Family Support and Professional Organizations for Students with Vision Needs

Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals

ACVREP, founded in 2000, believes that all people who are blind or have low vision should receive services from highly qualified professionals and its mission is to advance professional competency to realize that goal. The tool ACVREP uses is certification.

ACVREP's certification programs are designed to offer professionals the means to demonstrate critical knowledge and skills that promote the provision of quality services and ethical practice. ACVREP certified professionals possess a level of quality and care that is unmatched in the field.

American Council of the Blind: Home

The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people.

Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement (ABLE)

ABLE believes that print should be accessible to everyone, including people who are blind, visually-impaired or print disabled. Working with trained volunteers, we transcribe print materials into braille, audio, and tactile formats to enhance literacy, dignity, productivity and independence.

College, Career, and Community Readiness for Students with IEPs
Resources to support students at all age and developmental levels to be independent and college, career, and community ready.

Medical and Health Conditions that May be Related to Students with IEPs
Explore resources relating to medical or health conditions outlined in Individuals with Disability Act (IDEA) and Wisconsin disability area definitions as well as other resources to support students in schools with special health care needs.

National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB)

The NBPCB was created to certify qualified specialists in work with the blind. At present, the Certification Board oversees four certifications - the National Orientation and Mobility Certification (NOMC), the National Certification in Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind (NCRTB), the National Certification in Literary Braille (NCLB), and the National Certification in Unified English Braille (NCUEB).

National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin

The National Federation of the Blind of Wisconsin (NFBWI), an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, is an organization that believes in the full capacity of blind people, and has the power, influence, diversity and determination to help transform our dreams into reality. Members work together for a brighter tomorrow by raising expectations so that blind persons can live the life they want.

National Organizations to Support Implementation of Evidence-Based Resources for Students with IEPs
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires specially designed instruction to be based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable. In addition, evaluation of students with IEPs must utilize research based tools whenever practicable.

Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired Contact Information (OBVI)

The OBVI has regional rehabilitation specialists that cover every county throughout the state.

Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association

The Orientation and Mobility Specialist Association, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation, is maintained and governed by orientation and mobility (O&M) professionals working in the United States. The membership and the board of directors represent the diverse backgrounds of professionals who devote their lives to the teaching of movement independence to people with visual impairments.

Vision Forward

Vision Forward provides a continuum of services, from birth through adulthood, to people with visual impairments, helping them achieve important developmental milestones as well as educational, personal and professional goals. All our programs and services are provided regardless of a person’s or family’s ability to pay.

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

The WAER supports vision education and rehabilitation professionals in the state of Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Council of the Blind & Visually Impaired (WCBVI)

The WCBVI promotes the dignity and empowerment of the people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public.

Wisconsin Deafblind Technical Assistance Project (WDBTAP)

WDBTAP is a federally funded technical assistance and dissemination project. We are a resource to families, agencies, and schools supporting infants, children, and youth aged birth – 21 with combined vision and hearing loss.

Wisconsin Pediatric Eye Care Professionals

A comprehensive list of Wisconsin pediatric eye care professionals.

Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL)

As part of a national network cooperating with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), the Wisconsin Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL) provides audio books and brailled materials to persons, living in Wisconsin, who cannot see regular print or handle print materials. WTBBL patrons receive and return books and equipment, postage-free through the U.S. Postal Service.