Vision Impairment: Treating the Special Needs Patient with a Sensory Disability: Patients' Loss of Vision Need Not Impede Their Dental Care (Clinical) (Report‪)‬

There is no doubt that making care available to the patient with disabilities requires extra effort on the part of the entire dental team. Special accommodations that help make your office more accessible, deciding what modifications are needed, and treating the patient, all require a set of special skills. It is important for dental professionals to recognize the mental and physical aspects of having a sensory disability in order to use your resources and imagination to help furnish care. Sensory disabilities alone do not require changes in treatment methods, just modifications in provisions. Title III of the 1992 Americans with Disabilities Act requires medical and dental offices to be made free of barriers to physical access and effective communication. For example, removing barriers for a blind person may involve adding raised letters or Braille to elevator control buttons. Effective communication may include auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters, telecommunications devices for deaf persons (TTY and TDD), readers and Braille and large print materials. (1) As with all disabilities preparation, patience, flexibility and consideration are essential and as valuable as technique in providing care.