Explore Our Newest Technical Assistance Activities for Professionals
The NRTC is excited to announce three new initiatives designed to enhance services for individuals who are blind or have low vision (B/LV). These programs offer practical training, collaborative learning, and individualized support for professionals in the field.
Foundations in Blindness and Low Vision Rehabilitation: Essentials for Blindness Professionals
This free, three-part training equips new vocational rehabilitation counselors, case coordinators, and support staff with essential knowledge and skills to promote independence and employment for individuals who are B/LV. Topics include understanding eye conditions, reading eye reports, and assessment strategies. Registration opens each August for the fall sessions (September–November). This training is also available for up to 4.5 CRC credit hours. Visit our training activities page to learn more.
Quarterly Open Office Hours: Individualized Technical Assistance for Service Providers
Service providers can join our quarterly informal virtual sessions for individualized technical assistance on workplace accommodations, training opportunities, and more. Our next meeting is February 12, 2026 at 1:00 pm CT through Zoom. Visit our Technical Assistance page for information on future dates.
Community of Practice (CoP)
This monthly forum allows vocational rehabilitation staff to collaborate on complex cases, share strategies, and learn from peers. Each session features a case study or resource to allow for focused discussions and actionable takeaways. Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of each month starting January 13, 2026 at 3:00 pm CT. Registration is required for this CoP meeting.
To learn more about NRTC training and technical assistance opportunities, contact our Training and Outreach Coordinator, Stephanie Welch-Grenier, at swelchgrenier@colled.msstate.edu.
Current Research Highlight: Development of Be My Mentor Intervention
Finding meaningful employment can be challenging for adults who are blind or have low vision (B/LV), and access to effective career mentoring may be limited. While mentoring is widely recognized as a powerful tool for career development for those who are B/LV, most existing research and programs focus on youth or college students and rely on traditional, long-term mentoring models. This leaves a critical gap for adults seeking timely, practical guidance as they navigate the workforce.
The purpose of this project is to develop and test Be My Mentor, an innovative electronic flash mentoring intervention designed to improve employment outcomes for adults who are B/LV. By leveraging technology, this project aims to provide flexible, on-demand career support that meets the unique needs of this population.
The study will explore key questions such as: What are the most prevalent career mentoring needs, issues, and challenges of adults who are B/LV? What are the essential features of a flash mentoring intervention to address the career mentoring needs, issues, and challenges of adults who are B/LV? Does the intervention show promise in improving career-search self-efficacy, career engagement, and psychosocial well-being among employed and unemployed adults who are B/LV?
The project will begin with a survey and focus groups to identify users’ needs and preferences. These findings will inform the development of Be My Mentor, which will be integrated into the popular Be My Eyes mobile app. Through this app, users will be able to request short, focused mentoring sessions with trained mentors. The platform will be built through an iterative process by Be My Eyes software developers, in collaboration with our research team. The project will conclude with a feasibility study to assess practicality, user satisfaction, and preliminary outcomes. This project is a partnership between our research team and Be My Eyes, combining expertise in rehabilitation research with cutting-edge technology development.
Expected outcomes include a scalable, technology-driven mentoring solution tailored to adults who are B/LV. The findings will advance research on mentoring interventions for this population and lay the groundwork for future studies on the effectiveness of the intervention and broader implementation. Ultimately, the research will help expand opportunities for career engagement and enhance psychosocial well-being among individuals who are B/LV. For more information about this research project, visit our research project webpage.
Training and Technical Assistance
New Online Course
Teaching Adaptive Techniques to Woodworkers and Carpenters who are Blind or Vision Impaired: This course introduces vision rehabilitation therapists to adaptive strategies for teaching individuals with visual impairments to safely and effectively engage in woodworking and carpentry activities. Course participants will explore assessment, organizational methods, and practical adaptations for measuring, marking, and operating tools. Emphasis is placed on safety, accessibility, and empowering clients to maintain or regain independence in woodworking as a hobby or vocational skill. This course is available for 2 ACVREP credits.
All courses are available through our learning management system. For more information about our courses, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Featured Resources
The NRTC’s Braille Resources page provides research summaries of peer-reviewed publications on braille use and its connection to employment. It also offers links to NRTC articles, online courses, and additional braille learning resources. This page was created as a valuable resource for professionals and others interested in braille.
Featured Course
Braille: What It Is and Why It Is Important. This 1-hour course provides an overview of how the code works, the equipment used for reading and writing braille, and the barriers faced by those who want to learn and use braille.
Other NRTC News
OIB-TAC Webinars Eligible for CE Credits Starting This Month
We are excited to announce that our 2026* webinars will be eligible for 1 hour of ACVREP credit! Starting with our January webinar, credits can be obtained by watching the webinar live or watching the recorded version on our website or YouTube channel within 1 year from the original webinar date. Instructions for obtaining these CE credits will be provided during each webinar and outlined on our website. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
*Please note that CE credit will not be available for any of our webinars held prior to 2026.
The NRTC is Hiring
The NRTC is currently seeking a Research Associate II or III to join our team! The primary responsibility of this position is to assist with research and training activities under the direction of experienced staff members. The Research Associate II-III will assist senior researchers and other staff in completing research and development activities associated with a federally funded grant. This person will receive mentoring to enhance their research skills, with the goal of assuming leadership responsibilities for research projects in the future. To learn more about this position or to apply, visit our Employment Opportunities page.
New Spotlight on Successful Employment
The NRTC is excited to feature two individuals in our Spotlight on Successful Employment! Ryan Levine and Crystle Barrs transformed their shared love for dogs into a mission to empower families and themselves. Together, they opened the K-9 Enrichment Center in Cape Coral, Florida, where they teach force-free training techniques designed to foster trust and lasting companionship. Though both have similar visual impairments, Ryan has optic atrophy, and Crystle has nystagmus and optic atrophy; their experiences are unique. Learn more about Ryan and Crystyle and other B/LV employees on our Spotlight on Successful Employment page.
Vision Specialist Program Updates
We are proud of the 11 graduates of our Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation Certificate program for their extraordinary work in completing this intensive program! The program consisted of four graduate-level courses designed for professionals to help them become more effective in their work with individuals who are B/LV. The online graduate certificate program was funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Although this is the last year of the RSA-funded program, Mississippi State University plans to continue offering the classes of the Vision Specialist program, with the assistance of the NRTC. See our website or contact Stephanie Welch-Grenier (swelchgrenier@colled.msstate.edu) for more information!
Publications, Presentations, and Miscellanies
Publications
Cmar, J. L., Steverson, A., & Smith, M. J. (in press). Initial effectiveness of Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Youth with visual impairments. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness.
Farrow, K. (Winter, 2025). The documentation dance. AVRT Newsletter, p14-17.
McDonnall, M. (2025, Winter). Change in assistive technology use at work between 2021 and 2024. AccessWorld.
Presentations
Ottowitz, J. (2026, May 1). Closet Confidence: Managing Clothing for a Seamless Daily Routine. WAER Collaborative Vision Conference, Stevens Point, WI.
Webinars
January 16 (2:00 pm CT) – Navajo Elders, Blindness, and Cultural Competence Part 1: This webinar explores culturally competent practices when working with Navajo (Diné) Elders who are blind or have low vision. Drawing on key insights from Native Communities on Health and Disability: Borderland Dialogues, the session highlights how cultural worldviews, relational communication styles, and traditional understandings of disability shape the experiences of Navajo Elders. To learn more and register, visit our event page.