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Course Description

Welcome to VISCON 2026!

Where Vision, Brain, and Body Come Together

The neuro-vision conference designed to connect the dots between accommodation, autonomic function, visual processing, and interdisciplinary care. Over three powerful days, you’ll uncover how the brain, eyes, and body work together — and what happens when those systems break down. VISCON 2026 will be led by industry leaders, including Dr. Michael Saxerud, a Doctor of Optometry, delivering expert-led sessions that bridge therapy and eye care, with engaging demonstrations, collaborative case studies, and actionable strategies that elevate real-world clinical outcomes. VISCON 2026 equips you with the clinical insight and hands-on strategies to elevate outcomes for every client you treat.

FRIDAY:

Don’t Lose Focus!  Visual Accommodation for Learning and Life

Sharpen your clinical vision and take a deep dive into visual accommodation– the brain-driven process that keeps our world in focus.  This four-hour course offers allied health practitioners an overview of the visual skill of accommodation through an occupational therapy lens.  Explore the neural pathways that support this critical function, examine common diagnoses (such as accommodative insufficiency, infacility, presbyopia, and others), and understand their impact on functional vision and occupational performance. Interactive elements, including case study video presentations and treatment ideas, ensure participants translate theory into practice. By the end of this course, you will gain practical skills to assess accommodative function and design interventions that enhance performance with adaptable strategies for clients across ages and settings.

SATURDAY:

Understanding the Body’s Automatic Control Center

This course offers an in-depth examination of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the vital network that regulates involuntary physiological functions, including heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and others. Allied health practitioners will examine the anatomy and function of the ANS, including its sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions, pathways, neurotransmitters, and mechanisms of action. Throughout the program, learners will examine how the autonomic nervous system responds to stress, what occurs when the system cannot adapt, and how this impacts the visual system and limits vision rehabilitation. Case Examples and interactive activities will help learners integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application to help their patients. By the end of the course, practitioners will be able to identify the components of the ANS, explain its role in health and disease, and apply treatment strategies to clinical scenarios. This course is ideal for allied health practitioners seeking a comprehensive understanding of the autonomic nervous system and effective strategies for working with neuro-vision patients.

Interdisciplinary Insights: Using a Collaborative Model of Care

This course explores the collaborative relationship between occupational therapists (OTs) and optometrists (ODs) in supporting patients with neuro-vision challenges. Participants will learn how interdisciplinary teamwork enhances assessment, treatment planning, and intervention for individuals experiencing visual and functional difficulties. Through real experiences and interactive discussions, practitioners will gain practical strategies for integrating OT and OD expertise to achieve better patient outcomes. By the end of the course, learners will understand the value of collaborative care and be equipped to implement coordinated approaches in clinical practice.

Eyes, Brain, Body: Integrating Vision into Whole-Person Rehabilitation

Presented by Dr. Michael Saxerud, Dr. of Optometry, this 4-hour session will cover a wide range of vision topics that play into therapy of the visual system. Topics will include ocular anatomy, refractive error and lens correction, common ocular pathologies and their effect on rehabilitation, and visual pathways in the brain. The course will then cover different models of visual processing to better understand how vision is a whole body/whole brain process that affects nearly all activities that humans carry out. A model of visual processing working from the sub-conscious to the conscious will be emphasized, including the effects of this model on posture and movement. The course will proceed to methods of examination of ocular movements, posture, and movement. Rehabilitation of visual postural shifts utilizing various methods of occlusion will also be covered. Case presentations including stroke, brain injury, and reading and learning difficulties will be provided so attendees will understand how to incorporate this knowledge with the rehabilitation of their patients’ visual needs. A discussion on how to reach out to local eye care providers will also be covered..

SUNDAY:

Case study presentations:

This interactive case study session offers participants an inside look at the collaborative evaluation and treatment process for individuals with neuro-vision challenges. Through real-world clinical examples, learners will explore how occupational therapists and optometrists work together to identify visual–motor, perceptual, and autonomic factors that impact daily function. Participants will gain insights into clinical reasoning, patient-centered collaboration, and outcome measurement—bridging theory and practice for improved functional vision and participation in everyday life.

ATTENDANCE:

  1. Attend as part of the LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE in Gulf Breeze, Florida - Studio audience seats are limited - so register today!
  2. Attend via LIVE STREAM from anywhere around the world. Live stream participants will login to access the event from their computer.

