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Assistive Technology for Individuals with Visual Impairment Certificate

Program Overview

The Certificate in Assistive Technology in Visual Impairments is designed to prepare professionals who can assess, instruct and troubleshoot technology for individuals with visual impairments. Students learn to perform a comprehensive assessment, including targeted task analysis, to overcome barriers that are the result of visual impairment or other disabilities. Special emphasis is placed on knowledge regarding technology, both consumer and specialized, that can ensure an individual is independent in both personal and work-related life tasks.

Certificate completers will be immediately eligible to apply for the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals' (ACVREP's) Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist (CATIS). With potential additional coursework or professional development, individuals may be eligible for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America's (RESNA's) Assistive Technology Professional (ATP) after obtaining the required professional experience.

Courses

This course enables participants to successfully integrate technological devices into the instructional settings of individuals with visual impairments through didactic and practical instruction. Issues of computer literacy are presented, along with the resources for locating, assessing and adapting current technologies for the unique needs of the visually impaired learner.

EDIT 5855

This course builds upon the application of basic computer competencies and existing technology standards, allowing the student to create and present content via digital and visual literacy. The student will also investigate and evaluate various software and interactive programs (e.g., tutorial, simulation, drill and practice) relevant to their student's needs and abilities. Technology-based applications for the classroom and digital and visual literacy preparation are also explored.

EDIT 5828

This course is an introduction to the comprehensive study of the systematic design and production of interactive multimedia. Students will become competent in assessing, developing, producing and training multimedia delivery systems and innovative multimedia technologies.

This course introduces advanced features of recently developed technologies used by visually impaired persons and emphasizes advanced instructed instructional applications, assessment, problem-solving and exploration.

EDEC 5679 is an advanced course in the prescription, operation and instructional strategies for current technologies and adaptive devices used by persons with disabilities. In addition to general coverage of common adaptive technologies, this course provides individual specialization in disability-specific concentrations.

This course reviews existing and emergent technologies for how they impact the job-readiness of individuals with visual impairments and blindness. Emphasis will be placed on tools commonly used in the workforce and schools and the accessibility of these tools.

This class will provide a supervised assistive technology internship with children and adolescents who are visually impaired in culturally and educationally diverse settings. All students must satisfy the regulations governing internships. 

Admissions Requirements

Admission to the Assistive Technology for Visual Impairments program requires the candidate to have:

  1. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in the domain of visual impairments from a nationally accredited institution with at least a 2.7 undergraduate GPA or a 3.0 graduate GPA
  2. Two letters of recommendation
  3. A personal interview with a member of the department
  4. Official transcripts for all previous institutions must be submitted directly to NCCU

Current students enrolled in other graduate programs are eligible for the certificate program.

Contact Us

Dr. Sean Tikkun
Phone: 919-530-7677
Email: [email protected]

Certificate Program Contact Form

How to Apply

This is a graduate-level certificate; interested parties should apply through the School of Graduate Studies. Click the “Apply Now” button below to start your application.

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