Occupational Therapy (OT) Approaches to Vision Changes Following Neurologic Injury
Course Description
Visual changes following stroke and neurologic injury can significantly impact occupational performance and participation in daily activities. OTs are frequently involved in identifying functional visual concerns and integrating vision related interventions into rehabilitation, yet many clinicians report limited formal training and uncertainty regarding assessment, intervention planning, documentation, and treatment progression.
This full day course is designed to address this gap and provide OTs working with adults with neurologic conditions an evidence informed and practical overview of common vision related impairments following neurologic injury, including visual field loss, ocular motor dysfunction, diplopia, visual inattention, and visual perceptual challenges.
Participants will review foundational neuroanatomy and visual system organization before progressing into functional screening, assessment interpretation, intervention planning, and treatment strategies. Emphasis will be placed on clinical reasoning, functional application, home programming, interdisciplinary collaboration, and integration of visual rehabilitation into everyday activities and environments.
As vision rehabilitation continues to evolve in OT practice, clinicians are increasingly being asked to address complex functional vision concerns across rehabilitation settings. This course will explore current evidence, emerging approaches, clinical challenges, and ongoing questions within the field while emphasizing early identification, functional participation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and occupation-based intervention.
Learner Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe common visual impairments following stroke and neurologic injury and their impact on occupational performance.
- Differentiate common visual impairments including visual field loss, ocular motor dysfunction, diplopia, visual neglect, and visual perceptual deficits.
- Select and interpret functional vision screening and assessment approaches relevant to OT practice.
- Apply clinical reasoning to develop occupation-based intervention plans for neurologic vision changes.
- Discuss compensatory, adaptive, and restorative intervention approaches within current evidence and OT scope of practice.
- Develop functional home programs and environmental modifications to support participation and carryover.
Who Should Attend
OTs and OTAs working with adults post stroke and other neurologic conditions across the continuum of care.
Date/Time
Friday, September 25th, 2026 from 9:00-4:00 p.m.
Location
The Village of Taunton Mills
3800 Brock Street N, Whitby, ON L1R 3A5
Food
Coffee/tea and light breakfast items will be available. Registrants are responsible for their own lunch.
Cost
No cost to attend.
Presenters
Nicki Hawko, OTD, OTR/L, CLVT is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator for the University of Vermont Occupational Therapy doctoral program. With over 29 years of experience as an OT and certification in low vision therapy, her clinical work has centered on adult neurological conditions across the continuum of care. She has held leadership roles at the University of Vermont Medical Center and managed their OT student program. Her research interests include low vision, neurological conditions, and functional cognition as they relate to participation in daily activities.
Fiona Gordon, B.Sc. H.Kin., B.Sc. OT Reg.(Ont.) is an OT with over 25 years of experience working in several areas of practice, currently working at Lakeridge Health in the Ambulatory Rehabilitation Centre in the Neuro Rehabilitation Clinic. However, her clinical interest is primarily in neurological rehabilitation across the spectrum of care from acute care to in-patient, and in the past several years in out-patient neurological rehabilitation.
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