NOTE:

  • This live event is streamed in real time. 
  • Course agenda is in Central time, please adjust for your time zone
  • Registrants who attend the live broadcast will be able to interact with instructor.
  • All registrants will have access to the broadcast recording for 14 days.
  • A group may view the course together, however each attendee must be individually registered in order to receive CE credit.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Attend/view entire course
  • Pass multiple choice quiz (80% min score)
  • Complete online course evaluation

CEUs:

  • OTs - Participants who need live hours for state license renewal must attend in real time yet, will still have access to the recording for 14 days.
  • PTs - Participants who need live hours for state license renewal must attend in real time yet, will still have access to the recording for 14 days.
.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Fri: Identify the neural pathways and physiological mechanisms underlying the visual process of accommodation.
  • Fri: Differentiate between common accommodative diagnoses, including accommodative insufficiency, infacility, excess, and presbyopia, and relate their impact on functional vision and occupational performance.
  • Fri: Apply evidence-informed screening and assessment strategies to evaluate accommodative function within an occupational therapy or allied health framework.
  • Fri: Develop treatment ideas and environmental adaptations that support visual efficiency and participation in daily activities for clients with accommodative challenges.
  • S1: Identify the anatomy and functional organization of the autonomic nervous system, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions.
  • S1: Differentiate between typical and dysregulated autonomic responses, including those associated with neuro-visual and sensory processing disorders.
  • S1: Analyze case examples to recognize clinical indicators of autonomic imbalance and its impact on visual and functional performance.
  • S1: Apply evidence-informed treatment strategies and regulation techniques to support autonomic balance in patients with neuro-visual dysfunction.
  • S2: Explain the value of OT–OD collaboration and identify practical strategies for integrating interdisciplinary approaches to improve patient outcomes in neuro-vision care.
  • S3: Define what 20/20 is and what it is not.
  • S3: Describe how vision is a process of the brain, not of the eyes alone.
  • S3: Correlate how correct perception leads to efficient eye movements, correct posture and efficient body movement.
  • S3: Identify how incorrect perception leads to poor eye movements, incorrect posture and inefficient body movement.
  • S3: Specify various peripheral occlusion techniques to rehabilitate their patient’s perception.
  • CS: Analyze case examples to identify key visual, sensory, and functional factors impacting occupational performance.
  • CS: Apply principles of clinical reasoning to develop patient-centered and collaborative care strategies for individuals with neurovisual challenges.

Amber Fessler

OTD, MS, OTR/L

Amber Fessler, OTD, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist of eighteen years residing in Rapid City, SD. She
graduated from the University of Mary with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2004 and completed her
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy with a specialty certification in Remedial Vision Rehabilitation from Salus University in
2020. Amber has a diverse clinical background in pediatrics having worked in early intervention, public school, outpatient,
and vision therapy clinic settings. Currently, she is the owner and occupational therapy practitioner of a private practice
focusing on pediatrics with learning-related vision deficits in close collaboration with optometry doctors. She is a
contributing author for book chapters in the upcoming 4th Edition of Understanding and Managing Vision Deficits: A Guide
for Occupational Therapists and published research on occupational therapy and optometry collaboration in the care of
pediatric patients in the Vision Development and Rehabilitation journal.

Robert Constantine

OTR\L

Robert Constantine, OTR\L is a 1997 graduate of University of Alabama at Birmingham Occupational Therapy program where he was awarded the Charles Brooks Award for Creativity. He has practiced in home health, and skilled nursing contexts and spent 9 years as the clinical specialist in brain injury at the West Florida Rehabilitation Institute where he developed a passion for evidenced-based treatment, sharing information and the functional effects of the visual system. Beginning in 2013, he enjoyed a 3 year tenure at an optometry practice where he learned techniques working closely with low vision, pediatric and adult optometrists. He has received Clinical Level 1 and 2 training offered by the Neuro-Optometric Rehab Association. He was also instructed in sports vision training working with the High Performance Vision Associates, a national group of optometrists that offer sports vision screenings to elite athletes. He developed specialized Drag Racing Glasses and has worked with NHRA Sportsman and Professional Drag Racers. He continues to provide vision rehabilitation services to pediatric and adult patients at the Pearl Nelson Center and Kindred at Home in Pensacola, Florida. Robert has been a national and international presenter for since 2016. His courses are engaging and full of personal experience and the latest evidence-based research.
Financial Disclosure: Rob receives honoraria from CIAO Seminars for the presentation of this course. Non-Financial Disclosure: None


