P L Demers-Turco¹, M A Siller², Z Sinkil3, A Turan4, E Iskenderov5, A Ataman6, E Aki4
¹Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Vision Rehabilitation Center, Boston, United States; ²American Foundation for the Blind, National Education Programs, Dallas, Texas, United States; 3United States Embassy, Public Affairs, Ankara, Turkey; 4Numune Hospital, Ophthalmology, Low Vision, Ankara, Turkey; 5Turkish Ministry of Education, Directorate of Special Education, Ankara, Turkey; 6Gazi University, Graduate School of Education Visually Handicapped Program, Ankara, Turkey
A Panel format is used to present the evolvement of a model program to establish low vision services and transition the education of children with low vision from residential blind schools to regular classrooms to improve their quality of life and opportunity in Turkey. Presenters chronologically demonstrate the international and inter-professional cooperation among governmental, medical, and educational experts. Moderators, Dr. Demers-Turco and Ms. Siller, introduce presenters, foster discussion and summarize. Ms. Sinkil presents the history of residential blind schools in Turkey and engagement of the US State Department to involve US professionals to share ideas with doctors and educators. Dr. Turan describes her identification of the low vision population in the blind schools and establishment of a children's low vision service following her low vision fellowship. Dr. Demers-Turco discusses her presentation at Numune Hospital in Ankara on Low Vision, the Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary Vision Rehabilitation Service Model and the five-year plan developed by program participants. Ms. Siller presents her role as a US education consultant for children who are blind and have low vision in sharing instructional methods to improve educational services with educators and families in Turkey. Ms. Iskenderov discusses the support of the Turkish Education Ministry in implementing the plan and assessing progress. Dr. Ataman presents implementation of teacher education elements of the model. Ms. Aki describes development of a masters program in physiotherapy to provide patient training in the use of prescribed devices and techniques in the medical and classroom settings and program assessment.
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