Pitt Education Visual Impairment and Blindness Programs Receive Full Accreditation
The University of Pittsburgh School of Education’s visual impairment and blindness programs have received one of the highest seals of approval: full accreditation from the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER).
AER is an international professional membership organization for professionals who provide services to people with vision loss. Accredited programs undergo a comprehensive, in-depth review to ensure they are providing their students with top-quality education and training that meets industry standards.
Pitt Education’s Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) and Orientation and Mobility Specialist (O&M) programs both received the full accreditation, which verifies they meet 100% of the more than 400 curricular, clinical, faculty, and administrative standards defined by AER.
“Knowing that we meet all standards gives us confidence that we are providing a comprehensive education,” says Tessa McCarthy, associate professor and program coordinator for the O&M program. “For years, our students have told us that they feel prepared and have shown that by having a nearly 100% pass rate on their certification exams. This is just one more indication that we are doing what we should be doing.”
Pitt is one of the first universities to successfully complete AER’s rigorous accreditation process. Pitt’s TVI program is currently the only fully accredited TVI program in Pennsylvania and one of five accredited programs across the country. The O&M program is one of two accredited programs in Pennsylvania and one of 13 fully accredited O&M programs in the United States.
Frances Mary D’Andrea, assistant professor of practice and program coordinator for the TVI program, says the accreditation process enabled faculty to engage in a self-study of the programs’ strengths and areas for improvement.
“Our program has been around for so long because we are constantly updating it based on new research and trends in the field,” says D’Andrea. “For this accreditation, it’s not just that we needed to meet these standards for an external group, but it was a chance for us to reflect on our coursework and the requirements we have for students.”
Created more than 60 years ago, Pitt’s visual impairment and blindness programs are among the oldest in the country, having trained thousands of highly specialized teachers.
Students earn single or dual certifications in TVI and O&M, and have the option to take two additional courses to earn a master’s degree in education. TVI students are prepared for the state’s teaching certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and O&M students are prepared for national professional certification from the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals.
“As part of an urban campus with incredible infrastructure and clinical resources, our school can offer students many incredible opportunities that other universities can’t offer,” says McCarthy.
In addition to access to nationally renowned organizations like the UPMC Vision Institute, the City of Pittsburgh’s infrastructure and public transit options provide opportunities for students’ hands-on O&M training in urban environments.
Graduates of the TVI and O&M programs work in a variety of settings, including K-12 public or private schools, early intervention programs, and adult rehabilitation agencies.
“We often get requests from agencies across the country looking for new practitioners,” says D’Andrea. “There’s an incredible shortage of professionals in this field, so this is a great time to become a TVI or O&M specialist.”
In addition to the new accreditation, Pitt Education’s visual impairment and blindness programs announced that all students will pay in-state tuition regardless of their state residency starting with the fall 2024 semester.
“There aren’t many programs like this around the country, but there’s a nationwide demand for vision professionals,” says McCarthy. “Now that we offer in-state tuition for all students, I’m hopeful that we will expand our footprint and help meet those demands.”
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Pitt Education’s vision impairment and blindness programs prepare students to serve the education and rehabilitation needs of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. The programs are now accepting applications.
