Resources
Low Vision and Medical Information
- All About Vision – Low Vision Information
- Kolberg Ocular Prosthetics
- National Organization for Rare Disorders
- The Mayo Clinic
- The National Eye Institute (part of National Institute for Health)
- National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH)
- Online Center for Biotechnology Information, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Main search site
- MaxiAids
- THE ACHROMATOPSIA NETWORK
- American Nystagmus Network
- College of Optometrists in Vision Development
- Eye/Vision Review
- University of Michigan- Kellogg Eye Center
- National Eye Institute
- ONH/SOD Family Focus (optic nerve hypoplasia/septo optic dysplasia)
- Southwestern Eye Center – Low Vision Devices for Macular Degeneration: Reviews, Cost, Comparison
- The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation
- Yakima Low Vision Clinic
- Smith Kettlewell Vision Basics
Related Links
AERBVI-Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Accrediated Online Colleges/Regional Accrediation A comprehensive and informative resource that ranks each university in America by size, degrees offered, tuition costs, admission rates, graduation rates, and retention rates.
American Council of the Blind
American Foundation for the Blind
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.(APH)
Blind Children’s Resource Center
College Consensus – Navigating College with Visual Impairments
College Guide for Students with Visual Impairments
College - Vision for Inclusion: Key Steps to Make College Accessible
Council Of Schools for the Blind (COSB) Home Page
CTEVH California Transcribers & Educators of the Visually Handicapped.
Division on Visual Impairment of the Council for Exceptional Children
Family Connect
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adult
International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment
National Braille Association
National Federation of the Blind (Washington)
National Federation of the Blind
Pacific Foundation for Blind Children
Provincial Resource Centre for the Visually Impaired (PRCVI) Supporting School Districts and Group I or II independent schools in British Columbia by providing alternate formats. In addition PRCVI provides professional development and consultation support to BC vision teachers and other school personnel working with students with visual impairments.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision Site at Mississippi State University
State of Washington Home Page
The Special Education Exchange
Washington State Business Leadership Network
Washington Council of the Blind
Washington State Services for the Blind (DSB)
Washington Sensory Disabilities Services
Washington Talking Book & Braille Library
WebAble TV is an Internet TV Channel on the TV Worldwide Network (www.TVWorldwide.com ) dedicated to providing accessible live and on-demand interactive coverage of the issues, activities and events important to the community of people with disabilities.
Teacher Training Programs
Northern Illinois University
Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling and Special Education
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
Training Programs Offered: O&M, RT, TVI
Degrees Offered: Certification, B.S., M.S.Ed
Contact Persons: Gaylen Kapperman, Coordinator (O&M, RT, TVI); Jodi Sticken (TVI, O&M); Connie Cretens (RT); Toni Heinze (TVI)
Email: Gaylen Kapperman gkapper@niu.edu;
Jodi Sticken jsticken@niu.edu
Toni Heinze theinze@niu.edu
Telephone: (815) 753-8459 (Gen. info), 815-753-8453 (Gen. info.), (815) 753-8456 (TVI, O&M), (815)753-8455 (RT)
Fax: (815) 753-8594
Portland State University
Department of Special Education
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Oregon 97207
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degree’s Offered: Master’s
Contact persons: Holly Lawson
Telephone: (503) 725-5495
Fax: (503) 725-5599
California State University, Los Angeles
Department of Special Education
5151 State University Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90032
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degree’s Offered: Master’s
Contact persons: Dr. Diane Fazzi (O&M), Dr. Jaime Dote-Kwan (VI)
Telephone: (213) 343-4411
Fax: (213) 343-4318
Hunter College
Department of Special Education
New York City, NY
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degree’s Offered: Master’s
Program: Blind and Visually Impaired: NYS Teacher Certification - Advanced Certificate - Hunter College - Acalog ACMS™ (cuny.edu)
Michigan State University
341 Erickson Hall
Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education
College of Education
East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1034
Training Programs Offered: VI, DEAF-BLIND, O&M (elementary and secondary education)
Degrees Offered: VI certificate (Michigan), Deaf-Blind endorsement, O&M (AER certification,, VI bachelor and master degree programs, Doctoral special education program
Contact Persons: Tom T. Hwang; Lou Alonso; & Susan Bruce
Telephone: (517) 355-1838 (-35 OR -37)
Fax: (517) 353-6393
North Carolina Central University
Visual Impairment Training Program
1801 Fayetteville
Durham, NC 27707
Training Programs Offered: VI, O&M
Degrees Offered: Certification, M.Ed.
