Newsletter 3 - Austin Assessment for Adults
Newsletter from Dr Nicola McDowell, Austin Assessment Founder.
Hello and welcome to our third newsletter.
I recently attended the Perkins CVI conference in Boston, which was focused on Building Meaningful Recognition. It was so great to hear about the latest research and practice in the field, talk to other people with CVI and debate what areas of CVI need further investigation. One area that I feel needs to be focused on a lot more, is CVI in adults and how to help those who acquire CVI as an adult. As with children, it can be challenging to identify and many people struggle for years without any idea many of their difficulties are as a result of their visual issues. I myself have experienced this, after acquiring CVI at the age of 16 from a brain haemorrhage. I had to wait 17 years until I was finally diagnosed with CVI. Receiving the CVI diagnosis changed my life and I want to help ensure others don’t have to wait as long as I did.
I have therefore, started working on developing a normative range database for adults for the Austin Assessment so that we can extend the validation to over 18’s as well as those aged 5-18. While at the conference, 100 adult controls took a few minutes out of their day to complete the Austin Assessment, which is a great start to the adults database. I will continue to build up this database with the aim of having adults thresholds for the Austin Assessment available by the end of the year.
I was also honoured to be awarded a CVI champion award at the conference. Learning about CVI has meant I have been able to own my life, rather than live with an invisible condition controlling my life. I used to call CVI my 'gremlins' who would disrupt what I was doing. I still remember constantly feeling frustrated because I couldn't do something that everyone else found so easy, and so easily becoming overwhelmed with anxiety. I know other children are suffering similarly on an enormous scale, and all my work is my contribution to a growing movement looking to help find, and support them.
Recently, a Certified Low Vision Specialist shared with us how helpful the app has been for them. In a review on our website, they describe how the app not only screens for CVI, but the results, measured against multiple thresholds, helped them to tailor personalised rehabilitation programmes, which in turn empowered the client and enhanced their ability to navigate daily activates with confidence. To read the full review, click here.
What's new
We have listened to feedback and realised there was some confusion over the two different apps available. One is for family use, the other designed to screen larger numbers of children, for example in schools, a clinic or for research. We have changed the names of the apps, which will hopefully make it clearer which app is right for you and your context. We now have the AUSTIN ASSESSMENT FAMILY (for personal use by families and individuals with CVI) and the AUSTIN ASSESSMENT WORK (for those using the app in a work context i.e. teachers, clinicians, researchers).
Please see below for more information on how to get either the family or work app.
We are always listening to see where we can make improvements. If you have any ideas or have had any issues, we want to hear from you. Email us at info@austinassessment.org
Warm regards
Nicola