Learning how to conduct professional and effective assessments is a critical skillset for all professionals in the field of vision rehabilitation. Intake & Assessment: Setting the Stage for Success will review effective communication strategies for building rapport and gathering information needed to begin case planning and services. Taught by Nancy Parkin-Bashizi, M.A., COMS, CVRT, this course will provide information to support both initial agency intakes and in-home or agency-based general assessments. 

Students who take this course will learn how to: 

• Describe the differences in purpose and scope between an intake interview, an initial assessment, and discipline-specific assessments.  
• Explain effective interviewing techniques that encourage the client to fully describe their situation, giving the interviewer the information needed to make appropriate referrals for discipline-specific assessments and provide information & referral services.  
• Identify essential health and safety red flags crucial for client well-being and prioritization of client services. 

This course is available for CRC, ACVREP, and NBPCB credit. 

Additional courses are provided through the OIB-TAC and the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. See our family of websites for more information about blindness and low vision: 

• blind.msstate.edu 
• ntac.blind.msstate.edu 
• oib-tac.org 

To find a listing of services for individuals who are blind or have vision impairment, visit timetobebold.org.