For students who have an undergraduate degree in visual disabilities, the graduate program requires 3 semesters of on-campus study. Currently, stipends and tuition assistance are available for students pursing a specialization in teaching students with visual impairments through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Special Education Projects. Contact Dr. Sandra Lewis for more information about this specialization. Rehabilitation Teaching Rehabilitation Teachers provide instruction and guidance in adaptive independent living and vocational skills, enabling adults who are blind or who have low vision to confidently carry out their daily activities. Clients of the Rehabilitation Teacher are individuals and their families who have recently experienced a significant loss of vision.
Many clients are elderly.
The goal of the Florida State University Rehabilitation Teaching Specialization is to prepare Rehabilitation Teachers with the necessary skills and knowledge to work effectively with the diversity of adults with severe visual impairments and their families in a variety of community settings. The Specialization is designed to meet the standards for rehabilitation teaching certification by the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Depending upon prior experience and training, the length of study for the Rehabilitation Teaching Specialization is usually one calendar year. As there is a great deal of overlap, many individuals simultaneously take coursework towards both the Rehabilitation Teaching and Orientation and Mobility specializations. Currently, stipends and tuition assistance are available for students pursing a specialization in Rehabilitation Teaching through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration.