In this webinar, we will revisit the topic of mental health care for people who are Blind*. Our panel of experts from Prevent Blindness includes: Julie Grutzmacher, MPH, MSW, Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Health Initiatives; Shervonne Poleon, Ph.D, an award-winning researcher studying sociobehavioral factors in the management of eye disease, and Connie Hills, Ph.D, a recognized consultant, speaker and clinical psychologist with lived experience of age-related macular degeneration.
Our speakers will share considerations for the clinician who plans to, is currently seeing, or is unfamiliar with Blind patients for psychotherapy, counseling, or medication management. They will also share research findings on quality of life among Blind people that can help mental health providers conceptualize their treatment approaches with Blind patients. This webinar is intended for a broad audience of mental health providers, trainees and students. Please come with an open mind.
*We use the word “Blind” for the purpose of this webinar to encompass all individuals with low vision, vision loss, or blindness.
Presenter Bios:
Connie Hills, PhD is a Consultant, Speaker and Psychologist with 30 years of experience providing clinical services, teaching, and research in the field of Mental Health. Utilizing a mind/body framework is a central theme in her work. Connie holds a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed psychologist in the state of California. She has been living with Age-Related Macular Degeneration for 10 years. Connie is a Mental Health Intern with Prevent Blindness where she works to help to build bridges between the Mental Health and Blind communities.
Shervonne Poleon, PhD is a St. Lucian national who holds a doctoral degree in Vision Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Shervonne’s research focuses on the impact of social and behavioral factors on disease management in glaucoma and other chronic diseases. She has a strong passion for patient advocacy and was the recipient of the 2021 Prevent Blindness Rising Visionary Award. In 2023, Shervonne was also recognized by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and received the ARVO Emerging Advocate Award. She is determined to improve overall eye health by directly addressing the social, behavioral, and psychological barriers that limit access, delivery, and uptake of eye care resources. In addition to her research, Shervonne serves as a mental health intern with Prevent Blindness, where she explores the impact of visual impairment and blindness on mental health and psychological wellness.
Julie Grutzmacher, MSW, MPH is Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Health Initiatives at Prevent Blindness. She holds a dual master’s degree in social work and public health and has more than twenty years of experience advocating for equitable access to and delivery of healthcare services. Julie’s work has led her to academic medical facilities, federally qualified health centers, academia, and non-profit organizations, servicing communities impacted by HIV/AIDS, premature and low birth weight babies, and high-risk pregnancies. She has experience building, implementing, and evaluating educational training programs from scratch, first in academia with medical residents and then at Prevent Blindness with the ASPECT program designed to strengthen patient empowerment efforts for the visually impaired and blind and their allies. Julie is passionate about her work to reduce barriers to eyecare and to optimize health, including mental health outcomes, among persons with low and no vision.
