George J. Zimmerman, Ph.D.

District 6 (Representing DC/MD, NJ, OH, Penn-Del (PA, DE), VI, VA, WV) 

Prior to his retirement in 2016, Dr. Zimmerman was the Coordinator of the University of Pittsburgh Vision Studies Program since 1988. He is a 1973 graduate of Kutztown University’s Teacher of the Visually Impaired Program and a 1976 master’s degree graduate of Western Michigan University’s Orientation and Mobility (O&M) program. He received his Ph. D. in Education and Human Development, with emphasis in O&M research from Vanderbilt University in 1987. He has served the educational and O&M needs of children and adults in Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Texas, and Tennessee. In addition, he has prepared hundreds of teachers of the visually impaired and O&M specialists, including the research mentoring and academic advising of doctoral students at Boston College, Vanderbilt University, and at the University of Pittsburgh. Since retiring, Dr. Zimmerman continues to serve as an on-line instructor for both Florida State University and the University of Pittsburgh O&M programs. From 1993 to 2000 he has served as a member of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) as well as serving as Chair of Division 17 (Personnel Preparation) and Chair of the University Certification Committee for Division 9 (O&M). He is currently serving as a member of the AERBVI By-Laws Committee. In addition, he has served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors for the Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter of AERBVI as well as member of the Penn-Del AER Conference Planning Committee. He has received numerous national and regional awards for his service, including the 2014 AERBVI Division 9 Lawrence W. Blaha Award, which is the highest award presented within the profession of O&M. From 1996 to 2000, Dr. Zimmerman served as Chair and Co-Chair of the various AERBVI committees that were responsible for the establishment of the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals, the national certification body, which now provides multiple types of professional certification in the field of blindness. Dr. Zimmerman is also the creator of the Zimmerman Low Vision Simulation Kit, which is used by thousands of professionals around the world for informing others about low vision.