Institute on Blindness gets grant extension for improved mobility and
rehabilitation programs
Mar 20, 2020 |
Louisiana Tech's Institute on Blindness has received grant approval for
Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) and Structured Discovery
rehabilitation
training, a development that brings more depth and opportunity to the
Institute's education programs that are specialized for teaching individuals
who
are blind or visually impaired.
Louisiana Tech University is the only university in Louisiana to offer
graduate certifications and master programs in Teaching Blind Students
(TBS), Orientation
and Mobility (O&M), and Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind Counseling and
Guidance. These graduate certifications and master programs train
individuals
to become teachers who help give independence to the blind community. The
innovative and effective SDCT and Structured Discovery rehabilitation
training
programs will offer more opportunities to improve mobility and daily living
skills for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Dr. Edward Bell, Director of the Professional Development and Research
Institute on Blindness (PDRIB), expressed that he has seen great success
from previous
years and through the renewed grant he anticipates exponential growth.
"Over the past five years, Louisiana Tech has benefited from this grant and
has trained 35 individuals who have gone on to be employed across the
country
in professional careers," Bell said. "With this new grant, we are excited to
train as many as 40 new and eager students who are ready to change the world
by bringing independence to blind kids and adults nationwide."
The PDRIB, housed in Tech's College of Education, prepares highly qualified
professionals to educate and rehabilitate individuals who are blind or
visually
impaired. The PDRIB also conducts thorough research that broadens
perspectives, deepens the overall understanding of blindness, and seeks the
best methods
to increase independence for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
However, there is a nationwide shortage of educators for the blind and
visually impaired community. With a 90% illiteracy rate and a 75%
unemployment rate
nationwide within the blind community, there is a dire need to increase the
number of educators trained in teaching students with visual impairments.
Job
opportunities have grown exponentially for teaching blind or visually
impaired students; currently there are four times the number of teaching
jobs available
then there are the number of qualified educators and instructors to fill
those positions.
Through their job assistance placement services and new program offerings,
Bell and his team seek to do their part to fill this hiring need and empower
educators to change lives within the visually impaired community.
All tuition and fees are covered for the Structured Discovery Cane Travel
(SDCT) and Structured Discovery rehabilitation training programs.
Scholarships
are available on a competitive basis for those who pursue these programs.
Students who receive scholarship funding must work in the field of
rehabilitation
for two years for each year of their scholarship support.
To become an educator for the blind and visually impaired community, contact
Bell at
ebell at latech.edu.
For more details on how to make a difference in the national shortage of
teachers for the blind and visually impaired, visit
pdrib.com.
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Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Director,
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Louisiana Tech University
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