Michael Saxerud

OD

Dr. Saxerud is a licensed optometrist practicing in Colorado Springs with a clinical focus in neuro-optometry, spatial vision processing, and functional vision care. Dr. Saxerud provides care to individuals of all ages, from children through older adults, and specializes in evaluating and treating visual deficits related to neurologic injury, concussion, stroke, and developmental conditions affecting visual processing, eye teaming, spatial awareness, and visual-motor integration.

Dr. Saxerud has a particular interest in spatial vision processing, including how visual input supports posture, balance, movement, and orientation in space. This perspective informs vision processing methods that drive vision treatments into functional strategies for daily performance.

A strong advocate for interdisciplinary care, Dr. Saxerud works closely with occupational therapists and other rehabilitation professionals to integrate visual processing strategies into therapeutic plans, supporting improved participation in daily activities, work, and learning.

Known for a thoughtful, patient-centered approach, Dr. Saxerud emphasizes education, individualized care, and evidence-informed practice. Through ongoing professional development, Dr. Saxerud remains committed to advancing neuro-optometric rehabilitation and collaborative care across Colorado.

Suzanne Briggs

OTD, OTR/L

Suzanne Briggs, OTD, OTR/L, earned her Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree from Salus University in 2023, along with a certification in remedial vision rehabilitation. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and received the Alumni Association Award for Top Graduate. Suzanne is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and has an interest in research related to remedial vision and acquired brain injury. She also holds a Level 2 fellowship with the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association (NORA), which promotes collaboration among multiple disciplines to achieve successful outcomes for patients with neurological diagnoses.

Suzanne developed a passion for vision rehabilitation while working with patients who have acquired brain injuries and vision limitations. This passion motivated her to further her education in remedial vision. She has developed the remedial vision program at her clinic and offers treatment in collaboration with neuro-optometrists. Her patients also benefit from her extensive knowledge of mCIT, stroke recovery, and concussion management. Suzanne has been a guest lecturer at local brain injury support groups and universities. She recently presented a course on remedial vision at the Occupational Therapy of Colorado Association annual conference in 2024, as well as at VISCON 2024 and 2025: Vision Rehab Summit. She completed research on occupational therapy-led remedial vision, which was published in the Open Journal of Occupational Therapy in October 2024. She also presented a poster about the study at several conferences, including the NORA Annual Conference in 2023, the AOTA Rehabilitation Conference in 2024, and the AOTA Inspire Annual Conference in 2024. Additionally, she presented her research at the 36th Annual Rocky Mountain Interprofessional Evidence-Based Practice Symposium in 2024.

Suzanne is the clinic director at Colorado Springs Neurological Associates (CSNA) Therapy Center, where she provides evidence-based treatments for vision deficits. She aims to further the role of occupational therapy in remedial vision through research, education, and patient care.

Day 1

04:58 - 04:59

5:00 PM CST START TIME DAY 1

05:00 - 06:00
Neuropathways of visual accommodation - Anatomy, ANS Role
06:00 - 07:00
Diagnoses of Accommodation: Definitions, What is the OTs role
07:00 - 07:15
Break
07:15 - 08:15
Assessment: Low tech, High Tech Age Ranges
08:15 - 09:00
Intervention (include options for what the activities would look like in different settings)
09:00 - 09:15
Questions

Day 2

07:58 - 07:59

8:00 AM CST START TIME DAY 2

08:00 - 08:30
Function: Sympathetic, Parasympathetic
08:30 - 09:00
Anatomy: Sympathetic, Parasympathetic
09:00 - 09:30
Theory: Polyvagal, Stanley Rosenberg
09:30 - 09:50
Causes
09:50 - 10:05
Break
10:05 - 10:45
How to recognize it in a patient
10:45 - 11:20
Interventions/treatment
11:20 - 11:40
Interdisciplinary Insights: Facilitators and barriers to collaboration
11:40 - 12:00
Interdisciplinary Insights: Strategies for advocating for OTs or allied health practitioners
12:00 - 12:15
Questions
12:15 - 01:00
Lunch
01:00 - 01:30
Basic Ocular Anatomy
01:30 - 02:30
Refractive Error and Lens Correction
02:30 - 03:00
Common Ocular Pathologies and Their Impact on Rehabilitation
03:00 - 03:15
Break
03:15 - 03:45
Visual Pathways in the Brain
03:45 - 04:45
Vision as a Whole Body / Whole Brain Process
04:45 - 05:15
Effects of Visual Processing on Posture and Movement

