About Us

History

The Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies at Western Michigan University is recognized internationally as the oldest, largest and best program of its kind. It originated in 1961 with a graduate degree in Orientation and Mobility, responding to the need for professionals to rehabilitate the many military personnel blinded during World War Two and the Korean War. Initially named the Department of Blind Rehabilitation, it prepared professionals to teach people who were blind to travel with a long cane.

In 1963, WMU pioneered again, establishing the first graduate program in Rehabilitation Teaching in the United States. The program trains professionals to teach skills of daily living to people who are blind or have low vision. Department offerings expanded considerably over the years, and the name changed to reflect the wider areas of preparation it includes.

Today

Department faculty now prepare professionals for positions in rehabilitation, education, and rehabilitation counseling and conduct research related to factors which affect individuals with visual impairments. Today the department offers four specialized curricula, and has eight full time faculty members who are certified by their respective professional organizations.

Our graduates serve people with visual impairments in almost every state in the nation and in many foreign countries. Many WMU graduates are members of the faculty at the nation's 18 institutions of higher learning that prepare professionals in rehabilitation and education of individuals with visual impairments. WMU faculty, past and present, have received the highest honors, nationally and internationally, that the profession bestows.

The Profession & Opportunities

Blindness and Low Vision Studies professionals work with people of all ages to provide training that promotes independent and productive lifestyles, enabling them to:

travel around the house and around the world
complete educational programs and compete for professional positions
use the telephone and gain proficiency in electronic mail and sophisticated communication technology

Instruction is generally provided in one-on-one situations and is designed to meet the needs of the client/student. Some graduates of the program pursue doctoral degrees and eventually move into leadership positions in the private and public sectors, including faculty positions at universities.

Professionals in the field are in great demand. Employment is available in state agencies, private agencies, public schools, residential schools, and Veterans Administration medical centers. Because so few universities graduate these practitioners, shortages are widespread.

Graduates receive assistance with finding employment. Individuals who are willing to relocate can find jobs in most areas of the United States and Canada. Salaries are competitive with those in other human service professions.

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