NRTC Releases Interactive Video to Help Employers Understand Vision Loss
Do you work with employers to promote hiring of people with blindness or low vision (B/LV)? Our newest resource, Questions About Vision Loss, is a one-hour, self-paced interactive video designed to help employers better understand and confidently hire people who are B/LV. Developed by the NRTC, this video addresses 42 of the most common questions employers have about hiring individuals with vision loss. The video is eligible for 1 or 1.5 hours of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) credit.
The video starts with an introductory module that offers essential information about people with vision loss. From there, users can select the questions that are most important to them across three main categories: Employment-Related Questions, General Questions, and Curiosity Questions. These questions cover topics such as workplace accommodations, daily life with vision loss, and more personal questions like “What’s the hardest thing about being blind?” or “How do you perceive color?”
To earn SHRM credit, viewers must complete a short pre- and post-video quiz and engage with the video for at least 50 minutes. Those who opt into a research study will answer a few additional questions and receive 1.5 hours of SHRM credit. Whether employers are hiring their first employee with vision loss or seeking to ensure their workplace is inclusive and informed, this video is an excellent starting point.
Access the interactive video to get started and earn SHRM credit.
Current Research Highlight: Job Search Skills Training via Videoconference
Finding employment can be especially challenging for people who are B/LV, and job search skills training has been shown to improve employment outcomes for people facing such barriers. However, few studies have looked specifically at how these trainings work for B/LV adults. This project aims to fill that gap by developing a job search skills training curriculum specifically for people who are B/LV and delivered via video-conferencing that builds job search knowledge, boosts confidence, and supports competitive employment for this population.
Over the past several months, the research team completed data collection for Survey 4—the final follow-up survey—with a total of 66 completions. Data from all four surveys have been cleaned and prepared for analysis.
Initial findings show that participants who received the training gained and retained more job search knowledge over time than those in the control group. There was also an early indication that training participants experienced less anxiety related to the job search process compared to the control group, though this effect did not continue at later time points. Although a higher percentage of the intervention group was employed, this difference in employment rates between the groups was not statistically significant. The team is continuing to explore the data and has begun preparing the training curriculum for dissemination.
The team also submitted and revised a manuscript on participants’ resume quality, which has now been accepted for publication in The New RE:view and is currently in press. For more information about this research project, visit our research project webpage.
Training and Technical Assistance
New Resource
Job Interview Training: Transition-Age Youth: Implementation Guidelines for Youth who are Blind or Have Low Vision. This guide was developed for service providers who work with transition-age youth who are B/LV. It provides an overview of Job Interview Training: Transition-Age Youth (JIT-TAY), a program designed to assist young people with disabilities in developing essential job interview skills. Created by Dr. Matthew Smith in collaboration with SIMmersion and later adapted for B/LV youth during an NRTC research project, JIT-TAY features an interactive, accessible online platform. Users engage in virtual interviews with AI-driven hiring managers who adjust their responses based on user input. A virtual job coach offers real-time feedback to help users enhance their skills. The guide also includes implementation strategies and resources, specifically tailored for B/LV users.
New Article Summary
The NRTC has released a new summary of our recent article, Improving Knowledge and Attitudes via an Interactive Video: A Randomized Controlled Trial. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the interactive video Questions About Vision Loss (mentioned in the lead story) in enhancing knowledge, attitudes, and intent to hire individuals who are B/LV. Additionally, it sought to determine whether the immediate improvements were retained three months later. To discover more about the findings of this research study in layman's terms and its key takeaways, please visit the Article Summaries page on our website.
Guide for Hosting a White Cane Awareness Day Celebration
The Community Outreach Guide: How to Host a White Cane Awareness Day Celebration (October 15) will introduce you to the history of White Cane Awareness Day, provide inspiration for activities (from a signing ceremony to a large, public event), and offer general event tips to support you in creating a successful celebration. From links to resources to sample invitations and press releases, the guide is full of great information!
Featured Resource
The NRTC’s webinars and podcasts series, Employment Insights with the NRTC, features a variety of engaging and informative content designed to support individuals with B/LV on their employment journeys. Our webinars include information on leveraging your disability to find a job with guest speaker Kristin Smedley, using LinkedIn to increase employment opportunities, disclosing visual impairment, and navigating the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system.
Sylvia Stinson-Perez hosts our podcast series. In each episode, guests who are B/LV discuss their employment journeys. Listeners will receive job search tips, hear about failures in the workplace and how to overcome them, and learn success stories about how individuals have maintained and advanced in their careers.
Other NRTC News
NRTC Recruiting Applicants for the Vision Specialist Program
The NRTC is recruiting the next class of Vision Specialists in Vocational Rehabilitation. Our online graduate certificate program, funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, lasts for one year (January to December). The courses are designed to help professionals become more effective in their work with individuals who are B/LV. Applications will be accepted until October 1, 2025. To learn more about this program and how to apply, visit our Vision Specialist page on our website.
Online Course Catalog
The NRTC offers a diverse range of courses and training designed to promote active learning for professionals and enhance understanding of B/LV. Our topics include introductory courses, employment resources for individuals with B/LV, professional ethics, anatomy, health conditions, and community outreach. All of our courses are free, and most provide continuing education credits. For more information and to view a complete list of our courses, please visit our Course Catalog.
Publications, Presentations, and Miscellanies
Publications
McDonnall, M. C., & Sessler Trinkowsky, R. (2025). Assistive technology innovations: Perceptions, adoption, and desires. Assistive Technology Outcomes and Benefits, 19, 47-66.
McDonnall, M. C., Steverson, A., Boydstun, J., & D’Andrea, F. M. (2025). Factors associated with proficient braille skills in adults. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 119(2), 97-108.
McDonnall, M. C., Antonelli, K., & Marett, E. G. (2025). Improving knowledge and attitudes via an interactive video: A randomized controlled trial. Rehabilitation Psychology. Advance online publication.
Crudden, A., Steverson, A., & Cmar, J. L. (in press). Mental health: Are we paying attention? Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.
Ottowitz, J., Farrow, K., and Speights, L. (in press). Voices from the Field: Perspectives of Professionals About Older Blind Services. The New RE:view.
Presentations
Norris, D., Ottowitz, J., Shadrick, I., Fugate, L., Fink, M., Marcille, F., and Welch-Grenier, S. (2025, August 5). Forging the future of VRT: Exciting advances in the 5-year strategic plan and you. AVRT Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
Anderson, G. & Ottowitz, J. (2025, August 5). Leaving your mark: Why labeling is more than just a bump dot. AVRT Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
Welch-Grenier, S. & Ottowitz, J. (2025, August 6). Promising Practices in VRT: Blending innovation and effectiveness. AVRT Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
Dalton, S. & Ottowitz, J. (2025, August 7). Every dish tells a story: Understanding food as a universal language. AVRT Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
Webinars
July 18 (2:00 pm CST) – Hands-On Independence: Adaptations for Older Adults with Limited Use of Their Hands. Did you know that hand function declines in older adults? This includes decreases in strength and movement, as well as age-related structural changes to joints and muscles, alongside neurological changes. Join us as Lindsey Angst, MS, OTR/L, CLVT, educates us on a combination of strategies and adaptations for older adults living with hand deficits and limitations, in addition to vision impairment. Learn what can be done to help these individuals remain independent and safe in their daily activities. We do not offer CE credits for our monthly webinars. To learn more and register, visit our event page.