29. Visually Impaired

Policy Number: 29

Date Developed: 07/01
Date Revised/Reviewed: 07/01

Doctor of Chiropractic Program:

^[1]Definitions:

Psychomotor, the area of observable performance of skill that requires some degree of neuromuscular coordination.
Psychosensory, pertaining to the perception and interpretation of sensory stimuli.

The Palmer College of Chiropractic Doctor of Chiropractic curriculum is a competency-based curriculum requiring students to demonstrate proficiency in affective, cognitive and psychomotor/psychosensory domains. Each College syllabus specifically identifies the course competencies in these three domains.

Visual acuity is an attribute needed to perform certain psychomotor/psychosensory procedures and interpret the findings. Students with documented visual impairments that are unremitting, who are otherwise qualified, will be required to demonstrate competency in all affective and cognitive domains of the curriculum, but will be waived from demonstrating psychomotor/psychosensory competency in the following areas:

Basic Sciences

Anatomy/Pathology
Looking through or interpreting information through a microscope or other viewing device. 

Physiology/Chemistry
Looking through or interpreting information through a microscope or other viewing device. 

Chiropractic Sciences

Technique –
Drawing lines on x-ray films.
Visually detecting and marking instrumentation breaks on patients.
Performing and/or observing leg checks, including evaluation of cervical syndrome.
Performing and/or observing neurological and/or orthopedic procedures that specifically require sight to diagnose, e.g., Allen’s Test, Adam’s sign.

Radiology –
Visually critiquing x-ray films for radiographic quality.
Viewing x-ray films or other imaging formats and reporting radiographic findings.
Physically positioning x-ray apparatus and/or patients undergoing radiographic procedures.

Diagnosis –
Performing any diagnostic procedure that requires vision to interpret including:
Operating diagnostic equipment during a patient examination.
Performing orthopedic and/or neurologic tests.

Clinic

All of the above psychomotor/psychosensory competencies.
Performing therapeutic modality and rehabilitative procedures that require vision to execute and interpret.

Class attendance will not be waived.

Competency Waiver Procedure

Students with documented visual impairments that are unremitting, who are otherwise qualified, will be exempt from demonstrating certain psychomotor/psychosensory competencies. The Director of the Office of Student Learning and Development (OSLD) will verify all documentation and recommend students who may qualify for such exemptions to the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA will grant final consent to eligible students in writing to the student, the OSLD Director, the Dean of Academic Programs and the Coordinator of Clinical Academic Programs.

When final consent has been granted, the OSLD Director will serve as liaison between visually impaired students and faculty members, assessment staff, etc., to identify such exemptions in individual courses and/or assessment procedures.

^[1] Mosby's Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Dictionary, 4th edition, pp. 1348-49.