PSU - Visually Impaired Learner and Orientation & Mobility Programs

09/01/2026

Yes, these are members of our 2026 Portland-based cane class!

This summer, four Portland State University students from across the country took cohort bonding to the next level — by getting matching artichoke tattoos. To understand how a leafy vegetable ended up permanently inked on a group of future orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists, you have to...

08/28/2026

It is a happy day and we love celebrating our students! Congratulations to Jasmine Low who has been hired by the Washington State School for the Blind as the statewide lead for the Birth to Five Program!

Jessica Chandler, Director of Outreach, wrote: "Jasmine is new to WSSB, but she is definitely not new to this work. She brings a wealth of early learner experience from Tennessee and fortunately for us she made her way to Washington by way of Spokane! We are so excited to have her here and to have her experience and perspective as part of our team. "

https://www.wssb.wa.gov/outreach/birth-five

Brava Jasmine! ID: Jasmine is a young Caucasian woman with light pink hair. She's wearing a summer dress and WSSB lanyard next to a leafy tree. Jasmine is pursuing her O&M graduate certificate through Portland State University College of Education and she is a TODAS scholar.

08/25/2026

RIP Dolly. Dolly Parton is pictured wearing a red dress while seated on a ferris wheel in Dollywood theme park. Some know about Dolly's Imagination Library but she also partnered with the American Printing House for the Blind to make sure that books were available to children who are blind, have low vision or are deafblind.
https://www.aph.org/imagination-library-collaboration/

08/24/2026

So proud that our scholar Tina did some of her internship hours! Supporting DB teens with surfing!

HKNC’s Summer Youth Vocational Program's adaptive surfing week made the front page of the Long Beach Herald. Six SYVP participants spent a week in Long Beach with certified adaptive surf instructors from Surf For All, Skudin Surf's adaptive surfing initiative, working with boards on the sand before heading into the Atlantic each day.

"Towards the end of the week, they didn't even need the interpreter. They were just like, 'We got this,' and they figured it out." Erin Columbus, Coordinator of Vocational Services at HKNC.

Read the full cover story: https://www.helenkeller.org/adaptive-surfing-long-beach-herald-cover

ID: The front page of the Long Beach Herald featuring a large photo of a Summer Youth Vocational Program participant sitting on a surfboard in the waves, smiling, with an adaptive surf instructor swimming in the water behind her. The headline below reads "Skudin Surf offers lessons to deaf-blind young adults."

08/12/2026

Want something happy to think about? Claire Rivas passed her COMS exam! Here is Claire last summer participating in an O&M for DB workshop that was co-led by Jelica Nuccio. Claire is a shorter Caucasian-Latina woman in her 30s with long curly hair wearing a blind fold and communicating tactually with Tina, who is also using a blindfold. They are being coached by Jelica on ProTactile communication approaches that support access while navigating in the world.

08/07/2026

Love our TriMet and Oregon Commission for the Blind partners! Check out this cool story featuring deep community participation and learning!

System familiarization event held in partnership with the Oregon Commission of the Blind and Ride Connection spotlighted accessibility features Most […]

08/01/2026

Brooke Painter and Jamie Banks represented Southern Oregon very well at AER’s conference in Louisville, KY! Brooke is an alumna of the VIL program and is a Teacher of the Blind in Southern Oregon.

07/31/2026

One of our students, Tina Meier-Nowell, finished her clinical hours while working with youth at the Helen Keller National Center in NY. The staff in the program also had to do the skills that they were encouraging the youth to do. So Tina had to hop on a surfboard and practice her balance as well. We are glad you worked with HKNC for your internship, Tina!

07/26/2026

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act.
36: Celebrate July 26, 2026.
Thank you leaders with Disabilities and allies that passed the ADA! Happy 36th Anniversary!

07/24/2026

Last year, at a O&M for DB workshop co-led by DB people, our students practiced touch-centered communication. Here Aaron and Colin use canes and blindfolds to find objects that have been hidden in a space without using speech to communicate. Guess what? Aaron has completed all of his practicum hours and passed his COMS exam yesterday! Huzzah for Aaron!

(ID: Aaron and Colin are two Caucasian men in their 30s smiling while navigating through an indoor space using touch for communication Aaron is wearing ballcap, T-shirt, shorts and blindfold as he guides Colin's hand through space.).