Contact Persons: Dr. Brad R. Walker, Director; Dr. Laura Bozeman (O&M)
Telephone: (919) 560-5179; (919) 715-4257
Fax: (919) 560-5279
San Francisco State University
Department of Special Education
1600 Holloway Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94132
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degrees Offered: Master of Arts in Special Education, Ph.D./Ed.D. in Special Education, California Teaching Specialists Credential in VI, California Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential in O&M
Contact Persons: Dr. Sandra Rosen (O&M), Amanda Lueck (VI)
Telephone: (415) 338-1245 (O&M), (415) 338-1080 (VI)
Fax: (415) 338-0566
Stephen F. Austin State University
Department of Counseling and Special Educational Programs
Box 13019
Nacogdoches, TX 75961
Training Program Offered: O&M
Degrees Offered: AER Cerfitication*, B.S. in Rehabilitation
Contact Persons: Bill Bryan, Bob Bryant, or Anna Bradfield
Phone: (409) 468-1036
Fax: (409) 468-1342*It is also possible for students with a bachelor’s degree to come to SFA and just add the needed courses for certification. A certified teacher of the visually impaired could add the O&M certification with about 18 hours of prescribed courses others would need to take about 33 hours.
Texas Tech University
Department of Special Education
Box 4560
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409
Training Programs Offered: O&M, VI
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Contact Person: Nora Griffin-Shirley, Ph.D.
Telephone: (806)742-2184
Fax: (806) 742-1331
The University of Arizona
Southwestern Orientation and Mobility Preparation Program (SWOMPP)
University of Arizona
Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation
Education Building
Tucson, AZ 85721
Training Programs Offered: O&M and VI
Degrees Offered: Certification, Master’s, Ed. Specialist, Doctoral
Contact Persons: Pam Almon or Jane Erin
Telephone: Dr. Almon: (520) 621-3887; Dr. Erin: (520) 621-0945
Fax: (520) 621-3821
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Department of Rehabilitation
2801 S. University Ave
Little Rock, AR 72204
Training Programs Offered: O&M, RT, VI
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, state Certification (VI), Masters of Arts degree (O&M, RT), Masters of Education degree (VI)
Contact Persons: Dr. William H. Jacobson (O&M), Dr. Patricia Smith (RT)
Other Faculty: Judy Matsuoka (RT)
Telephone: (501) 569-3169
Fax: (501) 569-8694
University of Massachusetts at Boston
Graduate College of Education
University of Massachusetts Boston
100 Morrissey Blvd.
Boston, Massachusetts 02125-3393
Training Programs Offered: O&M, RT
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, M.Ed.
Contact Persons: Bob McCulley, M.Ed.
Telephone: (617) 287-7623
Fax: (617) 287-7664
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Instruction and Learning
Vision Studies Program
4H32 Forbes Quadrangle
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Training Programs Offered: O&M, Vision Education
Degrees Offered: AER Certification, M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.
Contact person: George J. Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Telephone Number: (412) 624-7247
Fax Number: (412) 648-7081
Western Michigan University
Department of Blind Rehabilitation
Western Michigan University
Sangren Hall
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008
Training Programs Offered: Standard Orientation and Mobility Program, Orientation and Mobility for the Elderly (Gerontology Certificate), Standard Rehabilitation Teaching Program, Rehabilitation Counseling/Rehabilitation Teaching (Dual Masters), Orientation and Mobility/Rehabilitation Teaching (Dual Masters), Orientation and Mobility with Specialization in Low Vision, Rehabilitation Teaching with Specialization in Low Vision
Degrees Offered: Certification, M.Ed.
