Master in Vision Sciences - Visual Impairment and Rehabilitation (English)

Program structure

Examination of psychosocial factors associated with the loss of vision and visual impairment; needs specifically related to social integration; providing assistance.

Examination of the anatomical structures of the visual system and their normal physiological functions as well as impairment-causing pathologies. The most prevalent visual disorders in terms of their locus, effects, and treatments.

Presentation of the history, evolution, and current role of various disciplines involved in vision rehabilitation. Survey of current service provision networks.

Physical and psychological conditions that may occur together with visual impairment and have an impact on the educational and rehabilitation services provided to children and adults.  The course explores functional implications of additional disabilities, medical conditions, and health issues.

Analysis of the elements to be considered before any intervention with various clients from the perspective of their physical, motor, cognitive, professional, social and emotional development.

Fundamentals in the acquisition of movement skills. An introduction to the principles of concept development, spatial orientation, and environmental analysis related to independent travel by individuals who are visually impaired.

Functional assessment and analysis of travel needs, developing individual rehabilitation programs and intervention strategies that are pertinent to the client population at large.

Observational internship examining individual interventions designed for children, working-age adults and the elderly who are visually impaired.

Application of knowledge and skills in a rehabilitation environment. Students will demonstrate their competency through pedagogical activities and through their intervention strategies and the provision of services.

The functional impact of low vision on mobility. Principles of optics and magnification. Environmental factors. Skills, strategies and training in the use of optical assistive devices.

Examination and practice of methods available to assess the visual status of a visually impaired person in a multi-sensory context.

This course will allow students to experience traveling in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings under blindfold and a variety of simulated vision losses.  The course will also address instructional strategies.

Observational internship in the evaluation and intervention in visual impairment. The internships will be carried out at rehabilitation centers in Quebec or in branches of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind in Ottawa and Cornwall.

Through established links with the rehabilitative environment, students are introduced to all of the professional issues associated with service provision in visual impairment. They begin to develop their identity and professional autonomy.

Examination and practice of methods available to assess a visually impaired person at the outset of the rehabilitative process, including disciplinary evaluation as well as specific measures of visual function and functional vision.

Competence in the reading, writing, and teaching of uncontracted and contracted braille. Students learn how to read braille both visually and tactually. Practical applications in daily life.

Students learn how to evaluate the best reading and writing modality (visual, auditory or tactile) and to teach the use of visual, tactile, and auditory devices.

Study of environmental adaptation methods and strategies in the use of equipment, software, and resources for computer accessibility by blind and visually impaired individuals. Course includes theoretical presentations and laboratory work.

This course addresses the theoretical and practical concepts involved in all activities of daily life and the assistive devices and strategies involved to improve functional vision.

This course addresses the theoretical and practical concepts involved in all activities of daily life and the assistive devices and strategies involved to improve functional vision.

This course examines the battery of methods available to assess the function of the visual systems of people affected by a visual impairment. 

Exploring methods and strategies for enhancing visual performance without optical or hi-tech assistive devices. Lectures will introduce and explain rehabilitative interventions such as eccentric viewing training.

This course presents visual strategies enhancing functional vision of children, adults and elderly with the use of optical devices, magnification, and/or enhancement systems.

This course explores the visual strategies enhancing functional vision of children, adults and elderly with the use of visual electronic assistive devices and computers.

Observational internship in evaluation and intervention in low vision. Internships will be carried out in rehabilitation centers in Quebec, in private clinics, or in hospital settings.

Internship offers the student an environment in which to consolidate his/her acquired knowledge in the area of low vision, integrated into the more general rehabilitation in visual impairment.

Oral presentation of students’ research projects accompanied by a written document.

Biomedical developments and research ethics; major regulatory texts; the analysis of ethical issues; ethical assessment of a research protocol.

Biomedical developments and research ethics; major regulatory texts; ethics reports and techno-science; ethical assessment of a project; scientific integrity of the researcher.

Graduate research project of an experimental or clinical nature leading to the submission of a scientific report.