New Spanish Resources Available from the NRTC
Independence begins with access to the right tools. Our collection of Spanish resources was created for Spanish-speaking individuals who are blind or have low vision (B/LV). These tools offer practical guidance on topics such as transportation, disclosing visual impairment, and working while receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Lack of access to reliable transportation is a barrier that keeps many B/LV individuals from finding and maintaining employment. One of our most popular resources, "A Transportation Guide for Persons Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision," has been translated into Spanish and is now available on our website. It contains helpful information about finding and using transportation services effectively.
By removing language barriers, these Spanish resources reinforce our commitment to making vital information accessible. They are designed to help individuals build confidence, succeed professionally, and connect with their communities. Family members and friends can also benefit from these materials, gaining insights into how to better support their loved ones. Visit our Spanish resources page to explore these resources and share them with others!
Current Research Highlight: Virtual Training to Improve Job Interview Skills
Youth who are B/LV face significant barriers to employment, with limited job interview experience being a key challenge. Paid work experience is a strong predictor of future employment, but opportunities are often hindered by a lack of effective interview skills. Limited research exists on interview skill development for B/LV youth, especially using virtual platforms. This project addresses that gap by customizing an existing interactive, web-based virtual training program and testing its usability and effectiveness in improving employment-related outcomes.
The virtual interview training program was created by researchers from the University of Michigan and SIMmersion. Initially, we worked with SIMmersion to customize the virtual interview training program for B/LV youth based on stakeholder feedback. Then, we did usability testing with ten screen reader and screen magnification software users, which informed additional product updates to improve accessibility and usability for the B/LV population.
We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 56 B/LV youth in 2023 and completed 6-month follow-up data collection in the summer of 2024. We are currently analyzing the data to evaluate participants' interview skills, interview self-efficacy, interview anxiety, and employment outcomes. We also gathered and analyzed service provider feedback and are integrating findings and insights from this project into a virtual interview training implementation guide for professionals.
Future products from this project will include an interview toolkit, peer-reviewed and consumer publications, and an online course. Our findings will inform vocational rehabilitation service delivery and equip service providers with strategies to assist B/LV youth in developing interview skills.
For more information about this research project, visit our research project webpage.
Training and Technical Assistance
New Online Course
T.I.P.S. for Helping People with Vision Problems offers practical strategies to enhance the everyday lives of individuals who have trouble seeing. Through real-life scenarios, you will gain valuable insights into fostering a supportive atmosphere where every person feels needed, comfortable, and in control of their daily lives.
All NRTC courses are available through our learning management system. For more information about our courses, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
New Article Summary
The NRTC has a new summary of our recent article Comparison of Assistive Technology Use and Beliefs Among Employed and Unemployed People Who Are Blind. The purpose of this study was to explore whether assistive technology (AT) use, skill levels, training needs, and self-efficacy differ between employed and unemployed B/LV individuals. To learn more about this research study's findings in plain language terms and its key takeaways, visit the Article Summaries page on our website.
NRTC Braille Resources
In celebration of January being Braille Literacy Month, the NRTC shares a new resource and a featured course related to braille!
New Resource: The NRTC's new Braille Resouces webpage provides research summaries on braille use and its connection to employment and offers links to NRTC articles, online courses, and additional braille learning resources. This page serves as a valuable resource for professionals and others interested in braille.
Featured Course: Braille: What It Is and Why It Is Important. This course provides an overview of how the code works, the equipment used for reading and writing braille, and the barriers faced by those who want to learn and use braille.
Other NRTC News
NRTC Welcomes New Employee
The NRTC welcomes Dr. Stephanie Welch-Grenier, CVRT/COMS/TVI, as a research associate III! Stephanie will primarily work on the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC) grant. With over ten years of experience as a vision rehabilitation instructor and educator, Stephanie has served as a direct service provider across various settings. She will leverage her expertise in blindness rehabilitation to support OIB-TAC in developing and implementing training and technical assistance for agencies that serve older blind individuals.
Vision Specialist Program Updates
We are proud of the 12 graduates of our Vision Specialist in Vocational Rehabilitation program for their extraordinary work in completing this intensive program!
Additionally, we are pleased to announce that we have selected 12 professionals for the 2025 class from Wisconsin, Louisiana, Virginia, Mississippi, New Jersey, Arkansas, Arizona, and Missouri. In January, the Vision Specialist class of 2025 will begin their coursework, which includes four graduate-level courses to increase participants' knowledge about working with B/LV individuals. Three of these courses are available to take individually and may be transferable to other universities' programs. More information about our courses and the program is available on our website.
Publications, Presentations, and Miscellanies
Publications
McDonnall, M. C., & Cmar, J. L. (2024). Employment and retirement among workers who develop vision loss in midlife. WORK, 79(2), 819-830.
Crudden, A., Steverson, A., & Sergi, K. (2024). Why I’m not working: People with visual impairments explain. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 61(1), 39-53.
Steverson, A., Cmar, J. L., Humm, L., & Smith, M. J. (in press). Evaluating the usability of Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Youth with visual impairments. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction.
Crudden, A., Steverson, A., & Sergi, K. (in press). Mentoring and self-employment: Potential strategies to promote labor force participation. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Webinars
January 17 (2:00 PM CST) – Let's Get Smart: Accessibility in the Home: With a quick press of a button or voice command, smart devices are becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. When considering accessibility in a home setting, we often get asked about quick and easy smart device solutions for addressing an individual's independent living needs. Join Dr. Staphanie Welch-Grenier, CVRT/COMS/TVI, to learn about smart devices and smart home options on the market, along with considerations for determining the appropriateness of incorporating smart devices into the home. We do not offer CE credits for our monthly webinars. To learn more and register, visit our event page.