AER ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY DIVISION
DONALD BLASCH SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
AER’s O&M Division presents an annual scholarship competition for students enrolled in AER accredited O&M programs. The scholarship recognizes the vital contributions of the late Donald Blasch to the profession of O&M during his long tenure at Western Michigan University.
Amount of Award
The Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Division of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) will award two Donald Blasch scholarships each year in the amount of $1,000 each but may vary dependent upon availability of funds.
Eligibility
Applicants for the Donald Blasch Scholarship must have completed at least one semester (part-time or full-time) in an AER-accredited orientation and mobility program on the date the scholarship application is signed and provide proof of enrollment. Applications for the scholarship must be received by the chair of the committee (Eric Shaw, TVI/COMS) with an email date no later than March 9, 2026.
How To Apply
An application form must be completed in full and signed by each applicant. Application submission is as follows:
- Electronic submissions are required. These should be emailed to the committee chair at ([email protected]), with the subject heading of, “Donald Blasch Scholarship Application” and must be in Word or PDF format. Applications sent in other formats will be rejected.
- Applications must be received with an email date no later than March 9, 2026. Incomplete applications or applications that are not received with an email dated on or before March 9, 2026 will not be considered.
Selection
Applications for the Donald Blasch scholarship(s) will be judged by members of the Scholarship Committee. Individuals will be evaluated for the scholarship based only on the information included in the application packet. Following completion of judging, the scholarship committee chair will submit the committee’s recommendation to the division chair by April 14, 2026.
Selection will be primarily based on applicants’ variety and extent of experience (paid or unpaid) in human services endeavors, leadership work and leadership potential, and commitment/passion for the field of O&M as reflected in the 200-word essay and in the letters of reference.
Financial need is not a criterion for selection.
All eligible students are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. Award checks payable to the student’s university and will be issued by AER for the O&M Division.
Other Information About the Scholarship
An announcement of the availability of the scholarship will be published on the O&M Division website and, upon awarding the scholarship, a brief bio of the recipient(s) will be announced in a Division e-blast and posted to the website. The Blasch scholarship winner must be willing to have his or her name and/or photograph published in AER publications in association with the award.
The Scholarship Committee chairperson will notify the award winners by phone on or before May 1, 2026. Individuals who apply and are not selected will be notified by the Scholarship committee chairperson via email.
RECIPIENTS
The AER Orientation & Mobility Division would like to congratulate our current and past recipients of the Donald Blasch Scholarship. The O&M Division presents two scholarships in the amount of $1000.00, annually when funds are available to two outstanding students. Thank you to our panel of dedicated judges who reviewed and scored our many submissions.
2025
Katherine Blough
Kate Blough has been an itinerant TVI in Westchester County, NY since 2006, working with students aged 4-21. She attends the Hunter College O&M certification program and serves on the NYSAER Board. Previously, Kate was the Vice President of The Association of American Publishers, the national book publishing trade association. She received her MA in Blindness & Visual Impairment from Teachers College in 2005 and BA in Political Science from the University of Akron in 1994. Kate has two daughters aged 19 and 23, and in her spare time she enjoys running, ceramics, sailing, traveling, and volunteering with Achilles.
Erin-Lynn Dimase
Erin-Lynn Dimase is a graduate student in Orientation and Mobility at Western Michigan University with over five years of experience in employment services and disability advocacy. She currently works as an Employment Specialist/Benefits Coach at CNS Healthcare and provides individualized care in a home setting. Erin-Lynn is honored to receive the Blasch Scholarship and is passionate about promoting independence for individuals with disabilities. Upon graduation, she looks forward to serving both children and adults as a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist.
2024
Katie Fischer
Emily Vetter – Texas Tech
2023
Jennifer Scheel- Portland State University
Suzanne Feigenson- Portland State University
For questions, contact Eric Shaw, Chair of the Blasch Scholarship Committee. [email protected]