Day 3

07:58 - 07:59

8:00 AM CST START TIME DAY 3

08:00 - 09:00
Case Study 1 - Taping techniques *include documentation
09:00 - 10:00
Case Study 2 - Accommodation *include documentation
10:00 - 11:00
Case Study 3 - Autonomic Nervous System intervention * include documentation
11:00 - 11:15
Break
11:15 - 12:15
Roundtable Discussion

Delivery VIA:

  • Live Stream - This course is offered from our Live Stream studio. Watch and interact with the instructor from wherever you are or join us as part of the studio audience in sunny Gulf Breeze, FL. Included with each Live Stream registration is access to the course recording for the 14 days immediately following the broadcast.

Contact hours pre-approved for:

  • 16 Hours
  • CIAO is an AOTA Approved Provider #4119 (1.6 AOTA CEUs)
  • CIAO is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. AOTA Course approval ID#15404
  • This course meets PDU requirements for NBCOT (16 PDUs)
  • CIAO is an Illinois Approved Provider for PT/PTA Continuing Education
  • CIAO is recognized as an Approved Provider for PT/PTAs by the NYSE Dept State Board for PT
  • This activity is provided by the Texas Board of PT Examiners Accredited Prov #2802009TX
  • This activity meets continuing competence requirements for PT/PTA license renewal in TX
  • The assignment of Texas PT CCUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products or clinical procedures by TPTA or TBPTE
  • The Physical Therapy Board of California recognizes CIAO Seminars as an Approval Agency to Approve Providers Offering Continuing Competency Courses
  • The Physical Therapy Board of California has determined that CIAO meets the standards set forth in section 1399.95 of the CA Code of Regulations
  • CIAO is a Rule Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Physical Therapy
  • CIAO is an Approved Provider for the Florida Board of Occupational Therapy
  • Approved for:
  • 16 Hrs. PT/PTAs in IL, TX (TX(16 CCUs, APTA#2802009TX)
  • 19 Hrs. OT/COTAs, PT/PTAs in FL (CE Broker #20-1354821)
  • 19.2 Hrs. PT/PTAs in NY
  • 16 Hrs. Registered with CEBroker for OT/COTAs in AL, AZ, GA, LA, MS, SC, TN
  • 16 Hrs. Registered with CEBroker for PT/PTAs in AZ, GA, OK, SC

Course meets requirements for:

  • PT/PTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, HI, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MO, MT,
  • PT/PTAs in NE, NH, NC, ND, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, WY
  • OT/COTAs in AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, LA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT,
  • OT/COTAs in NE, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

    • The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.



    CIAO Automatically reports to CE Broker for Florida Occupational and Physical Therapists and Assistants. Florida SLPs can either use the ASHA CE Participant Form (Bubble Sheet) or self-submit through CE Broker.


    CIAO is recognized on the NBCOT Provider Registry (meets PDU requirements for NBCOT)


