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Visual Therapy for Patients with Autism: How to modify and sequence procedures – Drs. Coulter and Kennedy
March 18 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
$10 – $45
Description
Individuals on the autism spectrum often experience unique visual processing challenges that can significantly affect learning, attention, communication, and daily functioning. This specialized lecture provides clinicians with a practical, evidence-informed roadmap for adapting and sequencing vision therapy procedures to meet the sensory, behavioral, and perceptual needs of autistic patients.
Drs. Coulter and Kennedy will explore how to recognize visual behaviors commonly associated with autism, identify underlying functional deficits, and design therapy programs that are structured, flexible, and responsive to each patient’s sensory profile. Through case examples and clinical demonstrations, participants will learn strategies for simplifying instructions, modifying equipment, pacing activities, and creating predictable therapy environments that support engagement and success.
Key topics include:
- Understanding visual, sensory, and motor characteristics frequently seen in autism
- Building rapport, reducing overwhelm, and establishing readiness for therapy
- Selecting, adapting, and sequencing procedures for maximum therapeutic impact
- Integrating visual skills development with communication and executive-function supports
- Collaborating with families, educators, and interdisciplinary teams
This session equips eye care professionals with actionable tools to confidently serve autistic individuals across the spectrum—supporting meaningful, measurable improvements in visual comfort, performance, and quality of life.
BIO: Dr. Stacey Coulter, OD, M.S., FAAO, FCOVDR
Rachel A. “Stacey” Coulter, OD, MS, received a bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 1983 and a Doctor of optometry degree in 1991 from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry (PCO). She completed a residency in Pediatric Optometry and Vision Therapy at PCO in 1992. She received an MS degree in Exceptional Student Education from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 2012.
Dr. Coulter is a Professor of Optometry at NSU, where she teaches in the classroom, clinic, and residency program and is active in clinical research in Pediatric Optometry. She oversees the Vision in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Service that provides vision care to children and adults with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dr. Coulter is a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and the American Academy of Optometry (AAO) and a Diplomate in Binocular Vision, Perception, and Pediatric Optometry. Dr. Coulter currently serves as President of the American Academy of Optometry Foundation, on the Board of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and the Advisory Committee of the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness. She is a frequent presenter and has lectured throughout the United States, as well in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, India, and China.
Throughout her career, Dr. Coulter has been interested in vision and its link to child development and learning. She served as a Principal Investigator in the NIH-funded clinical trials, Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) and CITT-Attention Reading Trial, as well as for multiple other research studies. She has published multiple articles and book chapters. Her research on vision care for children with autism was presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research. Dr. Coulter has been recognized by multiple awards including NSUCO Professor of the Year, Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical – Outstanding Mentor,and the NECO Behavioral Scholar-in-Residence. In 2016, she received the American Academy of Optometry’s Feinbloom Award, the highest clinical award for her contributions to clinical excellence.
Dr. Coulter has held multiple administrative appointments and leadership positions including Chief of the Pediatric Optometry service (1995 -1999), and Chair of the Optometric Sciences department (1998- 2011). She also served as Chair of the AAO Binocular Vision, Perception and Pediatric Optometry Section and the Children’s Vision Committee of the Florida Optometric Association. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Duke University Institute for Brain Sciences and the Advisory Committee for the National Center for Children’s Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness. As an officer of the American Academy of Optometry Foundation, she supports fundraising to advance optometric research and education.
Bio Dr. Jordan Kennedy, OD
Dr. Jordan Kennedy earned her Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Optometry in May 2025. Prior to optometry school, she graduated from the University of Florida where she earned her B.S. in Health Science.
Dr. Kennedy is currently completing a residency in Primary Care with an Emphasis in Pediatrics and Binocular Vision at Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry. She is projected to finish the program in July of 2026. Her interests include myopia control and vision therapy, particularly for specialized populations such as patients with traumatic brain injury and developmental delays. She is also a member of a research team investigating the potential effects of creatine on the visual system.