MISSION:
The mission of the Neurorehabilitation Educators Special Interest Group is to serve the public and profession of Optometry through the continued advancement and promotion of Optometric education in the subspecialty of Neuro-rehabilitative Optometry. In support of this mission, the Neurorehabilitation Educators Special Interest Group is committed to fulfilling the educational leadership role for this subspecialty by:
• Providing leadership in neurorehab education policy and research;
• Promoting ethnic and cultural diversity among providers of Neurorehabilitative Optometry
• Supporting the international development of educational programs in Optometric neurorehabilitation.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES:
Objective: Provide a vehicle for neurorehab faculty interchange and the sharing of ideas, resources and experiences.
• Provide a forum for educators
• Annual national meeting
• Development of an educator Listserv
Objective : Develop an educational system in evidence-based neurorehabilitative optometry to match current and future needs.
Steps to Achieve Proposed Objective:
• Development of entry level and advanced level competencies
• Development of residencies
• Promotion of residencies
• Support job placement efforts for neurorehab trained residents
• Incorporate Board Certification into the educational system
• Provide ongoing research on the current and projected future needs for residency trained neurorehabilitative optometrists in Veteran’s Administration and private sector
• Support and promote training programs in clinical research
Objective: NEUROREHAB FACULTY PROMOTION & DEVELOPMENT
• Foster collaboration among schools to utilize technology to develop virtual classrooms and related innovated teaching methods
Objective: GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
• The Neurorehab Educators SIG will work closely with and provide support to the Washington Office of the American Optometric Association Vision Rehabilitation Section to represent the interests of neuro-rehabilitative optometry education to Congress, appropriate government agencies, and other health professions and educational organizations.
Objective: FINANCIAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
• The Neuro-rehab educators SIG will identify and work with potential corporate contributors, industry, foundations, and other potential sources of funding unique to the subspecialty in order to support ASCO’s funding objectives.