    Reviews

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing me to access this course, and for all of your work putting this together every year. I was late to game this year and missed the live sessions - I am also in Alaska, but am so blessed to have the opportunity to watch the replay. I own a private practice and vision remediation is now the cornerstone of my practice (I said yes to 1 person and the floodgates opened). I feel so much more prepared and confident introducing myself to the eye doctors up here now. Until this course I was very hesitant to tell anyone I was doing vision stuff because I really have to work it out every time - but it really helps me to know from an optometrist perspective what is meaningful to know about my skills, and to hear where I can add value. Thank you so much - I hope to be there in person next year, or to host a course up here! I did notice you used the same 4 code words as last year VisCon, is this an inside joke for Ciao? If you do a course up here we will have to make them Alaska-themed! Thank you so much! This has really helped to re-invigorate my treatment planning!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    This course has completely exceeded my expectations. To all speakers, I am grateful for the work that you have done within neuro/remedial vision and your efforts to present this material. I have been working in neuro-vision for 15 years and I am just so thrilled to see this area of practice evolve and strengthen. Forging the OT/OD relationships is no easy task. I am lucky to have created some successful relationships but hope to see it become a true norm in years ahead. With as many positive collaborative relationships comes the dead-end ones [private practice covds or ophthalmology telling patients OT wont be able to help them with "this stuff"]. Dr S, I was a bit emotional hearing about your perspective on OTs value and your collaboration with Suzanne. It refreshed my sense of confidence. Send clones!! This seminar just provided so much clarity and language to bring back to my day to day practice. I am looking forward to hearing about the occlusion research and future courses!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    This conference was amazing. I can't even begin to articulate how much more information I feel I have and I also have gone through the Salus/Drexel program. This information only added to the knowledge base and gave greater depth of understanding in so many ways.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    I'd love more resources to connect, collaborate, and share handouts and ideas, if possible

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    I would have loved to see videos when Dr. Saxerud was presenting instead of just stories of clients. Was VERY happy to see the case studies that the OT's completed. I was hopeful of getting more treatment ideas for visual deficits. Didn't realize that majority of the course was going to be going over the ANS and tapping. Although, I did learn some new things. Thank you

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    This years VISCON was great having an OD present. I also loved the amount of time spent on accommodation intervention strategies. I find accommodation challenging at times, so the information provided in the course was helpful.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    I love VisCon!!!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    Thank you once again for putting on such an amazing course. It was great to have Dr. Saxerud as part of it to give his perspective. I also appreciate that the course is available in the recorded format. I always have another committment the 2nd weekend of March, so I'm happy I can still take part. Looking forward to Amber & Suzanne's course in August. Love your idea of "vision and concussion" as a topic focus.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    As usual, this VISCON course exceeded my expectations. I LOVE this continuing ed course. Every single person involved but forth enormous effort to make this course a success; it was wonderful! The online experiences continues to be stellar. I'm a self proclaimed vision nerd and look forward to this course every year. It is a rarity to find such a high value CE course. I've considered opening my own practice, but I don't know where to even begin with the insurance side of things, etc. I would love to see CAIO offer a course that could assists therapists with navigating the shift into private practice.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    VisCon is the BEST! Thank you for putting so much work into it each and every year. One of these years I will get down there to do it in person! You all provide so much valuable information I want to talk to you about vision ALL DAY! The hands on demonstration stuff that Dr. Saxerud did was great! I really enjoyed the taping demonstration as well as the demonstration on another individual in the audience. A suggestion that I have for next year, while it may be more challenging because I know that remedial vision is probably best performed in the outpatient setting, but I would love to see some treatment tips and tricks for starting remedial vision at the more acute or inpatient rehabilitation phase. I think it would be great to see remedial vision through the continuum of care .

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    Overall great conference!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    This was one of the best and most useful conferences I have been to! Very applicable and not just full of anatomy review with no helpful interventions. These interventions can really be applied across the continuum of care!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    I thought this course was fantastic. I learned a tremendous amount and it was an eye opening experience that I will integrate into my OT life in my setting. I definitely would like to see a vision course based on a specific population more with TBI and stroke. We touched a bit into it, but a whole course about it would be cool.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    Excellent quality of presentations and resources. Thank you again. I was present in studio 2 years ago and enjoyed the comradery. It was best for me to be online this year, but maybe next year I will make it down to the studio again!.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    I would love for the next VISCON to focus on concussion and TBI. I've attended all VISCON's thus far and have learned something from each. I work primarily with brain injury and would love a VISCON focused on that topic to discuss treatment methods/activities, program building/planning, and treatment progression.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    The OT's were so informative and provided excellent examples of real life treatment and documentation. I appreciated the directness and assertiveness in their responses. I thought it was amazing that you had a experienced practitioner for adults and pediatrics to provide both perspectives!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    Great course for the third year in a row. Can't wait for next year!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    Excellent course.

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026

    Wonderful course! It was a bit beyond my skill but I look forward to learning more, hopefully getting more edu from ODs in my area, and attending again next year!

    - Live Streaming or Studio Audience, FL / Mar 2026