(Concord, NH, July 1, 2020) Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments are a critical element in the education of students who are blind or visually impaired. There are not enough of these specialized teachers, especially in New Hampshire. To address that challenge, New Hampshire’s Future In Sight and the School for Global Inclusion and Social Development (SGISD) at University of Massachusetts Boston share a commitment to the preparation and continued education of professionals who work in the vision field. The two entities have a history of working collaboratively through the Northeast Resource Center for Vision Education. Future In Sight provides practicum experience for students in the SGISD Vision Studies Program, hires graduates that serve on staff as itinerant teachers of students with visual impairments. Together they have framed research efforts to better understand the most effective instructional approaches.
Today, they have further expanded their formal collaboration by creating a Future In Sight Fellowship which will support one student who will be enrolled in the SGISD PhD program and serve as a Research Assistant at Future In Sight. “The creation of the Future In Sight Fellowship is possible by an enthusiastic investment in the future of our field, endorsed by our Board of Directors. This is an exciting and timely opportunity to expand our understanding of emerging and unmet needs of students with visual impairments,” says David Morgan, President & CEO of Future In Sight. “From this research, we expect to better inform our work, our overall field of practice, and outcomes for students who are blind or visually impaired.”
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“Through this fellowship, the Future In Sight scholar can build on their previous contributions in the field of vision studies by conducting vital research with the potential to further impact the field. This is an exciting and timely collaboration,” says Dr. Sheila Fesko, Associate Dean and Director, School for Global Inclusion and Social Development; Program Manager, Institute for Community Inclusion. “We look forward to announcing the selection of the Future In Sight Scholar later this summer.”
About SGISD
The School for Global Inclusion and Social Development is focused on generating social change that builds more inclusive communities worldwide. Students committed to global inclusion and social development learn skills related to both policy and practice. They can then apply those skills to their daily efforts to create a more socially cohesive and sustainable society, supporting the dignity, human rights, and responsibilities of all its members.