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Introductory Courses

1. Adjustment and Acceptance of Blindness and Low Vision
2. An Overview of Anatomy and Physiology of the Eye
3. Basics of Blindness and Low Vision
4. How to Read an Eye Report
5. Introduction to Blindness and Low Vision

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Enhancing Employment Outcomes for Persons with Blindness or Low Vision

These courses share information about employment-related research and the implications for professionals who work with people who are blind or have low vision.

1. Advice for VR Professionals: Evidence for Effective Meetings with Employers
2. Career Advancement and Job Retention: Information Concerning Persons with Vision Loss
3. Employer Attitudes: VR Professionals' Perspectives and Recommendations
4. Employment Mentoring for College Students with Visual Impairment
5. Employment Outcomes of SSDI Beneficiaries
6. Exploring Self-Employment Beyond the Business Enterprise Program
7. Job Search Skills Training for Transition-Age Youth
8. Understanding and Overcoming Transportation Barriers
9. Vocational Rehabilitation Service Models for Consumers who are Deaf-Blind
10. Working with Employers: Why it is Important and What Successful Agencies Do
11. Partnering with Families to Support Employment Outcomes
12. Pre-Employment Transition Services: A Model for Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals Working with Students and Youth with Visual Impairments

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Improving Business Development Skills: A Training for Rehabilitation Professionals

Most VR counselors work with businesses, but many are uncomfortable with this part of their job. This multimodule course addresses counselors’ knowledge and skills related to engaging with employers to help them learn how to be successful at it.

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Blindness & Low Vision Certificate Program for Business Development Professionals

This program was developed in response to requests from VR agencies and is a compilation of five existing NRTC courses that provide foundational information for business development professionals who do not have experience working with individuals with blindness and low vision. A certificate of completion is provided.

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Working with Adults who are Blind

The following courses were developed by the NRTC’s Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance and Training Center (OIB-TAC), which provides training and technical assistance to professionals who serve older individuals who are blind or have low vision.

Some of these courses are appropriate for professionals serving adults of any age, such as:

1. Adaptive Blind and Low Vision Skills for Everyday Living
2. Basics in Program Evaluation
3. Basics of Blindness and Low Vision
4. Braille: What it is, and Why it is Important
5. Beyond Acuity: Addressing Functional Aspects of Lack of Depth Perception and Visual Field Deficits
6. Case Management Documentation
7. Cultural Diversity and Humility
8. Diabetes & Visual Impairment
9. Identifying Mental Health Impairments in Adults
10. Orientation and Mobility for Those Who Have Multiple Health Impairments
11. Strategies for Teaching Older Adults with Vision Loss
12. Teaching Braille to Adults
13. Teaching iPhone for Low Vision: Where Do I Start?
14. VoiceOver on the iPhone: Where Do I Start?
15. Vision and Hearing Loss

Other courses are specific to older adults or the OIB program: 

1. An Overview of Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind
2. Best Practices in the Administration of the OIB Program
3. Cardiovascular Disease and Aging
4. Community Outreach: An Overview
5. Community Outreach: Creating Targeted and Accessible Presentations
6. Fall Prevention: Interventions for Older Individuals who are Visually Impaired
7. How Social Determinants of Health Relate to Vision and Aging
8. Introduction to Best Practices for Older Individuals who are Blind Programs
9. Mobility Impairments: Implications for Service Providers
10. Pulmonary Conditions Affecting Older Persons
11. Social Isolation, Aging, and Vision Loss
12. T.I.P.S. for Helping People with Vision Problems
13. Understanding Data Collection and the 7-OB Report for OIB Programs
14. Understanding People Living with Dementia and Vision Loss
15. Vision Loss and the Role of the Family
16. Walkers, Crutches, and Support Canes… Oh My! Orientation and Mobility for People with Orthopedic Impairments

For a list of other courses related to working with older individuals who are blind, visit the OIB-TAC Community of Practice website.

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Special Topics

These courses provide basic information on special topics for rehabilitation professionals.

1. Accessing Textbooks and Reading Material
2. An Overview of Assistive Technology for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
3. Assistive Technology for Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired in the Workplace
4. Care for Occupational Therapy Patients with Low Vision: A Model for Building Successful Partnerships
5. Cultural Diversity and Humility
6. Ethics 1: Ethics for Professionals Working with People who are Blind or Visually Impaired
7. Ethics 2: Ethics for Professionals Working with People who are Blind or Visually Impaired
8. Facilitating Family Support
9. Gearing Up for Transit: Options and Advocacy Skills for People who are Blind or have Low Vision
10. Intake & Assessment: Setting the Stage for Success
11. Neuropsychological Evaluation of Individuals with Visual Impairment or Blindness
12. Practical Information for Social Workers New to Interacting with Older Adults Experiencing Vision Impairments or Blindness
13. SMART Instruction
14. Strategies for Mentoring Interns: Developing Qualified Professionals for the Future
15. The Basics of Brain Injury and Vision Loss
16. The Low Down on Low Vision
17. The Process of Teaching Art
18. Understanding Social Security Work Incentives: It's Easier Than You Think

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Common Eye Conditions

These courses are taught by a nonphysician and offer a basic overview of eye conditions from a rehabilitation professional. Questions concerning specific individuals should be directed to a qualified personal eye care physician.

1. Common Adult Eye Conditions
2. Common Children's Eye Conditions

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Randolph-Sheppard Staff Training

This course is designed to orient new staff to the Randolph-Sheppard Business Enterprise Program; anyone, including blind entrepreneurs and VR staff, are welcome to take this course. Note: No continuing education credits are offered for this course.

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The content, development, and maintenance of this website are supported in part by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), current grant number 90RTEM0007. NIDILRR is a center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, or HHS and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.