William Smith, OD, is the Director of Low Vision Service, Program Director of the Optometry Residency Low Vision Program, and an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology.
StreetLab at the Vision Institute aims to enhance the quality of life of people with low vision by improving their function and promoting their independence and productivity in society.
The Vision Institute has a life skills apartment with a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and laundry room where patients can simulate daily activities. Patients can engage in the activity instead of us trying to show them some things on the counter and then hope they can translate that at home.
The driving simulator features original vehicle components such as the steering wheel, gas/brake pedals, driver seat, and dashboard-mounted on a wheelchair-accessible motion platform, a 180-degree field-of-view using three large visual displays, blind-spot displays, and surround sound audio feedback. The motion platform is calibrated to reproduce movement cues exactly corresponding to the driver’s responses. The software program running the simulator contains various customizable driving scenarios from basic to more complex situations, safe to more hazardous road conditions, and impaired and distracted driving.
This Sensory Garden has landing strips of gravel, turf, brick, and pavement, along with stairs. This allows the team to assess people’s mobility and make recommendations to help them maneuver more safely. Lighting and contrast assessments are also conducted outside, in the sensory garden's natural environment. The plants are tactile and fragrant. The Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children maintains the garden.