Individuals with visual impairments may be experiencing tremendous amounts of anxiety and fear during the Coronavirus. They likely already experienced some level of isolation, especially if an older person with a significant visual impairment. Now, they are forced to isolate themselves. They may have lost the support system they had in place, such as family or friends who were available to assist with grocery and medicine pick-up. In some areas, basic services such as medicine and Meals on Wheels deliveries may be interrupted or canceled. Your contact does and will continue to be so important to help them get through this challenging time. It is so important that we, as professionals working with people with visual impairments, contact those we know are the most vulnerable and who have limited or no support system. Providing good information and referral is the best thing we can do. As a social worker, we are all almost asked to become social workers for our consumers. Find out what resources are still available in your communities for people who are older and those with disabilities. Get the important contact persons and phone numbers. If possible, mail a shortlist in large print, Braille, or email to your consumer. 211 is a great resource in many areas. The United Way is another great resource. And, of course, the Area Agency on Aging is likely mobilizing many efforts to meet needs in each community. Holding support groups via phone might really help reduce feelings of isolation and fear among your consumers. If you can’t do a group or arrange a peer-led group, then connect them to one of the existing telephone or online groups out there. The OIB TAC has a list of these resources. There are also many free conference lines and, of course, video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Skype, or even try a Facebook group. These are tough times, and our consumers need us more than ever, just maybe for slightly different priorities.

Yes, there are a number of resources we can share with clients. We just updated a handout on telephone support and activity groups. Check it out under the resource tab of our website www.oib-tac.org.

Look through the goals for open clients and consider if any of the topics might be taught by phone. Keep phone calls short, not more than 30 minutes, as it can be tiring to receive training in this format. Call back frequently, as much as once a day, review what was taught the day before, and give some new information. Document the progress to make sure this format is effective and to show that services are being provided.

Have you tried 211? Here in NC they are fielding calls for resources and information.

I have ordered a replacement cord and had it shipped directly to consumer...Eschenbach is open and taking orders. i've also used a local vendor to ship an Orcam and I'm going to provide training over the phone.

thank you!!! very helpful and useful information, much appreciated

Very helpful information. Thank you.

We did a conference call with our field staff on Monday. The question came up about delivering and training. We decided if it was something small like a magnifier or talking watch they could mail it and do a follow up call. For the larger items we decide to wait because we did not want to risk dropping it off without training or risking their health. I would suggest to minimize risk to your clients and staff unless the Independent Living aid (ILA's) is an essential need to hold off.

I am a CVRT who has just begun to provide telephone/facetime instruction. Today's lesson was using a voice recorder. I charged and labeled device and left it in plastic bag outside clients home at appointment time. I also included large print (and digital instructions). Since I was there I sat in my car in front of her house and provided instruction over the phone. It was a bit tedious, but I think it is the best way to do instruction now.

Some tips I would recommend for organizing your day would be the following: Set up a schedule at the start of the week with individuals you plan to contact or groups you plan to host on a call/virtual conference. Each morning review your calendar. Develop very specific curriculum and write out lesson plans for how you will teach by phone or conference. Be sure to check out the www.OIB-tTAC.org direct services tab and the lessons for living. These are a great resource for exactly how to describe specific training areas. Don’t forget to document!

In addition to following up via phone to provide training on any equipment; my staff are considering FaceTiming with family members to demonstrate how to use equipment, YouTube as a back-up option/resource, etc. I think the key to retention is having the individual teach it back to you after instruction has been done multiple times, especially with phone training since it can't be done in person.

You can mail equipment to consumers using free matter. I think that might be the most efficient way to deliver equipment.

Here are some suggestions that i gave people I work with: Working from home: Maintain your regular work schedule: it’s easy to lose the work and life balance that exists generally while you work in an office. Try to follow your normal work schedule and take regular breaks including your lunch hour. Create a designated work space in your home: try to eliminate distractions, create an environment that helps you to remain focused on activities. Set Clear Expectations with your supervisor: Talk about what you can realistically complete or not complete while working from home. Keep your supervisor updated on what you’ve been able to do each week. Communicate often with your coworkers: Continue to hold meetings, and chats with coworkers. Call them and provide support. Reevaluate if your struggling: It may take awhile to find a routine that works for you when working from home. If you are struggling talk to your supervisor and identify solutions that will work.

Using a calendar, write in appointments, similarly to how you would do when scheduling appointments with consumers. Block time for calling consumers, doing documentation, ordering items, researching resources for specific situations, checking and responding to email, following up with new referrals, etc. It may be helpful to turn off your email so that you aren't distracted by new messages popping into your inbox. Once you start a task, stick with it for the pre determined time block. Sometimes you need to be flexible, but scheduling time on the calendar will help you to organize your time and be efficient with the tasks on your to-do list.

I've shared with my team what their "regular" duties are. These included:1. 1. Cancel appointments – 2. Catch up on reports 3. Call all open clients – a. We will be sending a letter to all clients restating what we are doing as an agency. c. Please stay in touch with all your open clients every 7 -10 days. Document calls. Consider discussing: How are you doing? Is there anything I can do for you over the phone, I’m still working and you can call me, review 211 program (you can study up by going to this website - https://www.unitedway.org/our-impact/featured-programs/2-1-1), conduct appropriate remote lessons - special team assigned to gather, assess and organize remote lesson resources 4. Contact new referrals as they are coming in – special team assigned to process map this 5. Do HR mandatory lessons (state requirements) 6. Keep your calendar up to date. Remember that calling clients is in all likelihood direct service. Please keep track on our calendar how much time you spent doing that. 7. Information is changing quickly – stay on top of your emails and phones calls.

Hi Marc!!! Regarding O&M clients, I am still continuing to see clients that have some skill and are able to respond to verbal instruction with regard to correcting their technique. These clients meet me outside their home and we walk in their area; while staying 6 feet apart!

Marc, You can look at the topics that CAN be addressed over the phone such as Creating a Transportation Plan or Sharing Resources. You can share info on attending a Hadley Discussion group and attend it with them. Follow up after the group with identifying how it applies to them. Check for existing online offering (maybe thru Hadley or VisionAware or OIB-TAC) and work thru it with them. There are many concepts that can be taught without being in person. Also remember that you can use skype, google chat, facetime, etc to create that face-to-face feeling.