VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 1
While the hearing aids I'd worn for many years were hardly ever noticed,
those tinted lens eyeglasses were prominently sitting on my face – meaning that
my vision issues were more noticeable. Acknowledging that there were some
things I couldn't change, I began to think about a career pivot that would involve
something which was agnostic to both my hearing loss and vision loss – a
combination which I later learned is more appropriately called dual sensory loss.
After experiencing the benefits of vision rehab, it occurred to me that I
should explore the field as a career option. This intrigued me because I realized
that if I proceeded down that path, I'd have an opportunity to help others with
vision loss - and - much of what I'd learn would also likely benefit me personally
as my own vision journey unfolded. However, after some initial exploration, it
appeared that to do this correctly would require additional education and
credentials that I didn't have. It seemed rather late in life for me to consider going
back to school, but I was still intrigued.
In performing my due diligence, I learned that there were a limited number
of academic options, but the accredited online M.Ed. in Vision Studies program at
UMass Boston clearly stood out in my mind. Among their Vision Studies program
offerings, there were separate academic tracts available in both Vision Rehab and
Assistive Technology – a combination that was of interest to me. Additionally, it
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