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Vision Studies
The Northeast Regional Center for Vision Education (NERCVE) is an established center within the Institute for Community Inclusion that is academically affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Boston, Graduate College of Education. The Vision Studies program at UMass Boston is New England's only academic center for preparing Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments and Orientation and Mobility Specialists, two key specialties which assist people with visual impairments to achieve their goals of high quality education, fulfilling employment, and safe/independent travel. NERCVE is committed to improving education for individuals with visual impairments through: personnel preparation, professional development, technology & research.
Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment (TVI)
M.Ed. leading to Initial Licensure (TVI)
Through courses, field-based experiences, and practica, the program affords general education teachers, special educators and other specialists in related fields an opportunity to acquire the necessary assessment, instructional, and consultation skills for working effectively with students with Visual Impairments, as well as with their families. Course work and experiences focus on the design and implementation of and advocacy for inclusionary learning settings for children with and without additional disabilities as well as assessment and instruction in the expanded core curriculum for students with visual impairments.
The program offers matriculated students a 37 credit sequence of course work, including 100 hours of monitored pre-practicum field-based experience and a practicum (300 clock hours minimum), that partially fulfills Massachusetts Department of Education requirements for initial licensure. This licensure is valid for five years. For further information, contact the TVI faculty or Visions Studies program office.
Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
M.Ed. leading to Certification in O&M
The discipline of Orientation and Mobility teaches persons with visual impairments how to fully utilize sensory information to orient themselves and travel safely with confidence in any environment. Participants learn to evaluate needs and to teach the effective use of such adaptive equipment as the long cane and low vision aids as well as the integration of a professionally trained dog guide for independence and safe movement They learn how to teach travel skills in a variety of environments: indoors, residential, business, rural, and urban areas. The curriculum addresses the art of teaching such skills across the lifespan to both children and adults as well as thosse with additional disabilities.
The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) degree or certification program leads to specialized work with people who are blind or visually impaired . Candidates are provided a sequence of course work, field-based experiences, and practica which fulfill requirements prescribed by the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI). Successful completion of the curriculum, allong with faculty recommendation, qualifies the student to sit for the national Professional Examination in Orientation and Mobility offered by the Academy for the Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP).
Completing the curriculum and passing this examination leads to professional certification in orientation and mobility.
The program offers matriculated students a 37-credit sequence of course work, including 75 hours of monitored pre-practicum field-based experience and a practicum (340 hours minimum), that partially fulfills the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) requirements for professional certification. This certification is valid for five years.
Certification only in O&M
Candidates for certification in orientation and mobility proceed through a sequence of course work, field-based experiences, and practica to fulfill eligibility requirements as prescribed by the AERBVI. The total credits required for certification will vary, depending on the candidate’s background in related course work.
1. O&M Certification: 19 credits (for vision professionals)
2. O&M Certification, expanded curriculum: 28 credits (for related services professionals)
For further information, please contact the O&M faculty or the Vision Studies program office.
Please see www.nercve.umb.edu for more details.