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completed by individuals without a background in visual impairment by taking
four additional pre-requisite courses. Future plans are to also offer a Masters
degree option in O&M. With the closure of Mohawk College, traditionally the
main provider of personnel preparation for O&M as well as rehabilitation, UBC
is one of two remaining options with the University of Montreal being the
other.
While the restricted number of program options across the country is a
challenge for individuals interested in the field, it also creates a strong
connection of teachers across the country, all of whom have attended one of
two institutions. Graduates of the UBC program have gone on to enrich the
education and opportunities for students who are blind and visually impaired.
Lynn Langille of
Kelowna was instrumental in starting the Children's Low
Vision Clinic, which travels to several locations in British Columbia each year
to provide clinical low vision exams, optical devices, and recommendations.
Other initiatives started by UBC graduates have included a Whale Research
Camp. Emerging from her M.A. thesis research, Lynn Kent ran the camp for a
few years as an opportunity for students who are blind and visually impaired
to explore research techniques in marine biology and gain insight into the
sciences as a possible career. Another graduate whose M.A. thesis focused
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