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Leading research
Our research looks into many topics of interest to people with visual impairment, including long cane biomechanics, social networking, labels and packaging and more.
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Vision Rehabilitation Therapy
VRTs provide specialized methods or adaptive techniques for communication and coping with the demands of daily living.
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Orientation and mobility
Teaching people to travel safely, efficiently and independently in their environment.
Links
WMU’s orientation and mobility and vision rehabilitation therapy personnel preparation programs are the longest-running programs of their kind in the U.S. Over the past 58 years, in close collaboration with state vocational rehabilitation agencies, our program has been the nation’s largest preparer of VRTs and O&M specialists.
We welcome you to explore studies in this exciting field that promotes productive and independent lifestyles and helps:
- Adults and children to travel independently around the house and around the world.
- Adults to gain skills to compete for professional positions.
- Children to succeed in educational programs and learn academic curriculum and expanded core curriculum skills.
- Adults and children to gain proficiency in using modern assistive technologies.
Our programs
Meet our faculty
Video of #FacultyFeature with Dr. Elyse Connors
Meet our faculty
Learn a little more about the Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies, and a little bit about our instructors in a #FacultyFeature video with Dr. Elyse Connors.
News and Updates
Outcomes
Graduation and Certification Stats - Fall 2018 – Summer II 2022
| % of students completed | Average time to completion (years) | |
|---|---|---|---|
in-person | online | ||
Orientation and Mobility | 95% | 1.60 | 2.20 |
Vision Rehabilitation Therapy | 94% | 1.58 | 2.52 |
Assistive Technology | 100% | 1.41 |
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Note: The average time to completion indicated above was inflated since some of the students simultaneously pursued multiple degrees, and as a result, it took longer for them to complete each degree.