Professional Organizations

By Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
April 9, 2020

As a vision professional, you will want to become involved in organizations that are designed specifically to address issues related to serving individuals who are blind or visually impaired. While membership costs money, the benefits to your career will help you excel as a professional. The following are overarching benefits of professional memberships:
  • A unified voice of professionals in our field to advocate for issues that impact us and the individuals we serve. 
  • Written materials including newsletters, journals and notifications about upcoming events.
  • Professional development opportunities specific to supporting and instructing individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
  • Networking opportunities with professionals in our field.
  • Discounts on services such as professional liability insurance (AERBVI)

Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI)

The Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) www.aerbvi.org/ is a professional membership organization dedicated exclusively to professionals who provide services to persons with vision loss. Their mission is to promote and support the professions by advocating for evidence-based practices, high quality standards, value-added resources and giving voice to issues of critical importance. AER provides professional development via face-to-face conferences, virtual offerings and publications to strengthen the knowledge, skills and abilities of professionals within the field. AER provides networking, mentoring, connectivity, awards and scholarships for professionals to advance excellence within the field. Their focus is to ensure that persons with vision loss will have optimal gains and greater independence by giving timely, intentional and value-added support to professionals in the field.

An AER membership provides automatic membership in an AER Chapter at no additional cost. Chapters provide unique opportunities to connect with local professionals who provide services and resources that enable individuals who are blind or visually impaired to achieve their educational, employment and personal independence goals. However, even if you are not a member of AER, you can still attend meetings and conferences. Visit AER for a list of chapters and websites to view online resources.
I currently serve on the Georgia Chapter's AER board. Visit our GaAER website for resources in Georgia and information on upcoming conferences. 

Council for Exceptional Children/Division of Visual Impairment

The primary purpose of this Council for Exceptional Children Division of Visual Impairments and Deaf-Blind is to advance the education of individuals with visual impairments and to promote related educational, scientific, and charitable purposes. Specifically, the Division assists and provides support to The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in all its efforts on behalf of persons with exceptionalities, and participates in all appropriate governance activities of CEC subject to the general supervision and control of CEC.

International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment

The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) is a global association of individuals and organizations that promotes equal access to appropriate education for all children and youth with visual impairment so that they may achieve their full potential. Their website includes information that is relevant not only to ICEVI in general, but, most importantly, to the activities that take place in the seven regions of ICEVI: Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America/Caribbean, Pacific, and West Asia.

American Rehabilitation Counseling Association

The American Rehabilitation Counseling Association, (ARCA) is an organization of rehabilitation counseling practitioners, educators, and students who are concerned with improving the lives of people with disabilities. Its mission is to enhance the development of people with disabilities throughout their life span and to promote excellence in the rehabilitation counseling profession. Its goal is to provide the type of leadership that encourages excellence in the areas of rehabilitation counseling practice, research, consultation, and professional development.

National Rehabilitation Association

The National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) is the oldest professional member organization in the United States that advocates for the rights of individuals with disabilities while also promoting high quality, ethical, and collaborative practice across the rehabilitation profession. It is a membership organization for professionals in the field of rehabilitation and as an advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.