During the annual meeting of the American Printing House for the Blind in October, Molly Pasley heard something remarkable. A professor from another university told her about a partnership with the school’s library that gave students free access to many Vision Studies
Read moreNew seasons of ‘American Idol’ remind Vision Studies alum of his work’s worth
When the 24th season of “American Idol” debuted Jan. 26, Steve Pohl wasn’t watching. But that certainly wasn’t the case in the spring of 2019 during Season 17, when the NIU College of Education graduate played a pivotal role in the story
Read moreVisual Disabilities students head north to visit Wisconsin School for the Blind
Eleven students in NIU’s program in Visual Disabilities gained close-up exposure this fall to a career option they might never had considered. Molly Pasley, assistant professor in the Department of Special and Early Education, drove the group to the Wisconsin School for
Read moreGood dog! Visual Disabilities students visit The Seeing Eye, Inc. in New Jersey
Orientation and Mobility majors in NIU’s Visual Disabilities program traveled to Morristown, New Jersey, in April to visit The Seeing Eye, Inc. The philanthropic organization strives to enhance the independence, dignity and self-confidence of people who are blind or visually disabled. Its
Read moreUpward: ‘Blindness Experience’ scores rave reviews, nearly doubles enrollment
When Stacy Kelly debuted SEVI 205/505: The Blindness Experience last spring, 80 students from throughout the NIU campus registered for the new general education course. And then they told their friends. Enrollment has nearly doubled to 150 this semester – and Kelly,
Read moreNIU awards Stacy Kelly for excellence in mentoring master’s, doctoral students
Not one moment of Stacy Kelly’s career has transpired outside the realm of visual disabilities. “I always knew, from an early age, that I wanted to be a teacher. I really like everything about school and learning,” says Kelly, professor in the
Read moreCongratulations!
Congratulations to these members of the NIU College of Education family! Five graduate students in the Department of Counseling and Higher Education’s M.S.Ed. in Counseling program were awarded the Jerry J. Murphy Master Scholarship, funded by the Aurora, Illinois-based INC Mental Health
Read moreCall him Kapp: Professor marks 50 years as NIU Visual Disabilities faculty legend
“Better luck next time,” the handwritten note on the letter read. “We’ve got him.” The him, in this case, is Gaylen Kapperman. The we’ve is NIU. And the recipient? Ohio State University. It stemmed from an innocent mix-up at the University of
Read moreNo ‘lion’: Double-alumna multiplies impact in visual disabilities, deafness
When Lisa Borgo started taking babysitter jobs at age 11 or 12, she already was looking forward to Dundee Crown High School’s classes in cooking, sewing and, best of all, child care. Bonus: District 300’s deLacey Family Education Center “was right next
Read moreVisual Disabilities faculty, students join in strong representation at IAER meeting
Rachel Newland found the NIU Department of Special and Early Education’s Visual Disabilities Program through a YouTube search. And in coming to the College of Education, she’s found a home. “Dr. Kapperman has been my primary guide; his interest in sex education
Read moreVisual Disabilities students impress with research at biennial conference
Gaylen Kapperman has attended countless professional conferences during his nearly half-century in academia. But the professor emeritus in the Department of Special and Early Education’s Visual Disabilities program is hard-pressed to remember a meeting room fuller than the one he encountered this
Read moreBill Penrod, Ximena Burgin researching Safe Toddles Pediatric Belt Cane efficacy
When Hunter College instructor Grace Ambrose-Zaken needed someone to research the efficacy of a device she helped to invent for children with visual disabilities, she knew where to turn. “She only sent out grant proposals to people she had known for a
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