VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 1
Laura Stoner
lstoner@seeitourway.org
Graduate of University of Arizona
As an educator with prior experience teaching in a general education setting,
I was unfamiliar with the field of visual impairment until a diagnosis opened my
eyes. My awareness changed when my child was diagnosed with a visual
impairment at just a few months old. While seeking support and resources to
navigate my child's new diagnosis, I learned about educators that worked with
students who are visually impaired. Given my background in education, my
curiosity to learn more about these teachers led me onto a new career journey.
Prior to my child's diagnosis, I had already earned my master's in education
and was focused on pursuing continuing graduate coursework in Educational
Leadership. Those professional pursuits changed after becoming a parent to a child
with multiple disabilities. As a resident of Arizona, I learned about the Special
Education Visual Impairment degree program at the University of Arizona. I recall
having a scheduled phone interview with program staff regarding my experiences
Diagnosis to Career Change
66
