Our Chapter is the recipient of the

2020 AER Outstanding Chapter Award

Watch the announcement here: 2020 AER Awards Announcement

Take a look at the recording of the ceremony at the AER Gala Community Reunion Recording which is co-hosted by Kevin O’Connor and Mary Nelle McLennan: AER Gala Community Reunion

Upcoming Conferences

http://www.pathstoliteracy.org/events

University of Pittsburgh Instruction and Learning Receives $1.1 Million Grant for Expanded Vision Studies Education

Tessa McCarthy and Doug Kostewicz, faculty members in the University of Pittsburgh School of Education department of Instruction and Learning, will be co-principal investigators on Project Certifying Orientation and Mobility/Behavior Specialists (COMBS), a professional training grant funded by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for $1.1 million over the next five years.

The purpose of Project COMBS is to provide tuition assistance for master’s level students who wish to pursue degrees in either vision studies or applied behavior analysis and work with blind or visually-impaired students upon graduation. The project focuses on giving certified teachers of visually-impaired students the opportunity to become highly-qualified, highly-collaborative professionals who also are certified as orientation, mobility, and behavior specialists.

Two programs in the School of Education are involved in Project COMBS

Vision Studies (orientation and mobility): three-year master's program

Applied Behavior Analysis three-year master's program

A total of 15 scholars studying vision studies and focusing on blindness and visual impairments will have the opportunity to add certification as an orientation and mobility specialist and certification as a behavior specialist to their prerequisite certification as a teacher of students with visual impairments.

A total of nine scholars focusing on applied behavior analysis will have the opportunity to gain additional expertise in working with students who are blind or visually impaired in order to implement more accessible interventions and assist with identification and referrals of students who are blind and visually impaired.

All scholars will graduate with a Master of Education degree (MEd).

With the two programs sharing coursework, it will be possible for current teachers of students with visual impairments to obtain a master’s degree and certification in both orientation and mobility through vision studies and applied behavior analysis in a total of three years.

The 15 scholars focusing on blindness and visual impairments will be eligible to sit for certification in orientation and mobility which is granted by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) and certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). The nine scholars who will be focusing on applied behavior analysis will be eligible for certification as a BCBA.

Interested students should contact Dr. Tessa McCarthy, an associate professor in Instruction and Learning at the University of Pittsburgh.

Salus University Receives $1.25 Million OSEP Grant

Salus University’s Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies (BLVS) was recently awarded a $1.25 million grant from OSEP to be distributed over the next five years. The grant supports Project LEGIT, which stands for Learning Experiences Grounded in Interprofessional Training. The project will immerse students in the O&M and TVI programs at Salus  in an interprofessional experience both in didactic and direct service courses and will emphasize working with children with high intensity needs, particularly those with Cortical Visual Impairments (CVI).

The interdisciplinary components of LEGIT include:

1. interprofessional coursework with students in the OT and SLP programs;

2. shared fieldwork/clinical experiences with students in the OT and SLP programs;

3. direct learning from families of children with disabilities via Families as Faculty Program;

4. real-world learning experiences

Project LEGIT will be monitored through on-going quantitative and qualitative assessment with input from the Interprofessional Steering Committee, students and content experts. Graduates will be followed for 3-5 years to monitor the impact of the project on services to children with visual impairments.

Salus Receives RSA Grant

The Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies at Salus University is pleased to announce its award of a $750,000 grant from the Rehabilitation Services Administration to fund its Low Vision Rehabilitation (LVR) and Vision Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) programs. Entitled Project MORE (Mentorships for Outcomes Related to Employment), the grant’s focus will infuse within LVR and VRT curricula mentoring activities offered by assistive technology professionals, rehabilitation counselors, and vocational rehabilitation professionals.

The LVR and VRT programs admit students from varied backgrounds, including education, rehabilitation, optometry, and business.  Graduates are prepared to maximize the independence and quality of life of individuals who are visually impaired, and enjoy long, satisfying careers in the field of blindness and low vision, working in education, rehabilitation and/or medical settings.  

Students who enroll in LVR or VRT may be eligible to receive 50% tuition funding plus a stipend each semester of their customized program. For more information about this opportunity, contact Kerry Lueders (215-780-1366).

Mentoring Project Opportunity

Penn-Del AER has some exciting news to share regarding a new opportunity to become a mentor. In line with the priority of Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Special Education to Attract, Prepare, and Retain (APR) new special educators, we are partnering with the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) to provide mentoring opportunities for new Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TVIs).

If you have five (5) or more years of experience as a TVI, please consider applying to be a mentor. Each mentor will be paired with a mentee. A mentor is asked to meet between 30-60 minutes a month with their assigned mentee. As a mentor, you will receive $1,000 for your time.

Penn-Del AER views this as an exciting opportunity to bring new educators into our Penn-Del AER family and continue to provide supports to ensure individuals with visual impairments receive high quality service.

We’re excited to announce that mentor applications for the 2025–2026 APR Mentoring Project are now open. This statewide initiative continues to grow, and your expertise and experience are more valuable than ever. This year, we are also expanding to include two new mentor categories:

   • Career & Technical Education (CTE) Special Populations Coordinators

   • Educational Interpreters

Mentors provide personalized support to early-career professionals through structured check-ins and shared resources. A stipend is provided for your time and commitment.

Applications will be accepted through August 1, 2025. To learn more please visit the APR Repository.

Dr. Rebecca Renshaw Selected as

New WPSBC Executive Director

WPSBC Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that Dr. Rebecca Renshaw will be returning to the School on August 11, 2025 to serve as Executive Director. Dr. Renshaw will be succeeding Dr. Heidi Ondek, who is retiring following a seven-year tenure where she successfully advanced WPSBC’s mission and vision through the implementation of an ambitious strategic plan. Following a comprehensive national search, Dr. Renshaw was chosen based on her outstanding leadership capabilities and commitment to WPSBC’s mission and vision. Dr. Renshaw comes from the Lavelle School for the Blind, where she served as Executive Director for the past seven years. With 26 years of experience, Dr. Renshaw brings a deep commitment to the field of visual impairment as a teacher, orientation and mobility specialist, professor, advocate and executive director. As a Master’s and Doctorate graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s highly acclaimed Visual Studies program, Dr. Renshaw was awarded a federally funded doctoral fellowship through the National Center for Leadership in Visual Impairment. In addition, she holds a Master of Studies in Law degree from the University of Pittsburgh’s Barco Law School. With a strong passion for making a difference in the lives of individuals with visual impairment, Dr. Renshaw remains very active professionally, serving as the Board President of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) International. Prior to her current role, Dr. Renshaw served as WPSBC’s Education Director. “My mission in life is to make a difference,” said Dr. Renshaw. “My passion for making a positive impact in the lives of children with visual impairments first blossomed at WPSBC 26 years ago. I am blessed to have served in many different roles in my career, and I am excited to bring all the knowledge I have gained back to WPSBC. The path has led me home. I look forward to partnering with staff, students, parents, the Board and all stakeholders to lead WPSBC into the future.” Board of Trustees President Laura Gutnick said, “We are beyond thrilled that Dr. Renshaw is returning to Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children. Given her passion for our mission coupled with her first hand knowledge of the school, Dr. Renshaw is ideally suited to lead our next chapter of education and growth.