Contact Persons: Marv Weessies (O&M), Sue Ponchillia (RT), Bill Wiener (Rehab Counseling)
Telephone: (616) 387-3455
Fax: (616) 387-3567
Schools for the Blind in the United States
- Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind
- Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind
- Arkansas School for the Blind
- California School for the Blind
- Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind
- Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill
- Florida School for the Deaf and Blind
- Georgia Academy for the Blind
- Governor Morehead School-North Carolina
- The Hadley School for the Blind
- Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind
- Illinois School for the Visually Impaired
- Indiana School for the Blind
- Iowa Braille School
- Kansas School for the Blind
- Kentucky School for the Blind
- Los Angeles Blind Children’s Center
- Louisiana Center for the Blind
- Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired
- Maryland School for the Blind
- Michigan School for the Blind
- Minnesota State Academy for the Blind
- Missouri School for the Blind
- Children Center for the Visually Impaired – Kansas City
- Montana School for the Deaf and Blind
- Nebraska Center for the Education of the Blind
- New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped
- New York Institute for Special Education
- The New York State School for the Blind
- North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind
- Oklahoma School for the Blind (Parkview School)
- Overbrook School for the Blind
- Perkins School for the Blind
- South Carolina School for the Deaf/Blind
- South Dakota School for the Visually Handicapped
- St. Joseph’s School for the Blind
- St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments
- Tennessee School for the Blind
- Texas School for the Blind
- Utah School for the Deaf and Blind
- Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind-Staunton
- Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children
- West Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind
- Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Accessible Tests
- Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) [See especially Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Toolkit]
- Council of Chief State School Officers
- Council for Exceptional Children
- Kentucky Dept. of Education’s (KDE) (search for Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Initiative; CATS online; assessment and accountability)
- National Assessment Governing Board
- National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) (Universal Design in Assessment; testing accommodations; alternate assessment)
- National Center on Education Statistics (NCES) (And National Assessment of Educational Progress [NAEP])
- Test Access: Guidelines for Computer-Administered Testing. American Printing House for the Blind, 2002.
- Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (search for assessment)
Parents and Family
- The Achromatopsia Network
- American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) Information for Parents
- Autism Today, latest news and resources for autism and autism related issues
- Blindsided in WA (Facebook Page)
- Pediatric CVI Society
- CVI Hub Perkins eLearning
- Perkins School for the Blind
- Exceptional Resources your source for autism books and other autism resources
- Family Connect FamilyConnect.org connects families of children with visual impairments to knowledge, resources, and support. It was created in partnership with the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments. FamilyConnect gives parents, grandparents and other caretakers a place to find comprehensive resources and support 24 hours a day, with access to message boards where they can talk to other parents, compelling videos featuring real-life families, parenting articles, parent-authored blogs, and links to local resources. The site also features sections dedicated to multiple disabilities, technology, education, and every age group from infants to teens. Visitors to FamilyConnect can also create a personal profile and receive information on news and events based on their child’s age, eye condition, and location. Articles are also available in Spanish.
- Braille Superstore – produces hundreds of Braille, cassette and print/Braille books for all age categories
- National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
- Northwest Association for Blind Athletes (NWABA)
- PHPV support group listserv
- Prevent Blindness – Provide outreach regarding vision services and support along with training, advocacy and collaboration. We also have a training and certification program for volunteer vision screeners and a national agreement with Head Start.
- Project PAVE: Providing Access to the Visual Environment
- Sparkle
- Three Days to See – 1933 article by Helen Keller
- Vision Associates
- Washington Parents of Blind Children – The Washington State Parents of Blind Students is a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB).
- Wonder Baby
Other Links
- Access to the 21st Century
- Affordable Colleges Online – How colleges help visually imparied students succeed
- AppleVis iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch: news, app information and guides from a vision impaired perspective
- Blind Skills
- Cow’s Eye Dissection
- EduMed – Scholarships & Resources for Students with Visual Disabilities
- Financial Aid and Scholarships for Disabled Students
- THE INTERNATIONAL BRAILLE RESEARCH CENTER (IBRC)
- Fort Vancouver Lion’s Sight Foundation
- (PDF Application for Financial Assistance HERE)
- Music V.I. – music instruction in an all audio format
- Perkins Brailler Repair
- Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind Welcomes You
- Newsline
- Vision Center