Special Interest Groups
AER Interest Groups
AER’s Interest Groups provide members with a collaborative forum to promote the mission and goals of the organization. These groups serve as spaces to assess and discuss key issues, share expertise, make recommendations to the Board, and support professional development and continuing education opportunities.
All AER members are welcome to join any Interest Group. Specific participation guidelines or restrictions, if any, will be outlined in AER’s Policy and Procedure Manual and approved by the Board. Each group may also establish membership dues, subject to Board approval and detailed in the Policy and Procedure Manual.
Leadership within each Interest Group is member-driven. Groups elect a chairperson-elect, secretary, and any additional officers as determined by majority vote. Leadership follows a clear succession plan: the chairperson-elect advances to chairperson, and the current chairperson transitions into the role of past chairperson. The chair is responsible for reporting to the Board and ensuring alignment with AER’s governance standards.
Interest Groups operate with accountability and structure. Each group is required to develop and submit an annual budget for Board approval, as well as maintain its own Policy and Procedure Manual. These manuals, guided by AER Bylaws, will be filed with the AER office and made accessible on the AER website.
Administration and Leadership – Division 1
Join this division for current hot topics, regulatory and management issues, and fostering effective leadership skills. Ideal for administrators, principals, superintendents, executive directors, and emerging leaders.
Rehabilitation Counseling & Employment – Division 2
Interested in information, resources, and building competencies related to helping clients gain economic independence through pre-vocational and employment strategies? Then, this is a division for you.
Multiple Disabilities & DeafBlind – Division 3
Get the latest resources for working with clients and children who have additional disabilities like hearing, cognitive, or mobility impairments. Explore topics such as sensory processing, adaptive activities, and access to information.
Psychosocial Services – Division 4
Tools for mental health counseling, social skills training, and educational assessment and other content areas are explored within this division. It’s a valuable division for anyone who works with or on behalf of persons with vision loss.
Access and Technology – Division 5
This division ensures you stay current on tech trends, gain skills to match assistive tools to needs, and evaluate standards guiding developers and manufacturers serving those who are blind or visually impaired.
Low Vision Rehabilitation – Division 7
This division supports professionals in low vision services with resources, training, and research. Ideal for teachers, therapists, optometrists, and more. Access evidence-based literature, new tech, visual efficiency trends, and assessment tools.
Infant & Preschool – Division 8
Resources, discussions, and workshops related to school-based and in-home early intervention services for birth-five, parent engagement, and appropriate interventions for emerging diagnoses are provided in this division.
Orientation & Mobility – Division 9
The AER O&M Division supports Certified O&M Specialists and those passionate about mobility. Access resources on wayfinding, pedestrian signals, rural travel, and more. Join peers to grow skills, expand practice, and help individuals reach life goals.
Education Curriculum – Division 10
From resources on adapting general education assignments to best practices for teaching the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) to tools to support K-12 students, this division provides educators with the latest research and guidance.
Vision Rehabilitation Therapy – Division 11
Membership in this division is a must for anyone who works with or on behalf of adults who are blind or visually impaired to attain adaptive techniques and to master daily living skills. The scope of topics covered by this division is limitless.
Division on Aging – Division 15
Supporting older adults? This AER division offers resources, training, and tools on fall prevention, reducing isolation, and aiding those with dual sensory loss—helping you provide better care for older adults with vision loss.
Itinerant Personnel – Division 16
The AER Itinerant Personnel Division links you with peers worldwide. Access resources on travel, caseloads, DIY literacy kits, and educational supports tailored for itinerant teachers working with children who are visually impaired.
Personnel Prep – Division 17
This division supports college and university programs, focusing on best practices in design and curriculum. It connects faculty, professors, graduate students, and professionals dedicated to preparing qualified personnel in the field.
International Services & Global Issues – Division 18
Connect, grow, and explore with colleagues about services and trends impacting people with vision loss from around the globe.
Physical Activity and Recreation – Division 19
Join this division to explore ways to make physical activity and recreation accessible for those who are blind or visually impaired. Collaborate with professionals, share strategies, and promote active, healthy lifestyles through inclusive opportunities.
Neurological Vision Impairment – Division 20
Connect with the latest resources, strategies, and information related to increasing the knowledge base of care providers and improving interventions for children and adults with vision loss due to brain injury or disease.