correct the wrongs of the past by making every effort to ensure that those who become blind have access to the highest quality of specially trained rehabilitation professional.
To be a Vision Rehabilitation Professional (VRP), professionals who are either blind of sighted themselves complete a degree from an accredited university, undergo a rigorous internship and pass an exam given by an accredited certifying body.
The number of New Yorkers with vision loss has gown due to many factors. The aging of the baby boomers and longer life expectancies lead to age-related vision loss from macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and other eye diseases. Low birth weight babies are surviving but often with vision loss and other disabilities. Sports, workplace incidents, traumatic brain injuries and other accidents cause vision loss in youth and adult populations. The need for vision rehabilitation services has burgeoned proportionately.
With pressure on government and private resources for expensive home health care and other supportive services, money can be saved and quality of life can be improved by granting these highly qualified professionals licensure. VRPs work with persons of all ages with vision loss. The goal is to teach each individual with vision loss to return to being self-reliant in almost every activity of daily life using adaptive techniques and equipment. This could include teaching the consumer to read and write Braille, to use a long cane for independent mobility, to use a talking bill identifier or "talking" speech software to access technology.
By licensing vision rehabilitation professionals, the general public and people of all ages with vision loss will be more likely to learn about the services available; access the training that leads to independence and employment; be referred by the general social service and medical community; receive high quality and comprehensive vision rehabilitation services and encourage a sufficient number of professionals to enter the field of vision rehabilitation. Licensure ensures that professionals who provide these services will possess the highest level of specialized skills, expertise and experience. Through establishing standards of practice that licensure brings, both sighted and blind individuals who become licensed VRPs, can help to empower consumers to live successful and independent lives.
Legislative history
Veto number 295 of 2015.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
18 months with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.