ORVIS – A directory of tools for vision rehabilitation
Funded between 2012-2013 (Olga Overburry) and since 2013 (Walter Wittich)
Goal
The ORVIS infrastructure aims to facilitate the development and access to assessment tools whose validity and reliability have been evaluated or where a French version is in the process of being evaluated. These tools are available in French or in French and English, and are intended for researchers or clinicians with the purpose of functional, perceptual, cognitive and psychological assessment of persons with visual impairment.
Description
ORVIS (Outils pour la Réadaptation de la VISion) lists existing tools and develops or adapts new ones, before promoting them via an electronic platform. Its organization is inspired by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). This directory currently lists 21 tools. It provides either a summarized description of the characteristics, components and metric properties collected from scientific publications, or a succinct description of the tool with a reference to a complete fact sheet available in a reliable external source. The ORVIS data sheets, available on line, are fully accessible to people with visual impairments. The directory is guided by an advisory committee that oversees the guidelines, the tools’ selection criteria, the form and content of the sheets as well as the communication plan.
Impact
Being specific to the visually impaired clientele, the ORVIS directory increases the accessibility of information on valid and reliable assessment instruments for researchers and clinicians in the field of low vision and visual rehabilitation. It thus promotes the improvement of patients’ care management in these fields, as well as autonomy and social integration. The data compiled by Google Analytics from the online publication of the directory, from November 1st 2015 to January 28th 2019, reveal a total of 3,425 unique visitors, 5,532 page views and 4,165 consultations of ORVIS. While giving access to the data sheets, the home page presents the mandate and the organization of the directory as well as a glossary concerning the metric properties.
Accessibility
ORVIS is available at www.orvis.vision. Its data sheets comply with the Quebec Government standard about accessibility for anyone with or without a disability.
Administrator
Walter Wittich, Ph. D., FAAO, CLVT, École d’optométrie, Université de Montréal – Chercheur du CRIR – Responsable de sites CRIR : INLB et MAB-Mackay
Contact information
Walter Wittich – walter.wittich@umontreal.ca
Catherine Houtekier – catherine.houtekier.inlb@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Funding
Réseau de recherche en santé de la vision and Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille du CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre.
